Gorgeous day in the river city... Should be close to a sellout if not quite there. Let's get back into the win column no matter how it looks.

LFG Blue!!

The fact that our tackling by a lot of guys...well sucks..and had for multiple seasons..and we have a HC who is not some all time tackling guy...is he not? And has a roster of inadequate tacklers is kinda odd in that he can't pass on that knowledge and skill...maybe even recognize true tackling machines in player assessments.. and more importantly...obviously can't coach up players and teach

43 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

  4 hours ago, Booch said:

And pretty good indicator that a lot of the success was in spite of most of his shortcomings

Yes. A good coach can wring the best out of a mediocre team and what we got was the last two games ought to be an embarrassment to coaches and management. O'Shea's comment after the last debacle was that the team was tired and trying too hard. Not only was that laughable, it was self- contradictory.

Edited August 3Aug 3 by Tracker

1 minute ago, Tracker said:

Yes. A good coach can wring the best out of a mediocre team and what got was the last two games which ought to be an embarrassment to coaches and management. O'Shea's comment after the last debacle was that the team was tired and trying too hard. Not only was that laughable, it was self- contradictory.

Basically..a non answer...aka no clue as to what...and why...and how to correct...watching film excuse and correcting errors only goes so far and gets old fast...especially when you can't even see what needs correcting

1 minute ago, Booch said:

Basically..a non answer...aka no clue as to what...and why...and how to correct...watching film excuse and correcting errors only goes so far and gets old fast...especially when you can't even see what needs correcting

It's pretty obvious from O'Shea's answer that the answer is for the players to get more rest and not try so hard.

53 minutes ago, Tracker said:

It's pretty obvious from O'Shea's answer that the answer is for the players to get more rest and not try so hard.

It is like a player squeezing his stick too hard and over skating the play. In football there are similar problems when players try too hard instead of allowing the play and their assignment dictate. Suggesting that this is nonsensical is not understanding what he was saying because every coach in the world will tell you that's a problem.

1 hour ago, Booch said:

Basically..a non answer...aka no clue as to what...and why...and how to correct...watching film excuse and correcting errors only goes so far and gets old fast...especially when you can't even see what needs correcting

Im not sure how you think that's a non answer?

4 hours ago, Goalie said:

Tell us Coach Belicek, what makes a good coach in the year 2026. Keeping in mind you’re 50 plus and you’re not 20 anymore and times thru have the changed. Coach Ditka? Tell us? Coach cals ghost? Loved you dude but that **** wouldn’t fly in 2026. O’Shea is the same as all coaches really. I don’t disagree with anything you actually said other than you thinking you know what makes a good coach in 26, you were verbally whacking off RD all off season and even in the other games thread, Ottawa can’t win a game and you think you know what makes a good coach in 2026? Man, seriously. This is the part of fan forums that are just, you’re kidding yourself dude who prob works in an office building or did or perhaps a farmer in the dell. Who knows. O’Shea tho played pro and was one of the best cdn lbs ever, he’s now a coach and the winningest one in our history. He knows more than all of us on here, I’m not sure why dudes who work in offices or lift weights think they know more.

Name a long time coach who don’t play favourites. I’ll tell you what tho, in sports most the time there’s also a gm who makes the coaches job easier by signing drafting or trading assets for better players. Tim white? He’s ok but he’s 32? Not that young. Could have signed Eberhart probably or Mack even. Both probably if we let Stan and Nichols go prob or didn’t sign them.

What qualifications do you have to even say what you did to Tracker? I don't see you coaching professionally? This is a fan forum. Tracker is entitled to post what he thinks whether you agree or disagree. He can discuss what he wants before you bring age into this. How old are you? I get the impression you ain't no spring chicken, either.

Edited August 3Aug 3 by SpeedFlex27

1 hour ago, Tracker said:

Yes. A good coach can wring the best out of a mediocre team and what we got was the last two games ought to be an embarrassment to coaches and management. O'Shea's comment after the last debacle was that the team was tired and trying too hard. Not only was that laughable, it was self- contradictory.

The players need to feel embarrassed by their play. Coaches and management being embarrassed wont do a damn thing if the players themselves aren't.

1 hour ago, Booch said:

The fact that our tackling by a lot of guys...well sucks..and had for multiple seasons..and we have a HC who is not some all time tackling guy...is he not? And has a roster of inadequate tacklers is kinda odd in that he can't pass on that knowledge and skill...maybe even recognize true tackling machines in player assessments.. and more importantly...obviously can't coach up players and teach

Our players know how to tackle just fine. You dont become a professional player without that fundamental. Its the commitment to doing so that needs improving. Guys trailing off while the play is still going, not giving themselves up to make the play, going for the hit instead of wrapping up...these are the issues. If our coach has to step in with Pop Warner skill development then our recruitment is absurdly bad.

We need a giant dose of Bighill-like leadership on the field ASAP. Someone who is going to grab a guy by the face mask between plays and let them know what they did doesnt fly. These guys are not holding each other accountable on the field, or on the sidelines.

After the game the HC and DC need to light them up..no doubt but during the game we need that leadership from players themselves.

Not defending MOS but we have a massive hole in leadership within the dressing room imo. Someone, or a few guys, need to step up or Knute Rockne wont get these guys to win.

Edited August 3Aug 3 by GCn20

21 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

The players need to feel embarrassed by their play. Coaches and management being embarrassed wont do a damn thing if the players themselves aren't.

Walters, Osh & McManus need to worry about their jobs, Brand spanky new contracts forthem just doesn't cut it. They can relax for another 2 years. Except for the assisitants who will eventually take the fall for this mess that Miller has put us into.

26 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Our players know how to tackle just fine. You dont become a professional player without that fundamental. Its the commitment to doing so that needs improving. Guys trailing off while the play is still going, not giving themselves up to make the play, going for the hit instead of wrapping up...these are the issues. If our coach has to step in with Pop Warner skill development then our recruitment is absurdly bad.

We need a giant dose of Bighill-like leadership on the field ASAP. Someone who is going to grab a guy by the face mask between plays and let them know what they did doesnt fly. These guys are not holding each other accountable on the field, or on the sidelines.

After the game the HC and DC need to light them up..no doubt but during the game we need that leadership from players themselves.

Not defending MOS but we have a massive hole in leadership within the dressing room imo. Someone, or a few guys, need to step up or Knute Rockne wont get these guys to win.

Even pros need to..and have to work on even the basic fundamentals..as bad habits creep in fast...and then become the Instinctive move

But I agree...when we were successful we had guys like Biggie..BA..Adams...Bailey..guys who took zero bs..to lesser extent Woli and a few others who quietly led...Bryant as well who didnt have to say anything but when he did...everyone listened..prob still do but sadly his on field stuff is shell of what it was

They self policed and managed the team...it was in cruise control but now cruise is off and the coaches can't drive...part is talent..a lot coaching..but I still stand with the notion the HC made poor choices

I dunno how well some guys know how to tackle.... I see guys constantly trying to make tackles with only their shoulders..... Is it anyone wonder opponents break tackles in that scenario?

14 hours ago, Booch said:

Even pros need to..and have to work on even the basic fundamentals..as bad habits creep in fast...and then become the Instinctive move

But I agree...when we were successful we had guys like Biggie..BA..Adams...Bailey..guys who took zero bs..to lesser extent Woli and a few others who quietly led...Bryant as well who didnt have to say anything but when he did...everyone listened..prob still do but sadly his on field stuff is shell of what it was

They self policed and managed the team...it was in cruise control but now cruise is off and the coaches can't drive...part is talent..a lot coaching..but I still stand with the notion the HC made poor choices

I was in the upper deck concourse during the second half of the Calgary game having a drink and chatting... when BA walked by... I just tapped him on the should and said "we need more guys like this playing back there"... he just chuckled and said "thanks, I appreciate that"

1 hour ago, 17to85 said:

I dunno how well some guys know how to tackle.... I see guys constantly trying to make tackles with only their shoulders..... Is it anyone wonder opponents break tackles in that scenario?

we prob have to be the biggest offending team with guys diving at the shins trying to topple a ball carrier...or like you said...trying to make the big shoulder hit and either they bounce off...get trucked or the ball carrier just shrugs it off and keeps trucking

I thought we got rid of the worst of the worst at that in Houston....obviously not...But fundamentally our tackling skill and technique here...mainly in the secondary are just horrible....and it can be easily fixed with doing some the things I mentioned in an earlier post and actually dedicating time to it in practice, and or having habitual offenders yanked from loneup to send a message...Both instances are coaching related and need to be adressed with coaching...but we have seen that for most part our coaching and how we go about the day to day things is sorely lacking too

16 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

What qualifications do you have to even say what you did to Tracker? I don't see you coaching professionally? This is a fan forum. Tracker is entitled to post what he thinks whether you agree or disagree. He can discuss what he wants before you bring age into this. How old are you? I get the impression you ain't no spring chicken, either.

Spring chickens normally don’t make it to summer. I’m 30 years younger than you tho. I also aren’t that pretending I have all the answers. Cuz fun fact, nobody here really has a clue what’s actually going on. Cuz none of us are there. I also think tracker in particular is a troll if you actually read his posts. Bomber fan? At what point has tracker ever shown he’s an actual bomber fan tho. All I see is praising everyone else, sure loves Dinwiddie yet nothing positive ever about the bombers. Constant bitching. Unlike you old dudes tho, I know they won’t listen to me. You pretend you know it all, lose your **** constantly over online BS. You gonna end up in hospital cuz some dude online pissed you off. At what point. For your entertainment. It’s not entertaining tho is it?

Also appears success is somewhat cyclical in pro sports and football in particular. You can have 5 6 10 years of success but that’s usually followed by a few years of disappointment and rapid decline. We appear to be in that rapid decline phase.

We have had almost 10 years of pretty solid football here, 10 years almost of having a chance every year. For 5 6 of those we were dominant really, lost a few finals but patriots lost to the giants in the finals. It happens. Entitlement as fans tho, seems we in that phase also.

2 hours ago, Booch said:

we prob have to be the biggest offending team with guys diving at the shins trying to topple a ball carrier...or like you said...trying to make the big shoulder hit and either they bounce off...get trucked or the ball carrier just shrugs it off and keeps trucking

I thought we got rid of the worst of the worst at that in Houston....obviously not...But fundamentally our tackling skill and technique here...mainly in the secondary are just horrible....and it can be easily fixed with doing some the things I mentioned in an earlier post and actually dedicating time to it in practice, and or having habitual offenders yanked from loneup to send a message...Both instances are coaching related and need to be adressed with coaching...but we have seen that for most part our coaching and how we go about the day to day things is sorely lacking too

I am convinced Jake Kelly is only torso the way he tackles. Which is fundamentally a problem given how this system seems set up for the safety to come down and make tackles.

2 hours ago, Goalie said:

We have had almost 10 years of pretty solid football here, 10 years almost of having a chance every year. For 5 6 of those we were dominant really, lost a few finals but patriots lost to the giants in the finals. It happens. Entitlement as fans tho, seems we in that phase also.

Now is the winter of our discontent.

I don't think even the majority of hardcore fans here expect us to flip some switches and be dominant again. I also do not think you should accept bad football in the CFL. The ability to rebuild to respectability is too great year to year here. No one wants to see what happened to Edmonton after 19 play out here. But if we blindly hold fast to the same group (on the field, in management, and the coaching staff) and do the same things, we will follow that path.

The balance is a scrappy team that plays hard and battles for 4 quarters. The type of team you can be proud of. What we have been seeing this year is the opposite of that.

From Mos' interviews in the last 2 games, I feel like he knows the reality of what is happening now. And I fully believe that he, Walters, and Wade will not continue to be willing participants in the downturn. We can say what we want about those 3, and we (especially I) have, but they do have pride in the right things when it comes to football. They didn't build the culture in the first place by accident.

The reality is that major changes to the Trinity are almost impossible at this point, and for the next 2 years. But changes within them are very possible. I don't think any of those 3 need to be canned to achieve a return to respectability. But I do believe that each of them needs to kill some of their darlings, for the greater good.

Just off the top of my head, Wade probably needs to sacrifice profitability. Drop ticket prices, accept losing some money under both caps to create addition by subtraction.

Walters needs to either double down on his Canadian scouting and reduce the people we have doing it with him, or take a far greater role in active league scouting/coaching.

Mos needs to trim and reorganize his coaching staff and end the "roster management" issues.
The Cos ' need to play call to win. Not coach not to lose. Little is worse on the field than a team that tries not to lose and loses.

1 hour ago, 17to85 said:

I am convinced Jake Kelly is only torso the way he tackles. Which is fundamentally a problem given how this system seems set up for the safety to come down and make tackles.

Funny thing is, he's had a couple of good tackles on teams in his time here. He is capable of good tackling, but then most any pro football defender is capable of it.

There are good form tackle types that aren't the classic norm. Hawk, Gator, Profile, Swipe, etc. I'm very fond of Hawk tackling, and with how practice is regulated these days, I think it should be the go-to. I also think that instituting it gives you a great opportunity to hard reset the players on D and enforce a good level of discipline and much more. But that isn't the only way to fix the tackling.

Right now, I don't think anyone is doing a good job of tackling on this team.

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

Now is the winter of our discontent.

I don't think even the majority of hardcore fans here expect us to flip some switches and be dominant again. I also do not think you should accept bad football in the CFL. The ability to rebuild to respectability is too great year to year here. No one wants to see what happened to Edmonton after 19 play out here. But if we blindly hold fast to the same group (on the field, in management, and the coaching staff) and do the same things, we will follow that path.

The balance is a scrappy team that plays hard and battles for 4 quarters. The type of team you can be proud of. What we have been seeing this year is the opposite of that.

From Mos' interviews in the last 2 games, I feel like he knows the reality of what is happening now. And I fully believe that he, Walters, and Wade will not continue to be willing participants in the downturn. We can say what we want about those 3, and we (especially I) have, but they do have pride in the right things when it comes to football. They didn't build the culture in the first place by accident.

The reality is that major changes to the Trinity are almost impossible at this point, and for the next 2 years. But changes within them are very possible. I don't think any of those 3 need to be canned to achieve a return to respectability. But I do believe that each of them needs to kill some of their darlings, for the greater good.

Just off the top of my head, Wade probably needs to sacrifice profitability. Drop ticket prices, accept losing some money under both caps to create addition by subtraction.

Walters needs to either double down on his Canadian scouting and reduce the people we have doing it with him, or take a far greater role in active league scouting/coaching.

Mos needs to trim and reorganize his coaching staff and end the "roster management" issues.
The Cos ' need to play call to win. Not coach not to lose. Little is worse on the field than a team that tries not to lose and loses.

Funny thing is, he's had a couple of good tackles on teams in his time here. He is capable of good tackling, but then most any pro football defender is capable of it.

There are good form tackle types that aren't the classic norm. Hawk, Gator, Profile, Swipe, etc. I'm very fond of Hawk tackling, and with how practice is regulated these days, I think it should be the go-to. I also think that instituting it gives you a great opportunity to hard reset the players on D and enforce a good level of discipline and much more. But that isn't the only way to fix the tackling.

Right now, I don't think anyone is doing a good job of tackling on this team.

Yeha....if the trinity pulls head out of arse you can turn a season around in the CFL in mid flight...Pieces are there...just a few minor tweaks and scheme adjusts...and a bit better roster optimizing, and not stopping the scouting and recruitment...should be an ever ongoing thing...There are guys out there if you look hard enough that could be dropped in and help this team now...no reason to wait till the off-season

As for tackloing the best guy...prob last 3 yrs...Griffin was the only one really consistent with tackling...and actually used real technique...sadly he gone for the yr

I'd say the next best in form and consistency is Smith...and prob one of the best on team in using his angles to close gaps....pursuit angles...and closing speed...But man what more does he have to do other than get some blackmail pics on Osh to get the damn gig

24 minutes ago, Booch said:

As for tackloing the best guy...prob last 3 yrs...Griffin was the only one really consistent with tackling...and actually used real technique...sadly he gone for the yr

Wait am I out of the loop did I miss something?

3 hours ago, 17to85 said:

Wait am I out of the loop did I miss something?

I dont think its been made known to the media/public...but yeah..be a miraculous recovery tho if he could make it back this yr

4 hours ago, Booch said:

Yeha....if the trinity pulls head out of arse you can turn a season around in the CFL in mid flight...Pieces are there...just a few minor tweaks and scheme adjusts...and a bit better roster optimizing, and not stopping the scouting and recruitment...should be an ever ongoing thing...There are guys out there if you look hard enough that could be dropped in and help this team now...no reason to wait till the off-season

As for tackloing the best guy...prob last 3 yrs...Griffin was the only one really consistent with tackling...and actually used real technique...sadly he gone for the yr

I'd say the next best in form and consistency is Smith...and prob one of the best on team in using his angles to close gaps....pursuit angles...and closing speed...But man what more does he have to do other than get some blackmail pics on Osh to get the damn gig

We do not have the pieces in house to contenders.

38 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

We do not have the pieces in house to contenders.

not to sustain contention. but to make a run? we do.

Two years ago jy adjusted the d into the 30 front drop every one pack and had one of the best ds in the league. Today was a have a much better dl talent pool. We can fix the D.

The o, we have decent pieces and access the ability to improve on what we’ve had the past few years.

What we need is as much intangibles, culture and coaching as any thing. Especially if broxton isn’t out long.

We have a QB. A very good RB and a couple decent receivers on O.

Our D could prob be simplified and just less thinking more reacting (like what RD said in his article about fields) and automatically improve. Less confusion less substitution every down.

Vaval is a game changer. Get him involved more. I know he’s a DB but surely you could use him on O. I mean try it.

If they pull the heads out, big IF cuz nothing yet , and it’s mid week, they could turn it around. Let’s be honest. Is Edmonton legit? Who knows. Sask? Probably legit but again who knows. That makes me sick thinking Sask is legit btw. But the rest of the west? And east cuz a cross over is very real this year again, we could make a run. Finish 1st? Nah. 2nd? Prob not. 3rd? Possible. Crossover? Likely.

Edited August 5Aug 5 by Goalie

1 hour ago, Goalie said:

We have a QB. A very good RB and a couple decent receivers on O.

Our D could prob be simplified and just less thinking more reacting (like what RD said in his article about fields) and automatically improve. Less confusion less substitution every down.

Vaval is a game changer. Get him involved more. I know he’s a DB but surely you could use him on O. I mean try it.

If they pull the heads out, big IF cuz nothing yet , and it’s mid week, they could turn it around. Let’s be honest. Is Edmonton legit? Who knows. Sask? Probably legit but again who knows. That makes me sick thinking Sask is legit btw. But the rest of the west? And east cuz a cross over is very real this year again, we could make a run. Finish 1st? Nah. 2nd? Prob not. 3rd? Possible. Crossover? Likely.

They could probably start with getting Vaval on D...but Moxey is "their guy" who hasn't done **** all year.

2 hours ago, BBlink said:

They could probably start with getting Vaval on D...but Moxey is "their guy" who hasn't done **** all year.

Wouldn’t mind that but I’d like to see them give Vaval a package on offence.

He could do some screens and a lot of the jet stuff they use Demski and Pokey for. He’s a home run threat with the ball in his hands and they’re lacking that severely on O right now.