With Rookie Camp getting underway Wednesday morning, it's officially time to talk about the 2026 Winnipeg Blue Bombers!

Is Fredrickson this year's Mitchell? Training camp media darling that does absolutely zero in games?

2 minutes ago, Super Duper Negatron said:

Is Fredrickson this year's Mitchell? Training camp media darling that does absolutely zero in games?

Zach threw the guy a touchdown pass that he wanted no part of. Then I am pretty sure he dropped elgersmas first pass attempt.

Not impressed based on 1 game.

51 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

that would leave us with with no kr, or only vaval as back up db, and no ayers. And with kyrie as a di behind jones and woodbey that would leave no reps for smith to take.

We really need to make use of the naturalized american rule this year and shed some bodies at lber.

Tj davis’ reps came late in the mess part of the game. would’ve been nice to see him get some kr reps and play with the 1s/2s more. Hopefully in game 2.

Singer had a couple good throws into coverage that he came down with, as for route support and blocking it was a mess. It would really help if he is that kind of high support guy though. Demski opens a lot up for other guys and white will too.

He hasn’t been cut yet, that i’ve seen. That elite get off and burst is soo rare I think it demands more time. He took two stupid penalties, but he is a rookie they will do that. I hope to see him get more reps in game 2. But he’d be on the short list of pr candidates for me, if he’s coach able.

So would you not use a DI on a linebacker? I was assuming a DB at a DI to spell Vaval. I was also thinking Singer as a WR/KR and only starting two Canadian WRs. Can you put Ayers on the team without a role for him on defense?

28 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

Can you put Ayers on the team without a role for him on defense?

No I don't think we can, especially when they've invested heavily into Canadians at linebacker.

It's not the best use of a roster spot to have that many american linebackers. Better off beefing up the roster on the DL imo.

29 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

So would you not use a DI on a linebacker? I was assuming a DB at a DI to spell Vaval. I was also thinking Singer as a WR/KR and only starting two Canadian WRs. Can you put Ayers on the team without a role for him on defense?

I don't think Vaval will be the starting CB and I don't think we'll use a DI spot for a DB. It's all LB's, Castillo and Vaval as DI's.

3 hours ago, Booch said:

pretty easy to roster 2 import interior guys....pretty much we always do that...and with the talent we have in Canadians outside of a DT we can rotate in, we dont need to actually have an extra Canadian DT on roster...especially one who gets owned over and over...Could care less how much he hustles in practice and tries hard

We didn't have 2 import DT's last year or the year before IIRC. It's easy to do that if they just stop using an extra spot for Ayers.

26 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

So would you not use a DI on a linebacker? I was assuming a DB at a DI to spell Vaval. I was also thinking Singer as a WR/KR and only starting two Canadian WRs. Can you put Ayers on the team without a role for him on defense?

lber is the last spot I would use a di. We have two canadians one ready to start another ready to rotate.

Realistically, i would nat imp one of jones/kyrie have smith rotate to relieve lawson and allow an imp db on. Personally, i’d lean towards start ayers and jones.

Di kicker kr de db.

Lidster also looked really good. I expect him to sit on the pr, but he may be the sergio replacement before sergio’s career is over. An Ni kicker is a tremendous luxury.

2 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

No I don't think we can, especially when they've invested heavily into Canadians at linebacker.

It's not the best use of a roster spot to have that many american linebackers. Better off beefing up the roster on the DL imo.

not a di. Nat imp also rotating I could see. We’ve got a bunch of young canadians ready to contribute on teams from the D side.

between kyrie, jones and ayers, 1 guy really needs to go.

3 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

between kyrie, jones and ayers, 1 guy really needs to go.

Absolutely. Just now room for it and it handicaps the roster

3 hours ago, Booch said:

Songer right now has to be the front runner, and his return ability has to be an ace in hole for him too....Dude looks like a return TD on the making...Looks better than Vaval did early on camp last yr, and look what he did

Vaval looked terrible early on though, so most guys look better at this point lol. His turnaround from awful to amazing was pretty shocking.

Singer looked good returning kickoffs, but imo he struggled with punts. Seemed to struggle to track the ball and let a few bounce.

1 hour ago, 17to85 said:

Zach threw the guy a touchdown pass that he wanted no part of. Then I am pretty sure he dropped elgersmas first pass attempt.

Not impressed based on 1 game.

AND its exactly what I seen in camp...plus not uber athletic either...hard pass...I wouldnt even PR him as he doesnt serve any use as a returner option...or would be worth spit on cover's for ST...

with our Canadian linebackers...Kelly...possibly Stuart for more ST work than anything we don't really need to DI a LB per say, and we can also roster 2 import DT's...we have before and save for the last 2 yrs of roster stupidity should easily be able to....If Bailey and Gatkouth show they can be used in rotation then we may just roster 1 import end, seeing as Ceresna can play off edge. But I'd like to see us dress just Ceresna as no import DT showed anything, and have both Jenkins and Dixon on roster, as Dixon can easily slide inside, and also a WJ..Dixon..Ceresna..Jenkins front in some sets would be a real headache for opposing offences...And a 4 man base of Lawson and Ceresna in the middle and any 2 of WJ/Jenkins/Dixon/Bailey/Gatkouth is light yrs ahead of anything we put out there the last 2 yrs...and would easily look 2019'ish

There not gonna be room for all of Wilson/Jones/Woodbey/Ayers on active roster. Only way we can do that is if we go with the belief that one of Ball..Kelly...Stuart or Hallett is trusted at safety and an injury to a DB we slide Kramdi to SAM and shift Griffin to DB as he can play all the spots...and well.

The one guy who may be the odd man out and 1 gamed all yr is Allen unless he grabs the corner job

Was it Clinton or Cretsinger that had the pic 6? I thought it was Cretsinger. We're likely to retain 1 or more on the PR anyway. Didn't we have a defensive player that had a scoop and score in pre season last year only to get released? He was in the right place at the right time against a back up QB. So he gets some credit and perhaps more than immediately obvious. Hard to say, but we do need extras on the PR and those 2 are ahead of Addison IMO.

To some degree it also depends on whether we bump K. Wilson and or Ayers from the game roster. If they are here on reserve or 1 game IR, then less need for 2 many LB's on the PR.

The thing guys like Ayers and Woodbey have that I think gives them a leg up is versatility to play other positions. Woodbey is essentially a DB. Ayers is a sp teams demon and can play DE in a pinch but prob best at LB. JY doesn’t seem to value the DL as much as say Hall did. JY don’t really run that traditional D. Lots of rotating and versatility required. And we know sp teams is important to O’Shea so Ayers likely has a spot as does Woodbey jones and Kyrie. If JSK was healthy then you have a decision but I think in a JY D ( junkyard dog) the versatility matters. I think if you don’t dress the 4th LB it’s either jones or kyrie who sits because of lack of versatility. I dunno about jones. All his tackles are after yards gained.

Edited yesterday at 09:25 PM1 day by Goalie

7 minutes ago, Booch said:

with our Canadian linebackers...Kelly...possibly Stuart for more ST work than anything we don't really need to DI a LB per say, and we can also roster 2 import DT's...we have before and save for the last 2 yrs of roster stupidity should easily be able to....If Bailey and Gatkouth show they can be used in rotation then we may just roster 1 import end, seeing as Ceresna can play off edge. But I'd like to see us dress just Ceresna as no import DT showed anything, and have both Jenkins and Dixon on roster, as Dixon can easily slide inside, and also a WJ..Dixon..Ceresna..Jenkins front in some sets would be a real headache for opposing offences...And a 4 man base of Lawson and Ceresna in the middle and any 2 of WJ/Jenkins/Dixon/Bailey/Gatkouth is light yrs ahead of anything we put out there the last 2 yrs...and would easily look 2019'ish

There not gonna be room for all of Wilson/Jones/Woodbey/Ayers on active roster. Only way we can do that is if we go with the belief that one of Ball..Kelly...Stuart or Hallett is trusted at safety and an injury to a DB we slide Kramdi to SAM and shift Griffin to DB as he can play all the spots...and well.

The one guy who may be the odd man out and 1 gamed all yr is Allen unless he grabs the corner job

Yeah, those are among my thoughts as well. I am leaning towards Kelly as the odd man out and Stuart in for ST work and versatility. Munier-Bailey is an asset. Gatkouth makes the roster almost by default. I like the idea of Jenkins and Dixon both on the roster.

What this means for Fletcher or Young is probably PR to start the season?

I didn't see enough of Gautkouth or Bailey to say how they compare, but based on precedent, my guess is we will probably have Willy, Lawson, Ceresna and Jenkins, and two or three "rotation pieces" Ayers as one and one or two of Gautkouth. Kornelson or Bailey as the second and third. I would say a slim chance an import like Dixon displaces one of Gautkouth, Korn or Bailey if/when we go to a 7 DL roster.

Ayers can play DE on paper but not in reality. I'm going to be pissed when we keep Ayers and Kyrie on the roster at the expense of other positions.

7 hours ago, Booch said:

Weird. But in my opinion Fletcher looked legit, moved real well and could be a real good inside and outside guy...he just looked polished and really well coached previously

He was knicked but battled thru it for a good week, so maybe they wanted to free up roster space to see some guys and were gonna bring him back when he was a bit more healthy...And prob a good thing cause other than Lawson, what we saw on the inside of the DL was a whole lotta crap and none of the guys should be getting any reps of any significance this next game...let alone make the roster...I fear tho Korn gonna make it cause he Canadian, But with the way Smith played...again...Kramdi here...Gatkouth who did some real nice work for first game, and Bailey who also is a gem of an end, we dont need a crappy Canadian DT to sub out with to meet the 2 Canadians on the field on defence, or if injury...Especially if we use the Nationalized American as well.

We have so much Canadian rotation available on defence who can really ball out...we dont need to waste a spot on Korn...christ he been already cut what...like 3 times?...

And gotta say again..Jaylen Smith needs to play...a ton...as he gonna just get even better. Should have been already last yr

I'd be shocked as well if the oline isnt Bryant...Wallace..Eli..Neuf and Broxton...Elsbury didnt impress and as an Import you need to be exceptional at worst to justify that ratio move. And he wasnt...not even close...And man not sure what with Vpool but he looked lost and awful too...He better crank it up or could see him gone.

Back to ratio....we cant run 3 Canadian WR as we dont have the talent, and ZC needs weapons....Sure Corcoran made a nice catch....but he isnt a top level Candian let alone starter.

Fredrickson shouldn't get any work next game...and should be cut really....dud...nobody outside of White..Clercius and Singer from last game should feel safe...I do wanna see TJ Davis featured a bit more next game, as there is something there in my opinion but not gonna see it targeted 1 or 2 times, and playing with and against a bunch of guys who aint gonna be around in a week

Another note...That other Aussie can boom the ball....Does Osh have the onions to part ways with one of his pets/..of he dials it up again next week...and shows some nice positional kicking....I'd keep a giy who can kick you outta trouble like that

They are gonna keep cutting Kornelson until they get it right. I retired 5 times until I go it right.

10 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Zach threw the guy a touchdown pass that he wanted no part of. Then I am pretty sure he dropped elgersmas first pass attempt.

Not impressed based on 1 game.

Yea...if he gets a chance in game 2 he better ball out because game 1

21 hours ago, Booch said:

Weird. But in my opinion Fletcher looked legit, moved real well and could be a real good inside and outside guy...he just looked polished and really well coached previously

He was knicked but battled thru it for a good week, so maybe they wanted to free up roster space to see some guys and were gonna bring him back when he was a bit more healthy...And prob a good thing cause other than Lawson, what we saw on the inside of the DL was a whole lotta crap and none of the guys should be getting any reps of any significance this next game...let alone make the roster...I fear tho Korn gonna make it cause he Canadian, But with the way Smith played...again...Kramdi here...Gatkouth who did some real nice work for first game, and Bailey who also is a gem of an end, we dont need a crappy Canadian DT to sub out with to meet the 2 Canadians on the field on defence, or if injury...Especially if we use the Nationalized American as well.

We have so much Canadian rotation available on defence who can really ball out...we dont need to waste a spot on Korn...christ he been already cut what...like 3 times?...

And gotta say again..Jaylen Smith needs to play...a ton...as he gonna just get even better. Should have been already last yr

I'd be shocked as well if the oline isnt Bryant...Wallace..Eli..Neuf and Broxton...Elsbury didnt impress and as an Import you need to be exceptional at worst to justify that ratio move. And he wasnt...not even close...And man not sure what with Vpool but he looked lost and awful too...He better crank it up or could see him gone.

Back to ratio....we cant run 3 Canadian WR as we dont have the talent, and ZC needs weapons....Sure Corcoran made a nice catch....but he isnt a top level Candian let alone starter.

Fredrickson shouldn't get any work next game...and should be cut really....dud...nobody outside of White..Clercius and Singer from last game should feel safe...I do wanna see TJ Davis featured a bit more next game, as there is something there in my opinion but not gonna see it targeted 1 or 2 times, and playing with and against a bunch of guys who aint gonna be around in a week

Another note...That other Aussie can boom the ball....Does Osh have the onions to part ways with one of his pets/..of he dials it up again next week...and shows some nice positional kicking....I'd keep a giy who can kick you outta trouble like that

If the new punter can show accuracy with his punts I'd give him the job too.

1 hour ago, GCn20 said:

Yea...if he gets a chance in game 2 he better ball out because game 1

If the new punter can show accuracy with his punts I'd give him the job too.

yup...A guy who can kick it outta FG range from inside your 20...why would you not want that if he can place shorter punts too

39 minutes ago, Booch said:

yup...A guy who can kick it outta FG range from inside your 20...why would you not want that if he can place shorter punts too

I want to see him kick off too. Lidster has a real good leg, but Andrews is bigger then Bedes was imo.

22 hours ago, Goalie said:

Ayers is a sp teams demon and can play DE in a pinch

In the same way that anyone could go line up at DE... just because they put him there doesn't mean he's any good at it. As a linebacker and special teamer he's good, to very good... but he's not a DE and that's a horrible justification for keeping him around.

My opinion on building a roster: start with your best Canadians in starting positions and fill in everything else around them ensuring that you have sufficient depth at all positions to account for rotations and the event of in game injuries.

51 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

In the same way that anyone could go line up at DE... just because they put him there doesn't mean he's any good at it. As a linebacker and special teamer he's good, to very good... but he's not a DE and that's a horrible justification for keeping him around.

My opinion on building a roster: start with your best Canadians in starting positions and fill in everything else around them ensuring that you have sufficient depth at all positions to account for rotations and the event of in game injuries.

agreed...assess the roster, put it to task in TC and pick the 12 best on each side within ratio....then evaluate of you have sufficient coverage for injury at a Canadian position, and or ability to fill with an American back-up/DA and again have capable Canadian back-up that can slide in elsewhere, and not degrading the on field product in game to a pityful level

We have seemed to have gotten away from that and filled roster with guys not capable of developing or stepping in...and were to rigid in where we played Canadians and have kept status quo and let a better American go, and played a lesser Canadian where we could have Americanized the spot and upgraded substantially and played a Canadian at a different spot and prob seen minimal to no drop off....and that assbackward way we did things eroded our roster, and has affected how we draft and recruit, tho it seems to maybe have switched a bit this yr....maybe....have to see how the first 3rd of season plays out

as per ratio...Its my understanding that 21 Canadians are required on game day....One of which is the nationalized American, so technically whatever American you use, be it WJ...T.White..or whever....doesn't actually have their spot count on roster as one of the 19 American spots ....correct?