25/26 CFL (Non Bombers) Off Season Thread

[rebusrankin]

Eli has 5 or 6 years and has never established himself. I'd lean towards him not being good enough.

[Booch]

3 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

Eli has 5 or 6 years and has never established himself. I'd lean towards him not being good enough.

or was he stone walled by whatever reason and not really given the chance....we shall see this summer if he comes out of camp as the starter and how the line plays as a group during the season...thet will be the indicator right there....And if he gets beat out by a rookie...Or Vibert...well then it is what it is....Tho I will stand on my hill and say he is better than Kolo ...always was

[17to85]

Better than koala is a ******* low bar. Wouldn't surprise me if vibert starts at centre and Eli is still the "starting" 6th OL

 

[Noeller]

“It’s an important piece for game flow, something we talk about every single year. We know there will be fewer stoppages with the automatic 35-second clock, and we need the on-field officials relying less on the replay centre,” he said.

 

“We are trying to balance, of course, getting the call right with game flow and making sure the game is moving at pace. The expression we use is ‘clear and obvious.’ If there’s an egregious error that’s clear and obvious, let’s have the replay centre step in. But otherwise, it’s the job of the officials on the field to run the game. We’re going to do more research on how we can implement those objectives, and there are future rules committee meetings coming up in the next couple of months where we will discuss again.”

 

[SpeedFlex27]

7 hours ago, GCn20 said:

At what point did i say that discussion is stupid? People have their opinions, and we discuss them. I thought that the idea of moving Stan inside as a plan was not very intelligent and discussed my reasons why. Is that Ok with you or are we only to nod and agree with things we don't agree with. I gave my reasons respectfully and the OP decided to get butt hurt and make rude commentary. That's not on me. I explained many times that my issue isn't with Stan playing inside per se, but with it being the plan which I think would be a very shortsighted one that would carry more risk than reward.

IF we go through FA, draft, and recruiting and roll snake eyes on anything better than that plan, fine, we do what we gotta do. I would think that to be a pretty big fail by KW and staff tho. We need to do better than moving Stan inside out of convenience. He is unlikely to be any better at age 40 and changing positions than a younger, cheaper OL we can get in FA or recruitment at a lower cost and with far more long term upside. Stan is going down the wrong side of the hill to reinvest in him at a new position and I know that hurts some sensibilities around here but it's just fact. Our very best play as an organization is to find our next generation of OL, let Stan compete for his usual job, and let the chips fall where they may as to whether he still has a year or two in him. If he is still deemed to be our best LT so be it. If not, we need to move on not reposition him. KW needs to have stud OGs and C in camp already.

All that has been discussed around here for almost 3 years is how we are holding onto aging players for too long out of loyalty. I am suggesting that doing so with Stan would just be continuing the stupidity and everyone who vehemently argued that MOS and KW are too loyal suddenly get in an uproar. I am legitimately confused by this inconsistency. The guy is 40, its not the time for him to reinvent his career.

Thomas couldn' play anymore. It was obvious to everyone but Osh. Bryant could still play. Big difference. 

[SpeedFlex27]

1 hour ago, Noeller said:

“It’s an important piece for game flow, something we talk about every single year. We know there will be fewer stoppages with the automatic 35-second clock, and we need the on-field officials relying less on the replay centre,” he said.

 

“We are trying to balance, of course, getting the call right with game flow and making sure the game is moving at pace. The expression we use is ‘clear and obvious.’ If there’s an egregious error that’s clear and obvious, let’s have the replay centre step in. But otherwise, it’s the job of the officials on the field to run the game. We’re going to do more research on how we can implement those objectives, and there are future rules committee meetings coming up in the next couple of months where we will discuss again.”

 

Jeez, the 3 minute clock, OT, playoffs siuddenly too easy, no ties & now the Replay Centre. No idea the CFL was so messed up that we have to reinvent everything under this guy.  

[wbbfan]

8 hours ago, 17to85 said:

Did the same logic apply when Sam Hurl was starting at MLB back in the day? 

Oshea using his roster in a suboptimal way is not a new phenomenon.... but I feel like we go around and around and around about this all the time.

glass, rock, soo many dbs as well. lots of guys come to mind. 

7 hours ago, Noeller said:

Feels like there's gonna be a bunch of these....

 

 

very likely. i’d be happy to get him on a fair deal. Two guys like him who can rotate would be great. 

[Goalie]

2 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Thomas couldn' play anymore. It was obvious to everyone but Osh. Bryant could still play. Big difference. 

I dunno. Bryant wasn’t really that great last season. He was beat more times last year than his previous years combined. Now maybe that was an entire oline issue but I honestly wouldn’t be opposed to moving on from 40 yr old players. But he’s earned the right to go out how he wishes. Neufeld is a guy I’d bring back tho as he’s a bit more versatile than big Stan and Canadian. 

Edited 19 hours ago by Goalie

[Brandon]

What kind of salary did Bryant pull?  That's the type of guy (along with Neufeld & Jefferson) that you go younger and cheaper.    Have to sign at a reduced salary.

[SectionKBlackout]

3 hours ago, Noeller said:

“It’s an important piece for game flow, something we talk about every single year. We know there will be fewer stoppages with the automatic 35-second clock, and we need the on-field officials relying less on the replay centre,” he said.

 

“We are trying to balance, of course, getting the call right with game flow and making sure the game is moving at pace. The expression we use is ‘clear and obvious.’ If there’s an egregious error that’s clear and obvious, let’s have the replay centre step in. But otherwise, it’s the job of the officials on the field to run the game. We’re going to do more research on how we can implement those objectives, and there are future rules committee meetings coming up in the next couple of months where we will discuss again.”

 

I’d be fine with it if the refs didn’t continuously miss completely obvious calls right in front of their faces. 

[Goalie]

36 minutes ago, Brandon said:

What kind of salary did Bryant pull?  That's the type of guy (along with Neufeld & Jefferson) that you go younger and cheaper.    Have to sign at a reduced salary.

I’d agree with Bryant Jefferson and even Kyrie Wilson but Neufeld is a Canadian oline. I think he can play center and guard and prob tackle in a pinch. Thats an ideal 6th OL. Canadian oline don’t grow on trees, Neufeld is a good one and if being honest, looked better than big Stan last season. Koala takes the heat but he wasn’t the only oline who struggled last year. Big Stan had his struggles also as did Wallace and koala. Neufeld and Randolph were pretty solid tho. 

Edited 18 hours ago by Goalie

[HardCoreBlue]

3 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Jeez, the 3 minute clock, OT, playoffs siuddenly too easy, no ties & now the Replay Centre. No idea the CFL was so messed up that we have to reinvent everything under this guy.  

Yea totally spending time dissecting and discussing our rules, spending time talking about refs and what they rely on is really really helping improve and market our CFL product, increase viewership, increase merchandise sales, attract more sponsors with deep pockets, put more bums in the seats, help eliminate salary constraints to attract high level talent etc etc.

[SpeedFlex27]

1 hour ago, HardCoreBlue said:

Yea totally spending time dissecting and discussing our rules, spending time talking about refs and what they rely on is really really helping improve and market our CFL product, increase viewership, increase merchandise sales, attract more sponsors with deep pockets, put more bums in the seats, help eliminate salary constraints to attract high level talent etc etc.

They should be discussing getting rid of the coaches/admin cap to improve the game. Not this **** stuff they're talking about at the Winter meetings, What Johnson is doing reminds me of James Kirk trying to teach the Iotians a game of Fizzbin which he made up on the fly. If the CFL fucks around with the playoffs they're crazy. the playoffs work just fine. The only change I'd make is the crossover team. If a crossover team has a better record than the third place team in the other conference then it gets to host a playoff game instead of the third place team in the other conference. That's it. Nothing else.

[GCn20]

16 hours ago, Booch said:

hopefully we have a real camp...real battles and the cream rises...whoever that may be....but hopefully we are past the old way of certain positions are pre-decided and to heck what TC showed.

If for anything at the very least we know Eli is as solid a 6th you can have...can play multiple spots and is just a machine in jumbo...

I have zero doubt that Eli contributes effectively to our team. I am just not 100% sold that he is the heir apparent as a starter.

[SpeedFlex27]

12 hours ago, Goalie said:

I dunno. Bryant wasn’t really that great last season. He was beat more times last year than his previous years combined. Now maybe that was an entire oline issue but I honestly wouldn’t be opposed to moving on from 40 yr old players. But he’s earned the right to go out how he wishes. Neufeld is a guy I’d bring back tho as he’s a bit more versatile than big Stan and Canadian. 

Bryant was never a problem last season & I believe that he graded out as our best OL as well. The problem was our Center Koala. He's gone now to Hamilton & they're welcome to him. 

[GCn20]

1 hour ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Bryant was never a problem last season & I believe that he graded out as our best OL as well. The problem was our Center Koala. He's gone now to Hamilton & they're welcome to him. 

Bryant did show signs of aging last year, although he still played very well. The Bombers would be remiss not to have a backup plan in place should his play drop off a cliff, as it does with so many players around his age, but if he can come back and play as well as last year LT will not be an issue.

[Brandon]

[Tracker]

On 2026-01-15 at 2:13 PM, GCn20 said:

It may have been in shambles due to lack of better options on the depth chart. I'm not trying to hate on Eli, I just want there to be some no doubt about it upgrades vs. maybes this year.

I am advocating that he has to earn the job, but his resume suggests that he ought to have the tools.

5 hours ago, GCn20 said:

Bryant did show signs of aging last year, although he still played very well. The Bombers would be remiss not to have a backup plan in place should his play drop off a cliff, as it does with so many players around his age, but if he can come back and play as well as last year LT will not be an issue.

I believe he had the most problem with speed rushes, which would be expected, given his age.

Edited 19 minutes ago by Tracker

[Bigblue204]

11 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

They should be discussing getting rid of the coaches/admin cap to improve the game. Not this **** stuff they're talking about at the Winter meetings, What Johnson is doing reminds me of James Kirk trying to teach the Iotians a game of Fizzbin which he made up on the fly. If the CFL fucks around with the playoffs they're crazy. the playoffs work just fine. The only change I'd make is the crossover team. If a crossover team has a better record than the third place team in the other conference then it gets to host a playoff game instead of the third place team in the other conference. That's it. Nothing else.

100%. Lots of talk about how apparently people arent watching because of odd little rules here and there...no talk (outside of 1 announcement near the GC) of focusing on grassroots building. Im sure the Bombers and Riders heavy involvement in amateur football has little to nothing to do with their ticket sales. Of course winning helps as well, but kids I coach arent Bomber fans because they love the rules of the CFL.

For the record, we're about to enter our 2nd season of NFL flag football. Bombers sponsor 3 of 4 seasons. NFL does the other. Not a peep from the CFL.

[Booch]

3 hours ago, GCn20 said:

Bryant did show signs of aging last year, although he still played very well. The Bombers would be remiss not to have a backup plan in place should his play drop off a cliff, as it does with so many players around his age, but if he can come back and play as well as last year LT will not be an issue.

he was playing a bit knicked a lot of the yr and I think Randolph is the heir apparent there...If Vpool progresses can see him in 2027 at RT and and Randolph at LT...Hopefully both are Bryant shadow and soaking it all in...we also have that one guy we signed who name escapes me coming to camp who could really impress too.

5 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Bryant was never a problem last season & I believe that he graded out as our best OL as well. The problem was our Center Koala. He's gone now to Hamilton & they're welcome to him. 

Yeah both he a Neuf graded out well and were solid of not better for most part

And like u said and not to beat a deadhorse to death....but the ripple effect of a lousy center cant be understated enough...I fully expect Wallace as well to look worlds different if we have a legit center....

Anothe thing...OC guys structure and schemes were garbage too...so I sure that had a hand in our line at times looking lost

[wbbfan]

pickett is a good get for toronto, it makes a lot of sense for him as well 

[HardCoreBlue]

15 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

pickett is a good get for toronto, it makes a lot of sense for him as well 

Ummmm sorry you must be new here.

We don't say anyting positive about the argoblows.

It's allright, now you know.

[wbbfan]

4 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

Ummmm sorry you must be new here.

We don't say anyting positive about the argoblows.

It's allright, now you know.

No team with out a fan base is worthy of such vitriol. 

[HardCoreBlue]

13 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

No team with out a fan base is worthy of such vitriol. 

Boy if I had Mod access to this discussion board it would definitely have a certain vibe based on what I allowed and did not allow.

Mind you if I was indeed the sole mod of this site me thinks I might be the only active user having fantastic discussions with myself.

Edited 55 minutes ago by HardCoreBlue