25/26 CFL (Non Bombers) Off Season Thread

[Booch]

1 minute ago, GCn20 said:

Couldn't be worse.

he's better than KOLO....but thats a low bar...TBD on Eli but I bet you all will be impressed this yr if given the job and the rope the human ole machine got for 3 yrs...allow him to settle in and we roll...

[GCn20]

54 minutes ago, Booch said:

he's better than KOLO....but thats a low bar...TBD on Eli but I bet you all will be impressed this yr if given the job and the rope the human ole machine got for 3 yrs...allow him to settle in and we roll...

I wish I had your faith in Eli but I don't. Hope I'm wrong.

[wbbfan]

14 hours ago, M.O.A.B. said:

To the experts here, Darius Ciraco how good / bad is  he as a Center? Is he better than Chris K or Eli ?

He would be the best pass blocker of the 3 from last year's play, but the worst run blocker of the 3. Eli is better overall and needs to step up in the pass game from his guard play to take the job. He should easily be able to do that. Id say Ciraco in pass pro is the bare minimum for what we need at C, and Eli run blocking is the minimum on that side. 

We haven't seen significant snaps from Eli at C in ages. It looked to me that he struggled out of position at Guard, which is not common but does happen (Yoshi is the biggest example). And that he, like everyone else, struggled with kola at C. I expect to see a significant improvement from him going back to his natural position full-time. If not, I'd cut him. I would expect to see that increase in the level of play before the first preseason game. 

Ciraco would be the backup plan imo. If we missed out on Woodmansey, I'd take flyers on guys like McEwen. Failing that, I'd try to target a C in the draft if possible. 

Ciraco would be the guy I would look to bring in during camp, if Eli fails, we don't get another FA, and Vibert doesn't step up. Basically, the contingency plan is the backup plan. 

He's a good pass blocker, but he fits our system really poorly. We'd have to give up on our zone run scheme, and even then, he isn't a guy who is going to feast in any run scheme. 

 

9 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

I wish I had your faith in Eli but I don't. Hope I'm wrong.

I believe in Eli, and I also really like Vibert. But I would bring in a plan A, and look long and hard at Cs in the draft. 

[JuranBoldenRules]

14 hours ago, M.O.A.B. said:

To the experts here, Darius Ciraco how good / bad is  he as a Center? Is he better than Chris K or Eli ?

Honestly wouldn't rate a single Canadian OL about to hit free agency as starter quality.

Woodmansey can't snap consistently enough to play centre and can't block well enough to be good at guard.  He's the only one approaching being a good CFL player at this point in their careers.

It's pure desperation and injuries that keep some of these guys playing.  If I was running a team I'd start with the idea I probably have to play 4 American OL to have a strong offense and if you can find Canadians to take those spots it's a bonus.  Way more options that don't harm your ability to win to play Canadians at receiver/RB or on D than locking in OL spots these days.

I'm hopeful we're bringing up more American OL who aren't just tackles.

[17to85]

26 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

I wish I had your faith in Eli but I don't. Hope I'm wrong.

History is on your side

[GCn20]

11 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

History is on your side

Pot meet kettle.

Edited 1 hour ago by GCn20

[17to85]

34 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Pot meet kettle.

See what I mean?

[GCn20]

1 minute ago, 17to85 said:

See what I mean?

Dude, you've been wrong in your opinion as many times as you have been right....and that applies to most of us here. 

[HardCoreBlue]

10 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Dude, you've been wrong in your opinion as many times as you have been right....and that applies to most of us here. 

[GCn20]

Just now, HardCoreBlue said:

lol

[Stickem]

8 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

Yes ...I'm exempt as well.......

[Booch]

1 hour ago, GCn20 said:

I wish I had your faith in Eli but I don't. Hope I'm wrong.

me too lol

In all honesty...he has never been givin a legit chance to settle in..work out the kinks

I not saying I the know all be all, but have worked with and seen a lot of guys in my time...He has the legit talent and athleticism to thrive...But was saddled with a knucklehead of a HC....SORRY of offended some you he cant do no wrong crowd...but varying success aside...he is, and too much credit praise was heaped on him...One man wasnt the rason we were...key word..were the creme de la creme

[bearpants]

1 hour ago, GCn20 said:

I wish I had your faith in Eli but I don't. Hope I'm wrong.

to me, it's one of two things... either the Eli boosters here are just wrong... or maybe he is a better C but the team valued his ability as the sixth man higher because Kolo would be even more useless if he was anything other than C...

[Booch]

2 minutes ago, bearpants said:

to me, it's one of two things... either the Eli boosters here are just wrong... or maybe he is a better C but the team valued his ability as the sixth man higher because Kolo would be even more useless if he was anything other than C...

I dunno...Any NCAA center how was twice nominated for a Rimington watch list candidate and was a widely regarded standout center over 36 ganes in Div 1 football, and is not undersized yet still athletic....former Rugby dude too....to me in my experience is a better option than a CIS slug..who was dumped on the scrap heap and unwanted for 2+ yrs, and if was given the chance to suck for as long as Kolo was...would have likely turned into one the best Centers in the league..Thankfully he is still in his prime as far as centers go...kinda just entering it so he still likely will

But that's just me