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

[HardCoreBlue]

2 minutes ago, Stickem said:

Yoshi says today on turd down he wants to play till 40......he just might make it

JT i’m telling you right now. Never you mind. Look away, find a hobby or something.

ahhhhhh, that clears that up.

[wbbfan]

44 minutes ago, Booch said:

we gonna sign a kid ...Octavious Grabsemall

6'4" big bodied guy....Ran a 4.5 forty on his pro-day but played last 2 yrs of eligibility in Basketball....24 yr old 

I'm sold just based on the name alone. Someone call Key and Peele with that one. 

 

33 minutes ago, Stickem said:

Yoshi says today on turd down he wants to play till 40......he just might make it

If he stays healthy and keeps him self in shape, He will make a serious run at it. 

[Booch]

7 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

I'm sold just based on the name alone. Someone call Key and Peele with that one. 

 

If he stays healthy and keeps him self in shape, He will make a serious run at it. 

Yeah...I nade him up ...an amalgamation/hybrid of some kids I worked with recently hahaha....sounds good tho eh?

 

[Mark H.]

Just now, Booch said:

Yeah...I nade him up ...an amalgamation/hybrid of some kids I worked with recently hahaha....sounds good tho eh?

 

Not bad...you should turn professional 

[johnzo]

10 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

If he stays healthy and keeps him self in shape, He will make a serious run at it. 

here's something I've always been curious about -- how on earth do OL play into their late thirties?  how do Yoshi and Big Stan keep their footwork up to cope with freak 24-year-old speed rushing DEs?  a guard like Neuf is getting heavy body contact on every play from jacked up DTs and generally will play the majority of snaps in a game.  That's a lot of punishment to take over the course of a career and yet the dude is still doing it at a pro level (tho I guess opinions differ on this)

Edited 3 hours ago by johnzo

[GCn20]

1 hour ago, Booch said:

I'd go as far to say any position this coming yr....open competition across the board...I not saying go all rookies/new guys, but nobody should be a defacto starter like previous yrs regardless if they were here last  YR...2...3...4 YRS.....

Agreed, but at some of the other positions we will have guys pencilled in, not every guy. but certainly we will have guys that are unlikely to be beat out in camp. 

[Booch]

18 minutes ago, johnzo said:

here's something I've always been curious about -- how on earth do OL play into their late thirties?  how do Yoshi and Big Stan keep their footwork up to cope with freak 24-year-old speed rushing DEs?  a guard like Neuf is getting heavy body contact on every play from jacked up DTs and generally will play the majority of snaps in a game.  That's a lot of punishment to take over the course of a career and yet the dude is still doing it at a pro level (tho I guess opinions differ on this)

Technique and scheme intelligence plays a big hand in it...and self preservation too....also being smart

Stan is known for his flop/fall to ground to protect his knees...gets a lot of good natured laughs about it from teammates doing it too....in heavy ttaffic pile ups and guys clamoring around after a play is executed when he feels or senses any hanging into his lower legs does the drop to the ground like he shot...if you actually watch for it you we see it at times....or wonder why a lot of the times he is on the turf....master of self preservation and never really had a severe knee injury in his career

Now watch Kolo for techinque and intelligence..............

1 minute ago, GCn20 said:

Agreed, but at some of the other positions we will have guys pencilled in, not every guy. but certainly we will have guys that are unlikely to be beat out in camp. 

for sure...there a few I hope we already have written in...or should be...we have several ready for next step/step up

Edited 3 hours ago by Booch

[wbbfan]

18 minutes ago, johnzo said:

here's something I've always been curious about -- how on earth do OL play into their late thirties?  how do Yoshi and Big Stan keep their footwork up to cope with freak 24-year-old speed rushing DEs?  a guard like Neuf is getting heavy body contact on every play from jacked up DTs and generally will play the majority of snaps in a game.  That's a lot of punishment to take over the course of a career and yet the dude is still doing it at a pro level (tho I guess opinions differ on this)

It's a combination of factors, and a big dose of good luck. Not having had catastrophic type injuries, especially to your knees and hips, goes a long way. 

Because you aren't cutting at speed or running/jumping nearly as much as any other position, you don't get the no-contact injuries very often. What really gets guys in a bad spot for their career is when someone rolls up on the back or side of the legs. That kills careers. But also, if you are the hammer far more often than the nail, you will play longer. By playing on more great teams, especially ones that run the ball, instead of constantly absorbing hits, you are the one dealing them out. And you are far more often playing exhausted DLS late in games. 

If you are a road-grading type, you are also able to play longer, even when you lose a step and can't dominate pass reps anymore. It doesn't hurt that, in football in general, the OL prototype has changed to a far more sustainable model, and the gap between replacement level and all-star is so vast. You can backslide a very long way without playing your way out of the league. 

Ol also has some of the best resources for off-season training. The level of trainers available and the camp out there is extraordinary. It's only beaten by QBs, and has passed DL imo. Teams and trainers at every level are so used to taking big kids with upside and a severe lack of polish, and trying to turn them into useful players, that not much scares people off linemen. Most young guys would prefer to play DL over OL as well. So the kids who want it will always find their way to help. But it also means that older guys who have been hurt, like Yoshi, have an endless string of resources and chances to fix what's wrong and get themselves where they need to be. 

This is a big part of why the CFL focuses the ratio on the OL, and why it is the cornerstone of every team's ratio. the fact. 

The normalization and modernization of Ol builds have made a huge impact on longevity. We don't see guys having to constantly go up in weight for TC, or see teams pushing guys to be bigger and bigger. Guys 6'3 walking around at 295-305 with an athletic build are just a whole lot healthier than the old standard of 325+ lbs guys on squat frames. The growth of the importance of wingspan is wild, but those long guys often have a much better frame to carry weight. 

[johnzo]

Thanks you guys! 

Def going to be watching for the Big Stan Flop next season.

[rebusrankin]

Wait, so we're not signing anybody today? Mr. Garvey will not be doing intros at PAS next year? This day stinks.

[bigg jay]

3 hours ago, Booch said:

we gonna sign a kid ...Octavious Grabsemall

6'4" big bodied guy....Ran a 4.5 forty on his pro-day but played last 2 yrs of eligibility in Basketball....24 yr old 

Looks like a good prospect (according to ChatGPT 😂)

Octavious Grabsemall – Player Biography

Name: Octavious Grabsemall
Age: 24
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 245 lbs
Position: EDGE

College Career

Grabsemall began his collegiate athletic path on the football field, quickly earning attention for his blend of physicality and burst. Despite limited early playing time, he flashed potential that had scouts circling.

But after his sophomore season, he switched gears—literally—and transitioned full-time to basketball for his final two years of eligibility. The move was unexpected, but not unproductive: he refined his footwork, agility, and explosiveness while becoming a reliable two-way player on the hardwood. Those seasons sharpened skills—spatial awareness, verticality, body control—that translate seamlessly back to the gridiron.

Return to Football & Pro Day

At 24, Octavious returned to football with renewed focus and a broadened athletic foundation. His Pro Day performance turned heads, most notably when he blazed a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, an extraordinary time for a big-bodied athlete of his stature. Paired with his length, leaping ability, and basketball-honed coordination, he instantly became a high-upside prospect.

Player Profile

• Size/Speed Combo: Rare for his position; creates mismatches everywhere.

• Basketball Footwork: Excellent body control, timing, and contested-catch ability.

• Physical Maturity: Older prospect at 24, but brings leadership and college experience across two sports.

• High Ceiling Prospect: Considered a moldable, high-reward athlete with potential to excel on special teams early and grow into a starting role.

Strengths

Elite Athletic Profile

• Long, rangy 6’4” frame with room to add more muscle.

• 4.50 speed gives him true chase-down ability and excellent backside pursuit.

• Exceptional leaping ability and hand-eye coordination from basketball background.

Pass-Rush Potential

• Shows natural bend and flexibility for his size.

• Can corner surprisingly well on speed rushes—light feet, efficient stride.

• Raw but powerful initial strike; flashes knockback at the point of attack.

Movement Skills

• Lateral quickness stands out—slides, mirrors, and redirects like a forward defending the perimeter.

• Smooth mover in space; can drop into flats or hook zones as a hybrid OLB.

• Closes ground very quickly once he burst-steps.

Competitive Motor

• High-energy player who hustles backside and runs plays downfield.

• Coaches praise his toughness, coachability, and willingness to embrace technique refinement.

---

Weaknesses

Technical Rawness

• Limited recent football snaps; needs development with hand usage, counters, and pass-rush planning.

• Tends to rely on speed too often—must diversify beyond the outside track.

Play Strength

• Functional strength is adequate but not yet NFL-ready for consistent edge-setting against top-tier tackles.

• Needs to add more lower-body power to anchor versus double teams.

Older Prospect

• Entering league at 24, leaving a smaller developmental runway compared to 20–21-year-old prospects.

• Teams may question long-term upside despite athletic traits.

Pad Level

• Can play too tall at times due to basketball posture; must learn to win leverage consistently.

---

NFL Comparison

• Daniil Hunter (frame/length and raw-to-refined trajectory)

• Leonard Floyd (rangy, high-motor, hybrid EDGE)

• Margus Hunt (two-sport athletic background, developmental arc)

---

Draft Projection

Round 5–7, with potential to rise into Round 4 if he dominates private workouts and shows pass-rush promise in drills. A clear “traits lottery ticket” who could massively outperform draft position.

Edited 1 hour ago by bigg jay

[Booch]

thats a damn good analysis lol

[Stickem]

4 minutes ago, Booch said:

thats a damn good analysis lol

Now you better get AI on this ....I want to see this kid in camp

[Booch]

1 minute ago, Stickem said:

Now you better get AI on this ....I want to see this kid in camp

ON IT!....'ll head right back to San Jose after xmas

There's   a DT guy I like too....Stanley "Stump" Hardwood ....

[Noeller]

9 minutes ago, Stickem said:

Now you better get AI on this ....I want to see this kid in camp

I mean how far off from creating a fully formed 3D rendering of this kid are we, really....?

Edited 52 minutes ago by Noeller

[Stickem]

4 minutes ago, Booch said:

ON IT!....'ll head right back to San Jose after xmas

There's   a DT guy I like too....Stanley "Stump" Hardwood ....

Great.....AND I know you know the way to......

1 minute ago, Noeller said:

I mean how far off from creating a fully formed 3D rendering of this kid are we, really....?

Not far.......The 3D young woman I saw awhile back will be right up his alley and he'll be up hers 

[17to85]

So... can we switch him to receiver?