2025 CFL (Non-Bombers) Season

[ShyGuy]

How did Mauldin end up playing for the Stamps? Saw he was a starter did he didn't record any stats at least

[Noeller]

50 minutes ago, ShyGuy said:

How did Mauldin end up playing for the Stamps? Saw he was a starter did he didn't record any stats at least

Ya my understanding was that he was hurt... Wasn't sure how he ended up starting but I do know the stamps are desperate. 

[Mark H.]

Every team in the West could finish 11 - 7 this year. IMO, everyone who makes the playoffs, will have a decent chance to win the GC. 

[Noeller]

21 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

Every team in the West could finish 11 - 7 this year. IMO, everyone who makes the playoffs, will have a decent chance to win the GC. 

It's all about egos got going in and who's falling...

[bigg jay]

3 hours ago, Noeller said:

Ya my understanding was that he was hurt... Wasn't sure how he ended up starting but I do know the stamps are desperate. 

It was mentioned here that he was hurt but he played in every game for Ottawa prior to the trade.  Haven't seen any indication anywhere else that he is/was hurt.  He didn't feel like he was a good fit for their defensive scheme so maybe he asked to be moved?  

https://3downnation.com/2025/09/30/calgary-stampeders-dl-lorenzo-mauldin-iv-sad-to-leave-redblacks-but-wasnt-the-player-for-their-scheme/

[Goalie]

17 hours ago, Mark H. said:

Every team in the West could finish 11 - 7 this year. IMO, everyone who makes the playoffs, will have a decent chance to win the GC. 

Isn’t that what every sports league wants. No real favourites but a bunch of teams who could win? 

[Brandon]

https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/argos-shut-down-qb-arbuckle-for-season/

Arbuckle out for the rest of the season.   The Argos are toast for this year.  

 

[Mark H.]

6 hours ago, Goalie said:

Isn’t that what every sports league wants. No real favourites but a bunch of teams who could win? 

Good question.

Yes.

Next question.

[SpeedFlex27]

8 hours ago, Goalie said:

Isn’t that what every sports league wants. No real favourites but a bunch of teams who could win? 

I would argue that teams that are dynasties are also something leagues want as well. It allows fans to rally around other teams in their hatred of the best. If you around when the Eskimos won 5 Grey Cups in a row you'll know what I mean. 

Edited yesterday at 05:18 AM by SpeedFlex27

[Goalie]

8 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

I would argue that teams that are dynasties are also something leagues want as well. It allows fans to rally around other teams in their hatred of the best. If you around when the Eskimos won 5 Grey Cups in a row you'll know what I mean. 

I wasn’t but I’m around now and Florida has won back to back Stanley cups and I dont  think that’s good at all. 

[wbbfan]

On 2025-10-06 at 3:38 PM, Goalie said:

Isn’t that what every sports league wants. No real favourites but a bunch of teams who could win? 

Not every one that’s for sure. It’s important to have enough competitive balance that any team can turn it around and not be perpetually bad as hopeless, like several nba franchises. 

 But what’s best is variety mixed with great stories. You want to have turn arounds and upstarts like the blue jays, but you also want to have them come up against the likes of the evil empire nyy. That, is compelling and entertaining to every one, even when it’s one sided. 

In 19 the cats were run away favorites, but we shocked them and the cfl to end a huge drought ushering forth an extraordinary stretch of success. Even the staunchest bomber haters say that was great viewing. You don’t get that with total parity. 

You need balance, but being too middle of the road is not good. 

[Mark H.]

2 hours ago, wbbfan said:

In 19 the cats were run away favorites, but we shocked them and the cfl to end a huge drought ushering forth an extraordinary stretch of success. Even the staunchest bomber haters say that was great viewing. You don’t get that with total parity. 

And they weren't really the favourites if you paid attention to how the Bombers had been playing. That just made it all the more entertaining. Hearing the chosen narrative and thinking "yes but."

[SpeedFlex27]

17 hours ago, Goalie said:

I wasn’t but I’m around now and Florida has won back to back Stanley cups and I dont  think that’s good at all. 

Again, your opinion which is marginalized. 

[wbbfan]

14 hours ago, Mark H. said:

And they weren't really the favourites if you paid attention to how the Bombers had been playing. That just made it all the more entertaining. Hearing the chosen narrative and thinking "yes but."

They were favorites; the bombers had a whole lot going for them, but Zach wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire yet. The cat's D was better most of the year, their teams were better, and their offence was better virtually the entire year. We all knew when zach made the crazy legs play to adams we had a shot, but at no point in time where the bombers the favorite to win vs hamilton. 

[Booch]

10 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

They were favorites; the bombers had a whole lot going for them, but Zach wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire yet. The cat's D was better most of the year, their teams were better, and their offence was better virtually the entire year. We all knew when zach made the crazy legs play to adams we had a shot, but at no point in time where the bombers the favorite to win vs hamilton. 

Yeah the Cats were favored by everyone and anyone.....but 1 game anything can happen

Our dline went off like mofo's and controlled that game, and the Cat's had no answer....and the oline as well just had their way and we controlled that as well....we had top end guys in their prime, hungry, and un-injured...and the foot soldiers had use outside of ST...so we had depth.......and well we won.....and thats why we need to get back to that set-up to reclaim our top spot standing....not a hard concept to recycle and reload your roster on the fly and to know/see when you need to move on....long standing tenure here be damned....cause that ideology isn't a wining formula

[wbbfan]

1 minute ago, Booch said:

Yeah the Cats were favored by everyone and anyone.....but 1 game anything can happen

Our dline went off like mofo's and controlled that game, and the Cat's had no answer....and the oline as well just had their way and we controlled that as well....we had top end guys in their prime, hungry, and un-injured...and the foot soldiers had use outside of ST...so we had depth.......and well we won.....and thats why we need to get back to that set-up to reclaim our top spot standing....not a hard concept to recycle and reload your roster on the fly and to know/see when you need to move on....long standing tenure here be damned....cause that ideology isn't a wining formula

Halls' play-off adjustments to the DL were a massive game-changer, ba coming in at S was massive once the secondary settled as well. We had played soo soft before that people were losing their minds. 

100%, the game was won in the trenches, and with physicality. 

Drake Nevis has become maybe the most slept on guy from that 19 win. Early, when he and Stove played together, it was a mauling. Then we switched to more and more cheetah with WJ, JJ, Hansen, and Kongbo and the cats couldn't keep up. Even the 30 cheetah we ran with wj on the nose, flanked by JJ and kongbo was vicious. 

 

It's a shame Craig Roh didn't get to dress for that game. He is another slept-on guy who is likely responsible for more of our DL success in that era than most would ever know. He was one of the best minds when it came to DL technique, pass rushing moves, and front play we've seen up here. His camps and books were extraordinary in their quality, he would've been one of the best DL coaches in the era. F%%^ cancer. 

[Bigblue204]

3 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Halls' play-off adjustments to the DL were a massive game-changer, ba coming in at S was massive once the secondary settled as well. We had played soo soft before that people were losing their minds. 

100%, the game was won in the trenches, and with physicality. 

Drake Nevis has become maybe the most slept on guy from that 19 win. Early, when he and Stove played together, it was a mauling. Then we switched to more and more cheetah with WJ, JJ, Hansen, and Kongbo and the cats couldn't keep up. Even the 30 cheetah we ran with wj on the nose, flanked by JJ and kongbo was vicious. 

 

It's a shame Craig Roh didn't get to dress for that game. He is another slept-on guy who is likely responsible for more of our DL success in that era than most would ever know. He was one of the best minds when it came to DL technique, pass rushing moves, and front play we've seen up here. His camps and books were extraordinary in their quality, he would've been one of the best DL coaches in the era. F%%^ cancer. 

I'll always love JJ and Willie for showing the entire league on the biggest stage how much of a joke the MOOL was that year. Stanley got robbed.

[HardCoreBlue]

On 2025-10-05 at 7:22 PM, Noeller said:

Ya my understanding was that he was hurt... Wasn't sure how he ended up starting but I do know the stamps are desperate. 

And that's a damn shame knowing our love for DD while watching his loveable multiple mini temper tantrums he has while coaching on the sideline.

[wbbfan]

56 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

I'll always love JJ and Willie for showing the entire league on the biggest stage how much of a joke the MOOL was that year. Stanley got robbed.

Damn straight. 

 

Really good article on the rule change. 

https://3downnation.com/2025/10/08/duke-ellingson-incoming-cfl-rule-changes-questionable-at-best/

[Super Duper Negatron]

5 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Damn straight. 

 

Really good article on the rule change. 

https://3downnation.com/2025/10/08/duke-ellingson-incoming-cfl-rule-changes-questionable-at-best/

my biggest concern isn’t that the rules are all bad ideas, but instead I’m left asking what is the perceived problem they are trying to fix, and have all the potential outcomes been considered?

100% all of that.

[ShyGuy]

The reasoning for removing 10 yards from the field is dumb as well.

Just come out and say the medium-term plan for the league is expanding into other markets, and the current footprint of the field is going to be an issue in moving into markets with existing infrastructure.

[Mark H.]

5 hours ago, wbbfan said:

They were favorites; the bombers had a whole lot going for them, but Zach wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire yet. The cat's D was better most of the year, their teams were better, and their offence was better virtually the entire year. We all knew when zach made the crazy legs play to adams we had a shot, but at no point in time where the bombers the favorite to win vs hamilton. 

I am not referring as much to the regular season, as I am to the semi-final in Calgary.  After that game, you could see that the Big Blue had a solid chance.  Calgary players, BLM included, straight out said it.  My reference is mostly to the media / talking heads being unable or unwilling to see it, after that game. 

[Noeller]

40 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

I am not referring as much to the regular season, as I am to the semi-final in Calgary.  After that game, you could see that the Big Blue had a solid chance.  Calgary players, BLM included, straight out said it.  My reference is mostly to the media / talking heads being unable or unwilling to see it, after that game. 

I remember not having any fear of that GC game. I walked into the stadium more confident than I had in awhile, for sure. We were on a mission... A team of destiny that year. 

[Bigblue204]

1 hour ago, ShyGuy said:

The reasoning for removing 10 yards from the field is dumb as well.

Just come out and say the medium-term plan for the league is expanding into other markets, and the current footprint of the field is going to be an issue in moving into markets with existing infrastructure.

THIS! Just come clean. Enough with the clearly bullshit explanations of more scoring/excitement etc. I don't like the changes, and I hate when someone is serving me a plate of bullshit but they're saying it's steak.

1 minute ago, Noeller said:

I remember not having any fear of that GC game. I walked into the stadium more confident than I had in awhile, for sure. We were on a mission... A team of destiny that year. 

I didn't believe it until the clock got under 1:20.

[Tracker]

23 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Not every one that’s for sure. It’s important to have enough competitive balance that any team can turn it around and not be perpetually bad as hopeless, like several nba franchises. 

 But what’s best is variety mixed with great stories. You want to have turn arounds and upstarts like the blue jays, but you also want to have them come up against the likes of the evil empire nyy. That, is compelling and entertaining to every one, even when it’s one sided. 

In 19 the cats were run away favorites, but we shocked them and the cfl to end a huge drought ushering forth an extraordinary stretch of success. Even the staunchest bomber haters say that was great viewing. You don’t get that with total parity. 

You need balance, but being too middle of the road is not good. 

People are gonna be people no matter what, and perfect parity is a pipe dream. Some players/coaches/GMs will exceed expectations and some will fail no matter what. The Esks won all those consecutive Cups because they were flush with money and few other teams were, so they outbid and outpaid to keep their core happy. One of the reasons we watch sports of all kinds is the unpredictability which leads to agonies and ecstacies and we go along for the roller-coaster rides.