Blue Bombers -- 2025/26 Offseason -- Discussion Thread

[Booch]

26 minutes ago, Noeller said:

How close to being a starter is Vibert? He's a natural C, no? 

He should have been rostered in lieu of Ball or some other irrelevant bottom Canadian and repped in at times...if for nothing to get a guage on him

Like his tenacity and size and his technique is real good being a raw rookie

[SpeedFlex27]

1 hour ago, Booch said:

He should have been rostered in lieu of Ball or some other irrelevant bottom Canadian and repped in at times...if for nothing to get a guage on him

Like his tenacity and size and his technique is real good being a raw rookie

Michael Ball is a nutbar. The guy is an embarrassment to his son Ethan, his family, the Riders & the Bombers. . 

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, Noeller said:

How close to being a starter is Vibert? He's a natural C, no? 

He’s got above average size and athleticism for an ni G. 6’3 n change, 315 but really lean at that weight.

Hes got a great frame for playing interior ol.

Hes a bit of an athletic outlier by ni ol standards. Faster and more explosive than most interior guys up here. Not the run jumper dobson was or as bursty as desjarlais, but being a half step behind those guys athletically puts you in a good position, especially up here.

Hes got good feet, and plays with great strength. He isn’t the bench press gym bro, though he looks it a bit, hes far more the functional strength type.

He isn’t as polished as fortin, though I thought both were pretty similar quality prospects. Fortin lacks a lot more in athleticism and raw strength but plays with tremendous leverage and gets every bit out of his frame. Hes also got that nasty streak, toughness, and grit you look for in linemen. 

Vibert could’ve easily been a 6th ol in the cfl this year. People often struggle to identify if guys like him are high floor low ceiling types, or studs. Imo, he and fortin had the best chance of being early starters and long term impact players on the ol. I think he is very very likely a starter in the CFL at G or C. If he over achieves a bit then he can be an all star type. 

For me, I don’t go soo crazy for huge interior ol, wallace has tons of use and upside and i think he should be groomed for RT. Guys like vibert get over looked because they aren’t 6’6, 305, running 5.0 flat 40s etc. But I see every thing you need for a G and a C to succeed in the cfl. 

I thought the depth of ol in this draft had some real potential gems. Hocevar, Pyle, Coakes, and Vibert, these are the type of canadians that anchor interior ol spots for a long time. 

Vibert should be on the ar this coming year, and he should push for a job if the competition remains soo soft. 

[SpeedFlex27]

7 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

He’s got above average size and athleticism for an ni G. 6’3 n change, 315 but really lean at that weight.

Hes got a great frame for playing interior ol.

Hes a bit of an athletic outlier by ni ol standards. Faster and more explosive than most interior guys up here. Not the run jumper dobson was or as bursty as desjarlais, but being a half step behind those guys athletically puts you in a good position, especially up here.

Hes got good feet, and plays with great strength. He isn’t the bench press gym bro, though he looks it a bit, hes far more the functional strength type.

He isn’t as polished as fortin, though I thought both were pretty similar quality prospects. Fortin lacks a lot more in athleticism and raw strength but plays with tremendous leverage and gets every bit out of his frame. Hes also got that nasty streak, toughness, and grit you look for in linemen. 

Vibert could’ve easily been a 6th ol in the cfl this year. People often struggle to identify if guys like him are high floor low ceiling types, or studs. Imo, he and fortin had the best chance of being early starters and long term impact players on the ol. I think he is very very likely a starter in the CFL at G or C. If he over achieves a bit then he can be an all star type. 

For me, I don’t go soo crazy for huge interior ol, wallace has tons of use and upside and i think he should be groomed for RT. Guys like vibert get over looked because they aren’t 6’6, 305, running 5.0 flat 40s etc. But I see every thing you need for a G and a C to succeed in the cfl. 

I thought the depth of ol in this draft had some real potential gems. Hocevar, Pyle, Coakes, and Vibert, these are the type of canadians that anchor interior ol spots for a long time. 

Vibert should be on the ar this coming year, and he should push for a job if the competition remains soo soft. 

Our problem isn't drafting good Canadians. The problem is we don't keep them. Either we undervalue them going into free agency or just let them walk. That's an organizational thing that falls on Walters shoulders & it makes no sense. 

[CrazyCanuck89]

10 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Our problem isn't drafting good Canadians. The problem is we don't keep them. Either we undervalue them going into free agency or just let them walk. That's an organizational thing that falls on Walters shoulders & it makes no sense. 

Exactly!  Smith and Shay should've gotten reps.

[Brandon]

27 minutes ago, CrazyCanuck89 said:

Exactly!  Smith and Shay should've gotten reps.

I want to say a few years back O'Shea addressed on why he doesn't play guys in their first year.   I can't remember the exact reason but it is intentional on his part.   I want to say something about shielding them or having them learn from the sidelines.    

[bigg jay]

23 minutes ago, Brandon said:

I want to say a few years back O'Shea addressed on why he doesn't play guys in their first year.   I can't remember the exact reason but it is intentional on his part.   I want to say something about shielding them or having them learn from the sidelines.    

Yet almost every other team has their rookies taking snaps and, in some cases, starting.  Veresuk in Hamilton was runner up as rookie of the year and took over the starting MLB role after 2 games - he would never have gotten a sniff of that here.  

[Bigblue204]

https://cflpa.com/cflpa-announces-the-official-2025-cflpa-all-star-team

Interesting that a certain OL made this list via his peers yet people are ready to cast him aside!

[17to85]

3 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

https://cflpa.com/cflpa-announces-the-official-2025-cflpa-all-star-team

Interesting that a certain OL made this list via his peers yet people are ready to cast him aside!

Stanley Bryant? I don't think it is a case of people wanting to cast him aside so much as the fact that he's old and there was a slip last year and the question is when is it totally going to fall apart? Sooner or later Bryant is going to retire or be too old to be effective. 

[Booch]

11 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Our problem isn't drafting good Canadians. The problem is we don't keep them. Either we undervalue them going into free agency or just let them walk. That's an organizational thing that falls on Walters shoulders & it makes no sense. 

or ply the ones that could rep into the offence or defence....and they dont develop...until they leave here

 

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

I want to say a few years back O'Shea addressed on why he doesn't play guys in their first year.   I can't remember the exact reason but it is intentional on his part.   I want to say something about shielding them or having them learn from the sidelines.    

as other coaches do....Osh's logic just like his coaching is flawed, and will be a good riddance now....you dont larn on the sideline, or even in practice really...theory sure...maybe....playing....not at all

45 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

Yet almost every other team has their rookies taking snaps and, in some cases, starting.  Veresuk in Hamilton was runner up as rookie of the year and took over the starting MLB role after 2 games - he would never have gotten a sniff of that here.  

yeah...exactly...how do you think we got T.Jones...dumped for a raw rookie...who ended up as RO.Y as well....and is better than any LB we rostered the last 2 yrs...Osh is flawed, and hopefully he can keep the Argo's in the abyss now

30 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

https://cflpa.com/cflpa-announces-the-official-2025-cflpa-all-star-team

Interesting that a certain OL made this list via his peers yet people are ready to cast him aside!

I have not been one....and have no issues with him back to be honest

Sad we have 2 former guys we could have kept on that list too...and would have made a huge difference here this yr....but our dear leder choose to retain his lil fav's in several spots....not allowing us to do so

[Bigblue204]

39 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Stanley Bryant? I don't think it is a case of people wanting to cast him aside so much as the fact that he's old and there was a slip last year and the question is when is it totally going to fall apart? Sooner or later Bryant is going to retire or be too old to be effective. 

Many people don't have him on their re-sign list.

[HardCoreBlue]

2 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

Many people don't have him on their re-sign list.

Because Jake Thomas has made us all nervous. :-)

[Bigblue204]

11 minutes ago, Booch said:

Sad we have 2 former guys we could have kept on that list too...and would have made a huge difference here this yr....but our dear leder choose to retain his lil fav's in several spots....not allowing us to do so

Found it interesting who is on the list and who isn't. Real lack of SSK players on both sides of the ball, especially D. And not a single MTL player at all. Was also a bit surprised to not see a single Bomber defensive back.

[Bubba Zanetti]

12 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Our problem isn't drafting good Canadians. The problem is we don't keep them. Either we undervalue them going into free agency or just let them walk. That's an organizational thing that falls on Walters shoulders & it makes no sense. 

Im putting that all on O'Shea. He decides the gameday rosters and they are always chalk-full of his shi**y vets game after game, regardless of outcome or performance.