Bombers @ Birds: ESF GDT

[bigg jay]

 

26 minutes ago, kelownabomberfan said:

What is his status right now? Anyone know?

He was coaching or at least helping unofficially with Laurier a few weeks ago but otherwise just staying in the gym hoping for an NFL call.  

Taylor Elgersma says Wilfrid Laurier must take fight to Western | London Free Press

 

[Booch]

2 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

So then we need to find another centre if Eli is the versatile guy.

Bottom line if you're not trying to improve on your weakest players whay are you even doing?

yup...if we just want him for the super sub/jumbo guy then definitely....upgrade the center position....we should be doing that anyway at ny position...and we dont...or haven't been...and say it again...of making your team better means putting a Canadian in this spot supplanting and American...or vice versa...you do it...another thing we dont

And yeah it's a Canadian league but playing 9 guys as your starters/majority rep takers when you dont have to and using only 7...and it makes you better.....then do it...But Osh doesnt...He's too Canadian biased and seems to wanna prove his bias/point over the betterment of his squad

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, bigg jay said:

 

He was coaching or at least helping unofficially with Laurier a few weeks ago but otherwise just staying in the gym hoping for an NFL call.  

Taylor Elgersma says Wilfrid Laurier must take fight to Western | London Free Press

 

I don't blame him for kicking around and seeing if he can get on an NFL pr for the remainder of the NFL season. It makes a lot more sense than sitting as the 4th QB on our PR for part of the season.

So long as he doesn't waste next years TC here trying to fish for another NFL TC invite. 

[bigg jay]

6 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

I don't blame him for kicking around and seeing if he can get on an NFL pr for the remainder of the NFL season. It makes a lot more sense than sitting as the 4th QB on our PR for part of the season.

So long as he doesn't waste next years TC here trying to fish for another NFL TC invite. 

Yeah didn't make sense for the Bombers to bring him in late either - that would have just burned a year off his rookie deal.  Let him sit by a phone that's not ringing for now and try to get him here for a full season next year.

[wbbfan]

2 hours ago, voodoochylde said:

It's might be that Eli's best ability is his versatility and he's never going to be more than a 6th offensive lineman.

I don't think he is actually that versatile. At G, he isn't good enough in pass pro (next to Kola anyway), and he isn't able to play the edge other than on sets where we play heavy vs small. If he was more versatile, he'd be a starting Guard imo. 

 

1 hour ago, 17to85 said:

So then we need to find another centre if Eli is the versatile guy.

Bottom line if you're not trying to improve on your weakest players whay are you even doing?

If Eli isn't ever going to be more than a 6th ol, if he isn't good enough in pass pro to be a starting C, we just need to move on from him. The replacement level NI interior OL is a bunch of guys who can run block man to man, and don't have the feet to pass pro. 

Ethan Vibert is a super versatile guy. He's got a pro-ready body at G or C he's an above-average athlete, a little below Desjarlais' level, but well above average. He played multiple roles on a good line in the NCAA. He can play either G spot or C, and he excelled as a short-yardage/teams blocker.  He's also got great football IQ, and that tough/nasty mind set and play style we love. 

If Eli isn't gonna be given a chance / be a legit threat to take the starting C job next year, he shouldn't be back. Because Vibert is ready for that 6th ol role and has the upside to be a starter in this league. 

[Tracker]

2 hours ago, Booch said:

that's actually part of whats hurting him....He excels in that role...can fill in at guard...center...I bet RT too.....use as a TE on run schemes...road grader on short yardage....is viscious in second level...KOLO cant fill in anywhere let alone even play center at a decent degree....and our lack of depth is stonewalling Eli...he's a victim of a poor roster...poor scouting....poor coaching decisions...

O'Shea's use of Eli is one of the biggest issues, IMO. Kolankowski has been the weak link in the O-line and I have a very difficult time seeing Eli as as bad as or worse. Versatility be damned, Kolankowski is not and has not been good enough and likely contributed to Collaros's inkjuries but O'Shea has been oblivious to all that. From O'Shea's comments, he expects to return as head coach so we are likely looking at an even worse year in 2026. This reminds me of how a Russian farmer described his crop prospects for the current year:" Worse than last year but better than next."

Edited Wednesday at 05:29 PM by Tracker

[Noeller]

1 hour ago, Tracker said:

O'Shea's use of Eli is one of the biggest issues, IMO. Kolankowski has been the weak link in the O-line and I have a very difficult time seeing Eli as as bad as or worse. Versatility be damned, Kolankowski is not and has not been good enough and likely contributed to Collaros's inkjuries but O'Shea has been oblivious to all that. From O'Shea's comments, he expects to return as head coach so we are likely looking at an even worse year in 2026. This reminds me of how a Russian farmer described his crop prospects for the current year:" Worse than last year but better than next."

Why is O'Shea this boogeyman controlling the OL and not the OL coach? 

[Booch]

16 minutes ago, Noeller said:

Why is O'Shea this boogeyman controlling the OL and not the OL coach? 

He controls the roster and what the coaches have to work with....sure assistants will have some input...at end of the day tho it's who he elected to keep...then roster...Begins and ends with the HC for most part

Same with how's on the field as well on both sides of the ball...He may not have created the playbook...but he has the play card in his mitts all game....both sides of the ball and can say what he wants out there on any given play and what player package he prefers too...and his co-ord will send em out

If anyone truly believes Younger would want Korn and Thomas taking more reps doing jackshit for example...than any other interior lineman we rostered....or refused to roster is just way out to lunch...moreso than even dear leader...It's classic case of making chicken salad outta chickenshit

If Younger had the right guys up front...his scheme would be lethal....that also goes for some questionable usage of guys in back end as well

[wbbfan]

28 minutes ago, Noeller said:

Why is O'Shea this boogeyman controlling the OL and not the OL coach? 

Same reason we don't blame Darrell Patterson for guys like Thomas and Korny. You can't take a sow's ear and make a silk purse. 

8 minutes ago, Booch said:

He controls the roster and what the coaches have to work with....sure assistants will have some input...at end of the day tho it's who he elected to keep...then roster...Begins and ends with the HC for most part

Same with how's on the field as well on both sides of the ball...He may not have created the playbook...but he has the play card in his mitts all game....both sides of the ball and can say what he wants out there on any given play and what player package he prefers too...and his co-ord will send em out

If anyone truly believes Younger would want Korn and Thomas taking more reps doing jackshit for example...than any other interior lineman we rostered....or refused to roster is just way out to lunch...moreso than even dear leader...It's classic case of making chicken salad outta chickenshit

If Younger had the right guys up front...his scheme would be lethal....that also goes for some questionable usage of guys in back end as well

100%

[Goalie]

So the bombers could save lots of money by letting every other coach besides O’Shea go then. Cuz wtf is the point of the other coaches. Youngers D would be lethal with the right guys. lol. Hogans O would be with 5 milt stegalls also. I mean the right guys. If only O’Shea scouted and kept all these pre season all stars working at foot locker. 

[bigg jay]

5 minutes ago, Goalie said:

So the bombers could save lots of money by letting every other coach besides O’Shea go then. Cuz wtf is the point of the other coaches. Youngers D would be lethal with the right guys. lol. Hogans O would be with 5 milt stegalls also. I mean the right guys. If only O’Shea scouted and kept all these pre season all stars working at foot locker. 

He might not scout but it looks like he has more say in the roster than you seem to think,

Quote

ou also wonder what the expectations would be as far as job title. While every other coach has a second role – either as a GM or co-ordinator – O’Shea is strictly the head coach, giving him the best gig in the CFL. As for roster control, he has a lot of that, too, seemingly the same as general manager Kyle Walters. I don’t see him getting that anywhere else but Winnipeg, so I’m predicting another extension with the Bombers, which is where he belongs.

Coaching dominoes begin to fall – Winnipeg Free Press

[Goalie]

18 hours ago, bigg jay said:

He might not scout but it looks like he has more say in the roster than you seem to think,

Coaching dominoes begin to fall – Winnipeg Free Press

I mean I’m fine with that. He’s the head coach. I just think 9 straight playoff appearances 5 straight cups and the first time it’s like no cup final it’s time to move on is a bit premature. I think O’Shea actually deserves to be here. Kyle or the GM tho needs to put their foot down a bit and not sign guys past their prime. It’s that simple. If Osh doesn’t want to move on from Jake kola Willie Neufeld Stan etc then you either move on from O’Shea or you don’t sign the players to contracts or you release them because it’s football. The goal should be winning. And that means making the “tough” easy decisions.  If it’s not to O’Shea anymore then ok time to move on.  But I’d give him an extension and tell him it’s time for change. Cuz they ain’t getting any younger. That leash would be short tho. Much shorter than it has been. 
 

in the cfl you need an OL a DL and a QB. 
 

Zach stays but takes a 100k pay cut. 
Streveler is done. 
Wilson has shown less than guys who been around 3 months. 
Artopoeous can be brought back to compete. 
 

probably can’t fully fix the OL and DL in 1 season but, maybe. 
 

Vanterpool, Wallace, American, Canadian, Randolph. 
 

DL could be rebuilt using Americans instead of the Jake’s and less than Jake’s on our DL. Maybe Neufeld can move to center or Vibert or trade for one really. But that’s gotta be a priority. 

Edited 2 hours ago by Goalie

[bigg jay]

7 minutes ago, Goalie said:

I mean I’m fine with that. He’s the head coach. I just think 9 straight playoff appearances 5 straight cups and the first time it’s like no cup final it’s time to move on is a bit premature. I think O’Shea actually deserves to be here. Kyle or the GM tho needs to put their foot down a bit and not sign guys past their prime. It’s that simple. If Osh doesn’t want to move on from Jake kola Willie Neufeld Stan etc then you either move on from O’Shea or you don’t sign the players to contracts or you release them because it’s football. The goal should be winning. And that means making the “tough” easy decisions.  If it’s not to O’Shea anymore then ok time to move on.  But I’d give him an extension and tell him it’s time for change. Cuz they ain’t getting any younger. That leash would be short tho. Much shorter than it has been. 

That's pretty much what most people here are saying.  If MOS is not willing/able to make those much needed decisions, then like it or not, we need to part ways. If he can do that though, he should be brought back ang given an opportunity to right the ship. But I would be having that conversation before any extension is given.

[Goalie]

2 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

That's pretty much what most people here are saying.  If MOS is not willing/able to make those much needed decisions, then like it or not, we need to part ways. If he can do that though, he should be brought back ang given an opportunity to right the ship. But I would be having that conversation before any extension is given.

Oh I agree. I’d give Osh the extension based on willingness to change and move on from some players and maybe coaches. 

[Booch]

4 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

That's pretty much what most people here are saying.  If MOS is not willing/able to make those much needed decisions, then like it or not, we need to part ways. If he can do that though, he should be brought back ang given an opportunity to right the ship. But I would be having that conversation before any extension is given.

and  smart organizations....dont make shifts when everything is already in the dumpster and may take yrs to get out of

This has been a 3...now 4 yr degredation and no deviating really from the root cause, or the common issues/concerns that have led to the quick decline....If the band-aid needs to be ripped off and allow the heaing to happen then some of it needs to be done now....and similar issues or decline next...then G.M is next in cross hairs

Players arent happy....some....the ones who know they safe due to recent history will chime in they want the band all back together...When your hometown star...bell cow RB nad face o team is saying show me you serious here or I am outta here...thats a huge red flag...And be clear....he's not the only one feeling this....just the one who was out front and frank about it...if you were watching and listening since last cup loss, and this yr...others have alluded to it...without pout right saying it

5 cup appearances...with the 2 wins eons ago now in the sports world but a constant slide in the wrong direction....and stubborn stupidity/blindness to it....but a lot of excuses....well the good will has long dried up

7 minutes ago, Goalie said:

Oh I agree. I’d give Osh the extension based on willingness to change and move on from some players and maybe coaches. 

saying...and actually doing tho...2 different things.....and history shows us he set in his ideal and ways...and why risk it with an extension only to maybe have to can him a yr into it and be on the hook for his salary...further delaying and hindering any quick turn around....just not worth the risk...I can see your point...But he has had ...2...3 yrs to turn it around....instead he has almost drove it into the dirt

[Brandon]

1 hour ago, Goalie said:

probably can’t fully fix the OL and DL in 1 season but, maybe. 

In the CFL a full team can be fixed within 1 season.     When a team lacks in only a few areas then it is much easier.