With Rookie Camps getting underway Wednesday, it's time to talk about the 2026 CFL season!

Those stats are great! Thanks.

Brown throws the ball deep about 13% of the time and completes 16.7% of them for 4 picks, 0 TD's.
Maier throws the ball deep about 15% of the time and completes 43.9% of them for 6 picks, 4 TD's.

Why do we need a deep ball 50/50 receiver anyway?

2 hours ago, TBURGESS said:

Where are you guys getting your numbers from? I'd like to look too.
Why is your 2026 3/11, when GC has "15 of 17 missed catches were 20+ yards"?
Your numbers show that Geno isn't the deep 50/50 ball guy that we all think he is.

Different sites interpret differently. The stat site I used probably includes end zone yardage, some do and some don't. Run Geno against any number of receivers and you will find similar catch rates on deep balls. It's considered a lower % play because it is a lower % play. If any receiver was catching a 50% rate on long balls he would be the target on every play. If he missed first down he would get second down and QBs would throw for a 1000 yards a game.

20 minutes ago, TBURGESS said:

Those stats are great! Thanks.

Brown throws the ball deep about 13% of the time and completes 16.7% of them for 4 picks, 0 TD's.
Maier throws the ball deep about 15% of the time and completes 43.9% of them for 6 picks, 4 TD's.

Why do we need a deep ball 50/50 receiver anyway?

Your own stats should tell you why. Pretty obvious our current group isn't exactly awesome at bringing them down.

Edited August 4Aug 4 by GCn20

22 minutes ago, TBURGESS said:

Those stats are great! Thanks.

Brown throws the ball deep about 13% of the time and completes 16.7% of them for 4 picks, 0 TD's.
Maier throws the ball deep about 15% of the time and completes 43.9% of them for 6 picks, 4 TD's.

Why do we need a deep ball 50/50 receiver anyway?

Um, so we aren't worse than Jake Maier at deep balls?

45 minutes ago, TBURGESS said:

Those stats are great! Thanks.

Brown throws the ball deep about 13% of the time and completes 16.7% of them for 4 picks, 0 TD's.
Maier throws the ball deep about 15% of the time and completes 43.9% of them for 6 picks, 4 TD's.

Why do we need a deep ball 50/50 receiver anyway?

Do you think some of that would be causation due to the fact that we have a very small WR core that isn't good downfield or in 50/50 situations?

Obviously Lewis would (should?) be an improvement over the two NIs at the bottom of the WR corps im not sure he brings anything to the table that the current imports don't at this point.

It would be kind of funny though for a team that can't let go of aging talent would bring in the 3rd oldest WR in the league (by my count only T Jones in CGY and Hardy in OTT are older)

You would have to think they'd be able to find someone who shakes out of an NFL camp in the next few weeks that would at least be able to give that deep threat right!?!

30 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

The stat site I used probably includes end zone yardage, some do and some don't.

I imagine the league stat package follows the play by play which would include endzone yardage. Any play that is labelled as 'deep' is 20+ yards down field. One gap I do see is that interceptions are just labelled "interceptions" and no depth seems to be recorded in the play by play

Just now, ShyGuy said:

You would have to think they'd be able to find someone who shakes out of an NFL camp in the next few weeks that would at least be able to give that deep threat right!?!

Those days are long gone. NFL cuts are next year options

23 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Do you think some of that would be causation due to the fact that we have a very small WR core that isn't good downfield or in 50/50 situations?

Don't bring context into the conversation, we are only to look at the stats as they read in black and white. That's why surface stats mean nothing. If Lewis runs this stat line with Bo Levi it's very concerning, if he runs it with Maier one has to consider that as he isn't a great deep ball thrower.

Brown has a poor deep ball stat line but like you say it's largely because we lack that 50/50 receiver. TBurgess would argue that his deep ball stats prove we shouldn't bother with a 50/50 guy, most others would correctly argue that proves we absolutely need one. Then again, TB asked why we would want a 50/50 guy.....was that a serious question?

Edited August 4Aug 4 by GCn20

4 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Don't bring context into the conversation, we are only to look at the stats as they read in black and white.

Tbf CFL lists Lewis at 6'0" (I see some references to him being 185cm so maybe closer to 6'1".

Using 6 foot even would have him be 2 inches taller than Cobb and White, 1 inch taller than Demski, even with Wilson, and 3 inches shorter than Clercius and Nield.

So he would not exactly be adding much height... Maybe a bit of weight because his listing of 200 gives him a bunch more girth compared to Cobb, Wilson and White

16 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Those days are long gone. NFL cuts are next year options

Nailed it. At best, you might get a few true pro rookies up for early auditions in the late season. You aren't going to find turnkey replacement vets anymore. The only guys who trickle up in the same year will be extremely raw or limited.

3 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Don't bring context into the conversation, we are only to look at the stats as they read in black and white.

You're right, my bad!

It seems like we are seeing more activity this year then in most seasons. There might be moves to be had other than scrap heap pick-ups. But I wonder if we might not end up sellers.

The next 6 weeks we have 2 byes, 4 games against the best 3 teams in the league, and another against Ottawa. I think winning 2 games in that stretch is reasonably optimistic. If we underachieve that, we are basically cooked. If we do that, we will likely be playing for the crossover again. Which is a bad position to be in with an expensive, old team on short-term deals, and having just given up prime draft equity.

2 minutes ago, ShyGuy said:

Tbf CFL lists Lewis at 6'0" (I see some references to him being 185cm so maybe closer to 6'1".

Using 6 foot even would have him be 2 inches taller than Cobb and White, 1 inch taller than Demski, even with Wilson, and 3 inches shorter than Clercius and Nield.

So he would not exactly be adding much height... Maybe a bit of weight because his listing of 200 gives him a bunch more girth compared to Cobb, Wilson and White

It's true that Lewis isn't physically huge. He is very similar in size to Schoen. But his skill set is a downfield one. He also has a virtually 6'6 " wingspan and almost 10" hands, which are pretty great downfield tangibles. 1-3 inches in height, 4-5 in length combine for a pretty big increase in catch radius. But being a downfield guy is as much a mentality and about physicality as anything. Arceneaux was a decent bit heavier, but that downfield guy was at a similar height. While dated, Milt is the greatest example of this. 6'0, 185, zero fear.

Our wr core is basically small guys that play small. A big guy who plays big would be great. But everyone in every league is looking for that. An average-sized guy who plays big would be a big improvement.

38 minutes ago, ShyGuy said:

Tbf CFL lists Lewis at 6'0" (I see some references to him being 185cm so maybe closer to 6'1".

Using 6 foot even would have him be 2 inches taller than Cobb and White, 1 inch taller than Demski, even with Wilson, and 3 inches shorter than Clercius and Nield.

So he would not exactly be adding much height... Maybe a bit of weight because his listing of 200 gives him a bunch more girth compared to Cobb, Wilson and White

Height doesn't man anything unless you are very noticeably small. It's about a receivers ability to high point, concentrate and catch, and box out the defender that makes a good 50/50 guy. I'll take a 6-1 guy with a 36" vertical over a 6'4" guy with a 28 inch vertical for instance. Kenny Lawler, probably one the best 50/50 guys the league has seen over the past decade is of average height for instance.

34 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

It's true that Lewis isn't physically huge. He is very similar in size to Schoen. But his skill set is a downfield one. He also has a virtually 6'6 " wingspan and almost 10" hands, which are pretty great downfield tangibles. 1-3 inches in height, 4-5 in length combine for a pretty big increase in catch radius. But being a downfield guy is as much a mentality and about physicality as anything. Arceneaux was a decent bit heavier, but that downfield guy was at a similar height. While dated, Milt is the greatest example of this. 6'0, 185, zero fear.

Our wr core is basically small guys that play small. A big guy who plays big would be great. But everyone in every league is looking for that. An average-sized guy who plays big would be a big improvement.

Body position, or rather the ability to be great at getting it, is probably the single biggest factor in 50/50 guys success. Some guys, like Lawler, are masters at gaining it even in the toughest coverage. Lewis made his bread and butter doing it as well.

22 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Don't bring context into the conversation, we are only to look at the stats as they read in black and white. That's why surface stats mean nothing. If Lewis runs this stat line with Bo Levi it's very concerning, if he runs it with Maier one has to consider that as he isn't a great deep ball thrower.

Brown has a poor deep ball stat line but like you say it's largely because we lack that 50/50 receiver. TBurgess would argue that his deep ball stats prove we shouldn't bother with a 50/50 guy, most others would correctly argue that proves we absolutely need one. Then again, TB asked why we would want a 50/50 guy.....was that a serious question?

You want context? You can't handle the context! Maier's deep ball completion % is the same as Davis Alexander's at 43.9%. Browns is 16.7%. That doesn't say Maier is a bad deep ball QB who is holding Lewis back, which was your opinion stated as fact. The huge differences are that Alexander has a single pick,(Maier has 6 and Brown has 4 (which in his case is 1 more than his completions)) and Alexander is throwing to Philpot who catchs more than 1/2 the deep balls and Sneed who catches 1/3'd of them.

Philpot (MTL) caught 10 of his 19 deep balls over 50%. Lewis is 3 of 11 about 27%. Demski and White are 3 of 7 for 42%. Nield is 0 of 4 so Lewis is better, but also means changing the ratio. Every receiver who has been targeted at 20+ 10 or more times has a better catch percentage except Lawler who has some pretty bad QB's throwing to him. Now there's a case for bad QB's being the difference.

We all get it. You're blaming bad QBing for Lewis' lack of production and bad receivers for Browns. The stats don't back your story up on either side of the ledger. Brown's problem is overthrows. We've all seen it.

34 minutes ago, TBURGESS said:

You want context? You can't handle the context!

You want context? You can't handle the context!

All right Jack , settle down!

Lewis tho has a history and knack for the tough catches...we need that. As @wbbfan said as well some of his measurables are outside the norm of the typical 6'..6'-1" WR so as to why it seems like he is a bigger reciever...and why NFL teams go to the extremes in measurables with players...they look at everything ...literally

Some of Browns INT's this yr were the direct result too of the receiver giving up zero fight for the ball...and just basically outmuscled out...Doesnt happen with Lewis, and in season past even Tho Lawler and Adams were slighter guys...but them..Bailey....even Woli could muscle their way into the reception and make a less than perfect throw sucessfull. Those balls with them as the recipient likely were not intercepted....that's where we lacking...Only guy we really have right now to be that kind of guy is Clercius and we havnt really integrated him back into things yet since he been back..

And really a WR in this day and age at 33 is hardly a player with a deficit...and sometimes just presence on the field alone would add room to the other guys...Fact of the matter adding him to a group with White, Pokey and Demski and either or of Clercius and Neild totally changes the look of that group and actually would have DC's in the league changing up how they run coverages on us....Especially if we get back to using BO as we should be

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

It's true that Lewis isn't physically huge. He is very similar in size to Schoen. But his skill set is a downfield one. He also has a virtually 6'6 " wingspan and almost 10" hands, which are pretty great downfield tangibles. 1-3 inches in height, 4-5 in length combine for a pretty big increase in catch radius. But being a downfield guy is as much a mentality and about physicality as anything. Arceneaux was a decent bit heavier, but that downfield guy was at a similar height. While dated, Milt is the greatest example of this. 6'0, 185, zero fear.

Our wr core is basically small guys that play small. A big guy who plays big would be great. But everyone in every league is looking for that. An average-sized guy who plays big would be a big improvement.

Do you believe the money we could spend on Lewis could be spent elsewhere, like on the OL or defense? I do agree with ShyGuy that an old team signing another old players isn't the way to go. It's a short term solution at best.

Yeah, I know it's hard to find players with the NFL & UFL hoarding guys but we're supposed to have a scouting department that need to do their jobs. There is a dearth of hungry young receivers in the US. I've seen some of these guys in action at qb workouts in California, Oregon, Washington & Idaho. My reaction is why aren't some of they playing somewhere? Yeah, the NFL & UFL have taken some of guys like that. But not all of them. If they have agents or are in some kind of database then get cracking & find someone. We never seem to do that.

Edited August 4Aug 4 by SpeedFlex27

We don’t seem interested in using three import recs so none of this really matters. Lewis won’t come here to sit on the pr.

Just now, SpeedFlex27 said:

Do you believe the money we could spend on Lewis could be spent elsewhere, like on the OL or defense? I do agree with ShyGuy that an old team signing another old players isn't the way to go. It's a short term solution at best.

Yeah, I know it's hard to find players with the NFL & UFL hoarding guys but we're supposed to have a scouting department that need to do their jobs. There is a dearth of hungry & young receivers in the US. I've seen some of these guys in action at qb workouts in California, Oregon, Washington & Idaho. My reaction is why aren't some of these guys playing somewhere? Yeah, the NFL & UFL have taken some of guys like that. But not all of them. If they have agents or are in some kind of database then get cracking & find someone. We never seem to do that.

we need short term tho right now if we want a chance at playoffs...Lewis' skill set and what he good at isn't really an age dependent thing either in my opinion, especially coming in not having to be a big time number 1 home run hitter

Sadly looking at the landscape its the only real option we can parachute in right now to immediately put in lineup and help...there gonna be no other gifts dropped into our laps. We all know even if Walters brought in the second coming of a young Bryant...Biggie...Bolden...Stegal...that Osh wouldnt play the anyway....a tired and true vet is the only kind of player that will break into a shitty Osh roster

And his addition may also help the defense as it will surely mean the offence will stay on field longer helping in sustaining drives

Just now, sweep the leg said:

We don’t seem interested in using three import recs so none of this really matters. Lewis won’t come here to sit on the pr.

They have to change the ratio somewhere. I agree. Osh will keep the roster the way it is mostly due to a lack of depth everywhere. Walters probably won't bring anyone in to catch the ball. Staus quo. We'll ride with who we got. Whether we're 14-4 or 4-14.

Edited August 4Aug 4 by SpeedFlex27

1 minute ago, sweep the leg said:

We don’t seem interested in using three import recs so none of this really matters. Lewis won’t come here to sit on the pr.

well we better be...lol

2 minutes ago, Booch said:

we need short term tho right now if we want a chance at playoffs...Lewis' skill set and what he good at isn't really an age dependent thing either in my opinion, especially coming in not having to be a big time number 1 home run hitter

Sadly looking at the landscape its the only real option we can parachute in right now to immediately put in lineup and help...there gonna be no other gifts dropped into our laps. We all know even if Walters brought in the second coming of a young Bryant...Biggie...Bolden...Stegal...that Osh wouldnt play the anyway....a tired and true vet is the only kind of player that will break into a shitty Osh roster

And his addition may also help the defense as it will surely mean the offence will stay on field longer helping in sustaining drives

Yep, this team has fallen hard. The blame falls mostly on Osh's feet. We'll see just how things go.

9 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Do you believe the money we could spend on Lewis could be spent elsewhere, like on the OL or defense? I do agree with ShyGuy that an old team signing another old players isn't the way to go. It's a short term solution at best.

Yeah, I know it's hard to find players with the NFL & UFL hoarding guys but we're supposed to have a scouting department that need to do their jobs. There is a dearth of hungry young receivers in the US. I've seen some of these guys in action at qb workouts in California, Oregon, Washington & Idaho. My reaction is why aren't some of they playing somewhere? Yeah, the NFL & UFL have taken some of guys like that. But not all of them. If they have agents or are in some kind of database then get cracking & find someone. We never seem to do that.

Which OL or defensive players were just released that we can sign instead?

56 minutes ago, Jesse said:

Which OL or defensive players were just released that we can sign instead?

The guy from BC. I forget his name.

I want Lewis because he can be plugged in and play next game.... alternatively if we find a young American receiver this organization will keep him on the PR or sit him down and he would get if lucky 10 snaps in the regular season and will be completely raw if needed during play off time (assuming we make the play offs).

It's so damn rare that this organization just gives any young guy a shot during the regular season unless we face multiple injuries. So with Lewis I'd hope O'Shea would start him since he is a known name.....

36 minutes ago, Brandon said:

I want Lewis because he can be plugged in and play next game.... alternatively if we find a young American receiver this organization will keep him on the PR or sit him down and he would get if lucky 10 snaps in the regular season and will be completely raw if needed during play off time (assuming we make the play offs).

It's so damn rare that this organization just gives any young guy a shot during the regular season unless we face multiple injuries. So with Lewis I'd hope O'Shea would start him since he is a known name.....

So then, why did so many fans here & elsewhere want us to bring those 3 back? We all know what we get with Osh & Walters. Lots of you were so happy they re-signed. I just don't get it. We had a chance to completely restructure our mgmt & coaching staff with no penalties & instead we just brought them all back & nothing changed. So many happy faces last November. The old saying come sto mind, "Be careful what you wish for as it may come true".

4 hours ago, GCn20 said:

Height doesn't man anything unless you are very noticeably small. It's about a receivers ability to high point, concentrate and catch, and box out the defender that makes a good 50/50 guy. I'll take a 6-1 guy with a 36" vertical over a 6'4" guy with a 28 inch vertical for instance. Kenny Lawler, probably one the best 50/50 guys the league has seen over the past decade is of average height for instance.

Body position, or rather the ability to be great at getting it, is probably the single biggest factor in 50/50 guys success. Some guys, like Lawler, are masters at gaining it even in the toughest coverage. Lewis made his bread and butter doing it as well.

100%. route running and the ability to win leverage is gigantic. Kenny lawler could be shorter, he isn’t fast, but he’s a tremendous route runner and knows how to win and take leverage then makes the most of it.

3 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Do you believe the money we could spend on Lewis could be spent elsewhere, like on the OL or defense? I do agree with ShyGuy that an old team signing another old players isn't the way to go. It's a short term solution at best.

Yeah, I know it's hard to find players with the NFL & UFL hoarding guys but we're supposed to have a scouting department that need to do their jobs. There is a dearth of hungry young receivers in the US. I've seen some of these guys in action at qb workouts in California, Oregon, Washington & Idaho. My reaction is why aren't some of they playing somewhere? Yeah, the NFL & UFL have taken some of guys like that. But not all of them. If they have agents or are in some kind of database then get cracking & find someone. We never seem to do that.

I think money will be a none factor in improving the roster. I don’t think you could easily manage to spend more than the soft cap penalties over what we have.

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

I want Lewis because he can be plugged in and play next game.... alternatively if we find a young American receiver this organization will keep him on the PR or sit him down and he would get if lucky 10 snaps in the regular season and will be completely raw if needed during play off time (assuming we make the play offs).

It's so damn rare that this organization just gives any young guy a shot during the regular season unless we face multiple injuries. So with Lewis I'd hope O'Shea would start him since he is a known name.....

Just bringing him in will elevate our wrs by way of competition imo. no one will want to lose their job.