I don't create threads very often but I was kind of missing a good ol' post-game thread.

The title of the thread sums up my take on last night's game. Going from a Sunday game that went about as far into overtime that you can get to a Friday match against a high powered Calgary offense. This wasn't going to be easy. I'm not going to say that we win this game otherwise, but a lot of what I saw can be attributed to this.

Everyone, to a man, was a half step behind. First few drives looked like we were trying to conserve energy. That was embarrassing, particularly our first defensive effort. At a point though, they all realized they have to give more if this game was going to stay close.

That said, they were not able to overcome their physical limitations..and that really exposed that we are not a great team. Great teams have enough talent that they will find a way.

The Good

Our defensive front seven has continued to be a force. There is a lot of talent in this group. We had their run game bottled up and they were making life difficult for VA.

Major Williams, to me, was the only DB out there that played well enough. He's a rookie though, and in the CFL you are going to get beat every once in a while.

Our offensive line, I thought, had a solid night minus the last few drives when the game was pretty much out of reach (and one player that I'll get to). They were going against a very good Calgary defensive line. I'm sure some will bite my head off for this but I thought that Wallace even did a fairly good job at RT. I haven't watched the replays or watch every play after the fact. But the plays I watched him I thought he was holding his own.

Demski and Oliveira were the highlights for me. When they are put into situations to play to their strengths, they can be very good. I just don't think this happens enough.

It's hard to say that Dru Brown was good, but I think he's being put in a tough spot. As was brought up by @JuranBoldenRules in another thread, his options are all within 20 yards with DBs and linebackers all over the place within it. I think for the most part he's making the right reads. But he didn't have many open receivers to throw to.

The Bad

Offensive playcalling has to be number one for me. We have to put Brady in a position to make plays. We aren't. He is our workhorse. If anyone is going to thrive on a short week it is going to be him. But no, we continue to put him out wide for some reason. And we are running too many plays that are sending him east-west. That is not his game. Anytime we had him going up the middle tonight he was making something of it.

This will be Stanley Bryant's last year. He is a shadow of his former self. Missing his block left, right and center. When Brox is healthy I'd say we line him up at LT and move on with Bryant.

Defensive backs. A step slow tonight. Showed in their ability to tackle. Showed in their ability to adjust to the ball in the air. I get the feeling that Moxey is playing hurt. He refuses to do anything that requires making a play on the ball. It's pretty embarrassing. Nichols, for being a smaller guy, cannot be slow, and cannot be slow to react. I'm not counting him out completely but it isn't looking good. Holm had a terrible game and just didn't seem to be himself. The short week did a number on this group IMO.

I thought the receivers had a similar problem to the DBs. We rely so much on Pokey Wilson and Tim White to get separation. They couldn't last night, and I think that lead to many of the interceptions. They didn't have enough and made the Calgary DBs look very good. As has been brought up elsewhere, we need some different types of receivers that can make plays in different ways.

Special teams...half step too slow..was all of the difference. Also the 57 yard FG call when our defense was rolling and we could pin them deep. Hated that.

35 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

'Cause it's not a locker room, it's a country club. They are an old team and still believe that if they are healthy late in the season, they will find a way. Despite all the massive doses of reality we've been getting.

The fact we aren't practicing tells me not only are we not making unforced changes for Thursday, but we also aren't planning them after that either.

We should take one of the extra practices this week. Pads can even be off. Run skelly and full group packs with extremely high tempo. Pre-called plays: you get 3 plays; each has to get 10 yards, and after that you sub and keep doing it over and over.

The D doesn't need to hit; they need to run and drill position and leverage. Use good pursuit angles, square up well. They can two-hand or go past. Speed and execution should be the focal point. They can do stuff like hit sleds for physicality.

But again, they are scheduled to practice today.

6 minutes ago, Jesse said:

Wheatfall was the #2 targeted receiver last year. We begged him to step up and be a difference maker. But Neild’s gonna pass his production as the #4 targeted receiver in this years offence.

3rd highest and that with Myron Mitchell..Schoen...not playing full seasons but taking reps....but who's counting...still was top 20 in YPC so not like he was useless...and AGAIN...as a 5th option this yr would have been totally acceptable....and thats likely what he was destined to be with Pokey..Demski..White and the fanfare with Neild and to say he wouldnt have made us better than what we run out there...with experience with the team etc...is just b.s...We coulda let him walk after camp if we found a nw...better guy....but we didnt...we unearthed nothing...and he wasnt even a factor in the equation...thats just poor player management

5 minutes ago, Jesse said:

But again, they are scheduled to practice today.

but why not yesterday...even sunday...CBA says 1 day...we take 3

Edited July 27Jul 27 by Booch

18 minutes ago, Booch said:

I wouldnt judge anyone over the work from last yrs offence....and as mentioned..Wheatfall would be the 4th 5th option...like he was last yr...and 655 yards in that garbage for a 5thyr guy...with one game wherw we assed like what..8 times....more than good enough to be used where we are using Cobb/Corcorran...Thats the point ijn this...he wasnt to be "ythe gy" nor should we as a tam expected him to be

nicely explained...we are getting schemed and film studied to death....easiest team to plan against and like you said..the passive approach...gets us eviscerated

and nice to see someone else here see's the ridiculousness of our practice and planning habits..I am sure there are many others but arent saying it ....it's really a joke

I expect zero changes of anykind...and we likely make the BC scrub QB look like the second coming of a star

Thanks, yep. We are really only making it hard on ourselves. Nichols could be toast; in this system, we won't really know, though.

8 minutes ago, Jesse said:

But again, they are scheduled to practice today.

That is some comfort at least, if only carrion comfort. I don't think any coaching staff in the league has been able to optimize the current practice rules well. Us, least of all.

Riderville the team website, not Riderfans the fan website

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Touchdown Tommy makes a major impact in first two starts...

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ No. 83 is also No. 10. Tommy Nield is just the 10th player to catch at least one touchdown pass in each of his first two starts with the Green and White. “That’s an incre

Nield, who missed five games with an ankle injury, first suited up for the Roughriders on July 25 against the visiting Edmonton Elks.

16 hours ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

Wheatfall is averaging 40 yards per game in his 3rd CFL season. He's not a good enough player to take an import spot in this league.

See red, but letting him go wasn't a mistake.

Lawler is doing basically nothing to help Ford out. 2nd last drive Hamilton had down 1, Ford put the ball out for Lawler on a scramble and Lawler casually jogged downfield, didn't catch up to it. Perfect chance for him to make a game winning play. I'm not one to praise Tre Ford for the sake of it but that was a great play by him. Lawler has his head up his ass.

I know which play you were talking about, and if that had been Wilson we would have ripped him a new one. Lawler is a great player but often seems like a horrible teammate.

A few high priced WRs probably not having a good time right now... Namely Hatcher and Lawler, go from having MOP QBs throwing to you to whatever you call what is going on in Hamilton and BC.

At least with Kiondre Smith he has some time left to grow with another QB, the first two are on the wrong side of 30

Wheatfall’s just a guy and not really worth crying over his loss. I have little doubt Singer would put up similar numbers if we used a 3rd import at rec.

31 minutes ago, sweep the leg said:

Wheatfall’s just a guy and not really worth crying over his loss. I have little doubt Singer would put up similar numbers if we used a 3rd import at rec.

That’s crazy talk. We have to start 3 Canadian receivers… No matter what.

1 hour ago, sweep the leg said:

Wheatfall’s just a guy and not really worth crying over his loss. I have little doubt Singer would put up similar numbers if we used a 3rd import at rec.

Oh I agree...but having a guy already here..who in a crap offence put up almost 700 yards woulda been a nice compliment to our top 3..zero learning curve..knows the league DB's...looks etc..

At a certain point the roster construction debate starts to lose a bit of its punch when we've circled around and have started advocating for someone like Wheatfall to stick around, who had 42% of his production last year in the first 3 games of the season.

No doubt if he had stuck around we'd be talking about him as someone proof-positive that the Bombers have locked in on their guys and it's impossible to crack the active roster as an outsider.

People were giving **** to Jerreth Sterns as a JAG last year but he had similar overall production to Wheatfall with the added benefit of not disappearing for games at a time.

Complaining about having a guy stick around because he's been here and knows the system despite being in over his head seems to be 95% of the content here so i'm not sure I get it.

6 hours ago, sweep the leg said:

Wheatfall’s just a guy and not really worth crying over his loss. I have little doubt Singer would put up similar numbers if we used a 3rd import at rec.

I cry when I see the alternative. Osh wanted 3 Canadians then go out & sign a difference maker as a free agent. Cobb was gifted his position. Who'd he beat out, Corcoran?

21 minutes ago, ShyGuy said:

At a certain point the roster construction debate starts to lose a bit of its punch when we've circled around and have started advocating for someone like Wheatfall to stick around, who had 42% of his production last year in the first 3 games of the season.

No doubt if he had stuck around we'd be talking about him as someone proof-positive that the Bombers have locked in on their guys and it's impossible to crack the active roster as an outsider.

People were giving **** to Jerreth Sterns as a JAG last year but he had similar overall production to Wheatfall with the added benefit of not disappearing for games at a time.

Complaining about having a guy stick around because he's been here and knows the system despite being in over his head seems to be 95% of the content here so i'm not sure I get it.

No, don't agree. It's just pointing out how bad our receiving corps is as a group. And was last year. They needed to do more signibng one more impact Canadian receiver if they wanted to go with 3 yet stopped halfway thru. After day 1 of FA the signings stopped. We had a strong first day & that was it.

25 minutes ago, ShyGuy said:

At a certain point the roster construction debate starts to lose a bit of its punch when we've circled around and have started advocating for someone like Wheatfall to stick around, who had 42% of his production last year in the first 3 games of the season.

No doubt if he had stuck around we'd be talking about him as someone proof-positive that the Bombers have locked in on their guys and it's impossible to crack the active roster as an outsider.

People were giving **** to Jerreth Sterns as a JAG last year but he had similar overall production to Wheatfall with the added benefit of not disappearing for games at a time.

Complaining about having a guy stick around because he's been here and knows the system despite being in over his head seems to be 95% of the content here so i'm not sure I get it.

both those guys would have been superior to the 3 Canadian idea tho....more a matter of starting 3 canadians when we dont have to...when our depth to start 2 is questionable at best

Edited July 28Jul 28 by Booch

11 hours ago, ShyGuy said:

At a certain point the roster construction debate starts to lose a bit of its punch when we've circled around and have started advocating for someone like Wheatfall to stick around, who had 42% of his production last year in the first 3 games of the season.

No doubt if he had stuck around we'd be talking about him as someone proof-positive that the Bombers have locked in on their guys and it's impossible to crack the active roster as an outsider.

People were giving **** to Jerreth Sterns as a JAG last year but he had similar overall production to Wheatfall with the added benefit of not disappearing for games at a time.

Complaining about having a guy stick around because he's been here and knows the system despite being in over his head seems to be 95% of the content here so i'm not sure I get it.

you are 100% right about this

1 hour ago, bearpants said:

you are 100% right about this

Except that he is not. The gist of the complaints is that our beloved head coach has been guiding the team into looming disaster for the past few years though favouritism, poor roster management, poor drafting and hiring/promoting poor coordinators. If you go over the commentaries in the period in question, you will see the patterns of concern and the seeming inability of coaches and management to correct them. Worse yet, the problems seem to have to a head this year. Bombers are not yet in freefall, but headed that way.

4 minutes ago, Tracker said:

Except that he is not. The gist of the complaints is that our beloved head coach has been guiding the team into looming disaster for the past few years though favouritism, poor roster management, poor drafting and hiring/promoting poor coordinators. If you go over the commentaries in the period in question, you will see the patterns of concern and the seeming inability of coaches and management to correct them. Worse yet, the problems seem to have to a head this year. Bombers are not yet in freefall, but headed that way.

And if the Bombers had kept Wheatfall instead of attempting to upgrade the position, more favouritism claims would be made.

3 minutes ago, Jesse said:

And if the Bombers had kept Wheatfall instead of attempting to upgrade the position, more favouritism claims would be made.

Wheatfall was talented but inconsistent, so keeping him would not have changed anything. The issue is the apparent inability to upgrade the position, which falls on Walters. The opposite of caring is not anger- it is indifference.

13 minutes ago, Jesse said:

And if the Bombers had kept Wheatfall instead of attempting to upgrade the position, more favouritism claims would be made.

not likely...he downgraded the position...by making it canadian...uneeded at that with 2 guys who likely dont make another teams roster....and we still have to back that position up with a Canadian

All that was needed..Bring back Wheatfall....would have been cheap...Let him and actual real recruits/prospects battle for the position...keep the 2 best as the starter,,,and backup for the PR...If it's Wheatfall....fine...if 2 others are better, or show more promise...You cut him...simple roster management/creation

We predetermined prior to camp even opening that we were gonna go 3 Canadians...Tait mentioned it daily...Coaches alluded to it...and that was that...even when better talent in camp was there...we still wnt Canadian there.

Some say its the "5th" option and no minimal targets will go there...which is a load of dogshit...why define it as that??..thats just a acceptance of not trying to win and build best team...Targets in a game should be dictated by flow...who's hot...what defence is giving...on and on...and in that context you should have the 5 best players who fit/satisfy your ratio on the field....period...no questions asked. Not just send out some clowns you like or suit your bias that essentially offer nothing...How is that making the best roster available game in and game out and best chance to win??? Riddle me that

The pathetically sad part...for years now here with Osh this is not just isolated to one position group...And to further hammer the point home..Our 2 yrs we won the cup..and the 2 yrs immediately following where we should of won if not for Osh's stupidity with roster (playing hurt guys...stupid in game decisions) and poor overall roster...our receiving group did not consist of a useless plug...with minimal skills and or athleticism...5 guys who all could make plays and garner attention...and if you slept on one...they would hurt you....

Edited July 28Jul 28 by Booch

21 minutes ago, Tracker said:

Wheatfall was talented but inconsistent, so keeping him would not have changed anything. The issue is the apparent inability to upgrade the position, which falls on Walters. The opposite of caring is not anger- it is indifference.

Well, I personally think all of White, Wilson, and Neild are upgrades on Wheatfall. So pick whichever one you like as the guy who replaced him. They're all going to outproduce anything he gave us.

11 minutes ago, Jesse said:

Well, I personally think all of White, Wilson, and Neild are upgrades on Wheatfall. So pick whichever one you like as the guy who replaced him. They're all going to outproduce anything he gave us.

again...the conversation was the spot we have decided to run the 3rd Canadian....not the other spots....And really to date Neild hasnt impressed much or been this big factor for us

He costs more and he has basically identical stats with Wheatfall having a bit better YPC avg...so if it was a one or the other argument it can be called a wash really

Edited July 28Jul 28 by Booch

I still think Nield was a good depth piece to add. The biggest issue this team has - is not enough addition by subtraction.

1 minute ago, Mark H. said:

I still think Nield was a good depth piece to add. The biggest issue this team has - is not enough addition by subtraction.

Yeah dont get me wrong..a good addition and Demski....Clercius and him are a nice trio to have when starting 2 Canadians...which we should be doing and then Cobb as the extra guy if injury happens, or for certain packages as he does have value if used right...and is a capable returner if god forbid Vaval gets hurt...But if we had another guy in as the 5th receiver...Like Singer who can also return...then Cobb is even further depth for the roster

21 minutes ago, Booch said:

again...the conversation was the spot we have decided to run the 3rd Canadian....not the other spots....And really to date Neild hasnt impressed much or been this big factor for us

He costs more and he has basically identical stats with Wheatfall having a bit better YPC avg...so if it was a one or the other argument it can be called a wash really

Nield was much better in Regina, probably because the defence had to be concerned with other, really good receivers and Nield benefited from that. Not so here, and our offensive schemes have something to do with that as well.

16 minutes ago, Booch said:

again...the conversation was the spot we have decided to run the 3rd Canadian....not the other spots....And really to date Neild hasnt impressed much or been this big factor for us

He costs more and he has basically identical stats with Wheatfall having a bit better YPC avg...so if it was a one or the other argument it can be called a wash really

He’s had some really bad drops and hasn’t really been as physical as you’d expect given his size.

21 minutes ago, JohnnyAbonny said:

He’s had some really bad drops and hasn’t really been as physical as you’d expect given his size.

I mean, Demski has been the only reliable WR for us catching the ball. After that, Wilson has been by far the least reliable. He had more drops in 1 game then any one else has this season. For catch security, I'd put Nield handily above White. White has benefited a lot from screen passes and easy catches, whereas Nield's catches have come consistently in the first-down range downfield.

Nield isn't being used well at that. He's basically getting the looks that we previously used with Woli and Clercius despite playing in the slot.

Nield isn't actually a big physical WR, he just looks like it next to our motley crue of mini WRs. Clercius and Demski are really the only ones capable of running violently and punishing defenders a little on breaking tackles.

This is why Daniels is such a waste. 6'6 270, and plays no power. He should be on the PR; I'd have Nield serve as the backup, and use MCI out of the TE spot we've been using Daniels. He still isn't polished enough to run with anywhere near his power potential, but he can at least push forward when tackled and brings speed. Not to mention upside. MCI needs to be used to develop significantly more, which made his lack of use in preseason so frustrating.

We need to go out and get some WRs with physicality. Imp or NI. Guys who have a basic idea of what to do vs zone, man, when the QB is pressured, etc. We sure as hell can't seem to coach that worth a damn anymore.