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

If you're Vanterpool, are you in any hurry to come back here?

8 hours ago, bigg jay said:

If you're Vanterpool, are you in any hurry to come back here?

If you are the Bombers are you in any hurry to sign him? He has been dreadful at OT. I may resign him if the plan is to go IMP at one of the OG spots but I would NEVER let him play OT again. If Cline or Manu are available that would be huge.

13 hours ago, Arnold_Palmer said:

Didn’t hear much about Broxton this year and that absolutely is a good thing. Also the game or two that he missed our line was absolutely schooled. To Bryant’s credit even he played better down the stretch. I’d go as far to say our line overall down the stretch has been average to good.

Average to good? Not even remotely close to good imo. Better than dumpster fire that it was but still pretty bad.

Edited 23 hours ago23 hr by GCn20

11 hours ago, wbbfan said:

I really want Rano back next year, plus Manu in. Cline would be solid too. I'm not married to any of the interior OL at this point. I'd love to see Vanterpool given a real chance to be the starting G though.

We really need a rebuild of the interior. Neufeld will likely retire and Eli and Gabe should not be starting in this league.

13 hours ago, Booch said:

Yeah early on big stan was hurt and wasn't mobile...but he wasn't that bad last half the season really..had some whiffs but who doesn't.. we just spoiled for yrs with his dominance

But..def dont wanna see him at left tackle next yr...guard if hes brought back but ideally if we get our draft picks from down south id prefer to see us use only 1 import

He'll be 41. Time to put his helmet in his locker for good or he becomes a joke like Jake Thomas.

40 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

He'll be 41. Time to put his helmet in his locker for good or he becomes a joke like Jake Thomas.

I think he knows that.

48 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

He'll be 41. Time to put his helmet in his locker for good or he becomes a joke like Jake Thomas.

48 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

He'll be 41. Time to put his helmet in his locker for good or he becomes a joke like Jake Thomas.

Oh I agree....but we also know who we talking about tho in the HC and GM positions

Knowing Stan pretty sure he knows its the end of the line...and I don't think if even offered he would accept and sully his rep...Come back next yr as a 1 day contract and retire as a Bomber at home opener and get shown the love he deserves...Slap his name up on the Ring too at same time

14 hours ago, Booch said:

Yeah early on big stan was hurt and wasn't mobile...but he wasn't that bad last half the season really..had some whiffs but who doesn't.. we just spoiled for yrs with his dominance

But..def dont wanna see him at left tackle next yr...guard if hes brought back but ideally if we get our draft picks from down south id prefer to see us use only 1 import

If we could get Cline here... that would be excellent... I believe Cline has played a lot of RT... I would love a line of Broxton - Vandy - Eli/FA/draft - Wallace/FA/draft - Cline

4 minutes ago, bearpants said:

If we could get Cline here... that would be excellent... I believe Cline has played a lot of RT... I would love a line of Broxton - Vandy - Eli/FA/draft - Wallace/FA/draft - Cline

yeah I figure Cline projects better as a Tackle option here than Manu...From my understanding Manu has really struggled with Tackle playing too upright...losing leverage and consistently having to reach and basically neutralizing his strength and power....so was moved inside as a last chance to maybe stick...Then got basically injury settlement'd into the abyss....so pretty sure he will be seen if not at start of camp...shortly there after. His deficiencies in the NFL with the bigger ends there likely not be a huge issue here and serviceable, but his best spot here would be inside as a dominant guard.

If we are lucky and see both here next yr, and we land a FA ...OR 2...we be looking real good with the other incumbents still signed for 2027...

11 hours ago, bigg jay said:

If you're Vanterpool, are you in any hurry to come back here?

No, and normally that would pave the way out through free agency. The big * is that he's an import guard. If someone thinks he can start at T next year, he will be gone. More likely, it will be hard for him to find a spot elsewhere.

2 hours ago, GCn20 said:

If you are the Bombers are you in any hurry to sign him? He has been dreadful at OT. I may resign him if the plan is to go IMP at one of the OG spots but I would NEVER let him play OT again. If Cline or Manu are available that would be huge.

Average to good? Not even remotely close to good imo. Better than dumpster fire that it was but still pretty bad.

His tackle play has been extremely limited. I'll say in pre-season the last two years he looked good. Looked like he progressed. Hard to judge a guy off his first time being pushed into action at the wrong tackle side. In his limited playing time last year at Guard, he was our best OL imo.

We also have to remember he's 27, turning 28, prime age for a tackle; he's got tremendous size and athleticism (6'5 335), he had a 98%+ win rate in pass pro his last 2 years of college and took 0 penalties in over 900 snaps of his final college year. He's healthy, and he's a road grader. ]

Plus, we have given up good OL to free agency for a while. Lots of teams have had success picking our leftovers.

If we have a brain, we want him back. The market for an imp G who hasn't been an every-day starter isn't great. But whatever that market is, and it does seem to be growing, he's probably the top guy available.

55 minutes ago, Booch said:

yeah I figure Cline projects better as a Tackle option here than Manu...From my understanding Manu has really struggled with Tackle playing too upright...losing leverage and consistently having to reach and basically neutralizing his strength and power....so was moved inside as a last chance to maybe stick...Then got basically injury settlement'd into the abyss....so pretty sure he will be seen if not at start of camp...shortly there after. His deficiencies in the NFL with the bigger ends there likely not be a huge issue here and serviceable, but his best spot here would be inside as a dominant guard.

If we are lucky and see both here next yr, and we land a FA ...OR 2...we be looking real good with the other incumbents still signed for 2027...

To be fair, I don't think a single Tackle in the CFL could start in the NFL and do any better. The level of play at pass rush in the NFL today is a whole other planet compared to the CFL.

My concern with Manu is strictly intangibles. I worry that he is soft and doesn't love the physicality and grind of line play, or football in general. That kid is so talented, explosive, and strong he could only use 1 arm and 2 legs or hop on one leg using both arms and win more snaps than any of our Canadian OL.

But I see injuries that shouldn't be too severe linger far longer than they should. He bounces back too slowly from those injuries and, for a young, athletic guy, just isn't ready to go at the start of the year after injuries, etc.

I hope that's not it, but if it is, I don't think he will want to come up here for 100k-ish a year. Maybe he needs the shake-up of falling out of the NFL, though. If that motivates him and gets him mentally where he needs to be, he's a day 1 starter at RT imo.

1 hour ago, GCn20 said:

I think he knows that.

You have no way of knowing for sure.

14 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

You have no way of knowing for sure.

Just his body language at the end of the last home game. It's a hunch but I'd bet big money he is retiring.

25 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

To be fair, I don't think a single Tackle in the CFL could start in the NFL and do any better. The level of play at pass rush in the NFL today is a whole other planet compared to the CFL.

My concern with Manu is strictly intangibles. I worry that he is soft and doesn't love the physicality and grind of line play, or football in general. That kid is so talented, explosive, and strong he could only use 1 arm and 2 legs or hop on one leg using both arms and win more snaps than any of our Canadian OL.

But I see injuries that shouldn't be too severe linger far longer than they should. He bounces back too slowly from those injuries and, for a young, athletic guy, just isn't ready to go at the start of the year after injuries, etc.

I hope that's not it, but if it is, I don't think he will want to come up here for 100k-ish a year. Maybe he needs the shake-up of falling out of the NFL, though. If that motivates him and gets him mentally where he needs to be, he's a day 1 starter at RT imo.

He would be by far our best option at RT if he comes here, which I doubt. I think he likely waits it out hoping to get picked up, retires, or does not want to sign here and demands a trade.

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by GCn20

I think they have to get Wallace and Eli back. Broxton obviously as well. But we can't keep letting CND OL slip away. I like Wallace and what he brings to the table. He's not perfect, but has progressed this year imo. Keep him in the mix and hopefully he continues to develop.

4 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

I think they have to get Wallace and Eli back. Broxton obviously as well. But we can't keep letting CND OL slip away. I like Wallace and what he brings to the table. He's not perfect, but has progressed this year imo. Keep him in the mix and hopefully he continues to develop.

We need one of them as our 6th OL.

1 hour ago, GCn20 said:

Just his body language at the end of the last home game. It's a hunch but I'd bet big money he is retiring.

He would be by far our best option at RT if he comes here, which I doubt. I think he likely waits it out hoping to get picked up, retires, or does not want to sign here and demands a trade.

I agree on both points. I like what Poncius has flashed in TC/preseason. I certainly want him back, but you can't bank anything on that.

18 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

I think they have to get Wallace and Eli back. Broxton obviously as well. But we can't keep letting CND OL slip away. I like Wallace and what he brings to the table. He's not perfect, but has progressed this year imo. Keep him in the mix and hopefully he continues to develop.

We have to get better, so that means we have to get those guys back or get better. Thing is, even if you get a pure talent upgrade that fits your system and fit together, having 3-4 new pieces starting on the OL is a nightmare.

Eli and Wallace should be back, but both should only be pencilled in for the battle in camp. Can't hand out any spots for free.

I would bring Elsbury back for camp next year, but he'd be depth chart fodder. Throw him to the sharks in camp, and if he does well and swims back, do it again in pre season.

I like wallace a lot too. I really want to see him take the next step next year. He has flashed the nastiness and road grading but he needs to do it consistently. Playing so long beside an awful C doesn't help.

With vanterpool and Poncius both on on the reserve list, I am sure they will be back. If we didn't have them as a priority to return they would be on the PR.

17 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

We need one of them as our 6th OL.

We need a 6th ol that could be a starter.

If we bring all those guys back, and bring in 1 of the two in the NFL, we still need a high level FA signing at G or T and a decent AR signing at a similar level, and need to draft some more guys at the OL.

Wallace is a guy that's likely to figure it out sooner or later. You'd hate to do the development and watch him blossom somewhere else.

Also feel like Eli isn't a problem at all and had he been starting at C the last few seasons our line wouldn't be seen as the major issue that it is.

I'm curious about Wallace. There was some piece that Tait did in pre season about how Wallace had lost a bunch of weight and was really focused on keeping the weight down because he said in previous seasons he always would gain a bunch of weight throughout the season and would be in poor shape by the end of it. I remember thinking he did look trim early on... In recent weeks though.... And maybe it's just me... But it seems to me like he's really big again. Could be just how it looks on TV, but it seemed noticeable to me in recent weeks ...

Edited 18 hours ago18 hr by Noeller

42 minutes ago, Noeller said:

I'm curious about Wallace. There was some piece that Tait did in pre season about how Wallace had lost a bunch of weight and was really focused on keeping the weight down because he said in previous seasons he always would gain a bunch of weight throughout the season and would be in poor shape by the end of it. I remember thinking he did look trim early on... In recent weeks though.... And maybe it's just me... But it seems to me like he's really big again. Could be just how it looks on TV, but it seemed noticeable to me in recent weeks ...

He is a massive human being, trim or not. So it can be hard to eyeball. He has been yoyoing in weight since he went pro. I'm not sure if he's up or down now. Dobson got worse going down in weight and has been much better at a stable weight in Hamilton.

Eli sure looks like he is up in weight, though it hasn't seemed to be a problem.

59 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Wallace is a guy that's likely to figure it out sooner or later. You'd hate to do the development and watch him blossom somewhere else.

Also feel like Eli isn't a problem at all and had he been starting at C the last few seasons our line wouldn't be seen as the major issue that it is.

43 minutes ago, Noeller said:

I'm curious about Wallace. There was some piece that Tait did in pre season about how Wallace had lost a bunch of weight and was really focused on keeping the weight down because he said in previous seasons he always would gain a bunch of weight throughout the season and would be in poor shape by the end of it. I remember thinking he did look trim early on... In recent weeks though.... And maybe it's just me... But it seems to me like he's really big again. Could be just how it looks on TV, but it seemed noticeable to me in recent weeks ...

Wallace needs to have the Hardrick clause...He drops 30...he will flourish

And yes Eli has been just fine....and actually Wallace has looked better beside him...The interior of our line hasnt been a free pass up through it like it was before we made the swap...and I havnt seen guys just free as a bird come flying thru since either (other than when a team outnumbers on line of scrimmage) and even then it hasnt been nearly as bad...right calls are being made, if you watch you can see the guards and center work in tandem with 50 blocks and chip and search where Eli will lock up a guy and free up the guard to search out the delayed, or second level guy...It looked like a Chinese fire drill before ...and the snaps have been mint...and ZC has had good production with a ball that is in his mitts and right where he wants it to keep his eyes on the defence...another huge thing

Both will be back as I cant see them letting Wallace walk outta his rookie deal...Both should be battling in camp to either win or lose their position from this yr...

1 hour ago, Booch said:

Wallace needs to have the Hardrick clause...He drops 30...he will flourish

And yes Eli has been just fine....and actually Wallace has looked better beside him...The interior of our line hasnt been a free pass up through it like it was before we made the swap...and I havnt seen guys just free as a bird come flying thru since either (other than when a team outnumbers on line of scrimmage) and even then it hasnt been nearly as bad...right calls are being made, if you watch you can see the guards and center work in tandem with 50 blocks and chip and search where Eli will lock up a guy and free up the guard to search out the delayed, or second level guy...It looked like a Chinese fire drill before ...and the snaps have been mint...and ZC has had good production with a ball that is in his mitts and right where he wants it to keep his eyes on the defence...another huge thing

Both will be back as I cant see them letting Wallace walk outta his rookie deal...Both should be battling in camp to either win or lose their position from this yr...

I believe Wallace will be back for sure. Eli...depends on the FA market for centres and whether Cline of Manu come over.

1 hour ago, GCn20 said:

I believe Wallace will be back for sure. Eli...depends on the FA market for centres and whether Cline of Manu come over.

Eli is signed thru 2027