I did a comparative analysis to see just how bad the Bomber OL is compared to other CFL OL's. Here is what I found:

The Bombers have given up 10 sacks this year for an average of 3.3 per game. Last year in 2013, the league average of sacks given up per team, per game was 2.78, putting the Bombers slightly above average this year, with a small sample size of only 3 games played so far.

The best team in 2013 was Calgary with only 36 sacks given up (average of 2 per game), and Hamilton was the worst with 67 sacks given up (3.7 per game). Bombers gave up 51 sacks (average of 2.8 per game). Winnipeg was exactly league average in 2013.

Here's the full data per team, of sacks given up over the 2013 season:

1. Calgary: 36

2. Montreal: 41

3. BC: 47

3. Saskatchewan: 47

5. Winnipeg: 51

6. Toronto: 52

7. Edmonton: 60

8. Hamilton: 67

Yeah not many teams would offer him the flexibility to do coaches clinics on the side.

Watching final drive and the O-line played really well. Everytime they got to Willy they sent one more guys than we had blockers. It was usually 7 guys coming. He made quick decisions got the ball out. The one where he gets hit as he throws the ball it was against 7 rushers if Tisdale does not hold Moore it's a TD. The touchdown they only brought 4 guys and he had time and made the pay also happened the 1-2 times they did not bring extra pressure.

I think the Bombers o-line woes are a bit over stated. They may not be the best group but they are capable of doing an adequate job. Teams in the CFL are capable of getting pressure through blitzes, our line fared better than BCs did against that same montreal team.

I think the bigger concern is their lack of depth. Greaves being injured forced the ratio to 3 Imp OL, playing an import guard is not the best way to utilize the ratio. Not sure what the scenario is if another OL goes down.

Its hard to find quality NFL guard cast-offs anymore. Remember there's 32 teams in the NFL. Each has two starters, 1 dressed backup and probably 1 or 2 on their reserve/developmental list. At 5 per team thats 160 men playing the guard spot before you get to castoffs. That means the best cast-off might be the 150th to 161st best import for the position of pro guard. Not very inspiring.  Especially when you consider that some of the so-called NFL starting guards are getting ravaged on a regular basis. 

 

 

So much more to it than just sacks.

Holding penalties, QB hurries, how they're performing in the run game, etc.

I'd say just based purely on watching the games, we're middle of the pack. I'm sure if you looked in depth at all the numbers, we'd grade out similarly.

Yes obviously there's more to it than just sacks given up when evaluating an OL, but this gives a pretty good indication of a teams ability to protect the QB. And obviously a QB with a quick release and a mobile QB will make an OL look better too.

The Bombers OL gets a lot of bad press, when in reality it's middle of the pack...other teams give up sacks too.

 

 

Very true. One of our members, TBieber, has taken to timing the seconds from snap to QB release during some games this year. I wonder if he'd have the results saved to share here.

 

 

Admittedly, I did that to help build my case against Zach Collaros at first, so I haven't done it for all games.

 

I will time out Willy tomorrow though and post results.

Danny McManus was barely touched for six years in a seven year period from 1998 to 2004 in Hamilton, with a large part of that being due to his quick release and quick decisions.

 

Of course, he also threw a lot of interceptions because of it, with five of those seasons having thrown more picks than sacks taken.

 

Masoli has a quick release, so I would expect Hamilton to develop a short to mid package for him to pass out of, because he is quite inaccurate on mid to long range tosses.

Are there any stats that breakdown the circumstances of sacks? It would be interesting to know how many sacks were actually due to the oline and how many were due to other positions not making a play (ie a coverage sack, a RB misses a block on the blitz, etc).

 

I don't even think I have seen something like that in all the NFL stats I follow or look at... a likely reason being that it would be opinion. A coverage sack, for example could simply be a QB not making his reads. In the CFL with our limited camera angles, it would also make that difficult.

 

NFL.com you can watch coaches film. It is sweet.

Last game, I found Willy only had about 2 - 3 seconds on most passing plays.  But that's just from my own mental tally.

 

2-3 seconds is what you want. Should be 1.8 to 2.6 for short to mid range plays, and 2.6 to 3.2 for longer plays.

NFL.com you can watch coaches film. It is sweet.

 

I want this so bad.  Make it happen CFL.  A Christmas present for all.

I think the bigger concern is their lack of depth. Greaves being injured forced the ratio to 3 Imp OL, playing an import guard is not the best way to utilize the ratio. Not sure what the scenario is if another OL goes down.

Speaking of depth, coincidentally I had a business meeting today where it was mentioned (yet again) that I was a hard core Blue Bomber fan in which I then was introduced to the father of Gord Hinse who said his son was signed by the Blue Bombers. The father did mention his son is having issues with his shoulder but close to being in game shape.

Does anyone know if that's been confirmed yet? I haven't seen it reported anywhere or is this old news.   

I think the bigger concern is their lack of depth. Greaves being injured forced the ratio to 3 Imp OL, playing an import guard is not the best way to utilize the ratio. Not sure what the scenario is if another OL goes down.

But we won and the D where 2 of those spots were changed up, Sherman at LB, Sears at safety looked pretty good doing it. Yeah starting 3 IMP is not the way to go but.. It's not like it hurt us that much. If at all really. 3-0. 1-0 without greaves vs a good Montreal D, a very good Montreal D.... One of the best in the league really, the best?? Not too shabby 

I think the bigger concern is their lack of depth. Greaves being injured forced the ratio to 3 Imp OL, playing an import guard is not the best way to utilize the ratio. Not sure what the scenario is if another OL goes down.

Speaking of depth, coincidentally I had a business meeting today where it was mentioned (yet again) that I was a hard core Blue Bomber fan in which I then was introduced to the father of Gord Hinse who said his son was signed by the Blue Bombers. The father did mention his son is having issues with his shoulder but close to being in game shape.

Does anyone know if that's been confirmed yet? I haven't seen it reported anywhere or is this old news.

Very old news. Bombers picked up Gord Hinse a few weeks ago after Edmonton released him, and placed him on the 6 game IR. He's eligible to start practicing in a week.

Not a huge fan of Sherman at LB and Sears at safety (like Sears at lb). A little worried about Bowman and Stamps.

 

On this topic, does Edmonton have a worse oline than we do?

On this topic, does Edmonton have a worse oline than we do?

Yes.

On this topic, does Edmonton have a worse oline than we do?

Yes, but they aren't using 3 IMP's.

I want to say middle of the pack, not Toronto, Saskatchewan or Calgary but not BC or Hamilton.

Are you referring to oline play this season or last season? Just asking because Toronto's oline hasn't looked as good as last season so far.

Toronto's OL has been good relative to the rest of the league.  Teams will get pressure when they send one more than the blockers available, and that's a staple of Nelson's scheme.  The important thing is to pass protect from the inside out, which IMO watching the game tonight they did pretty well, making a pocket for Ray.

 

Also doesn't help when the offence doesn't run the ball at all.

When you rush more defenders than you have blockers you can't blame it on the oline but when they are only rushing 4 or 3 and still owning you, it's the olines fault. Montreal was sending the house, Edmonton wasn't. Edmonton's front 4 was just too good for our starting 5, but this shouldn't have come as a surprise to the Bomber coaches should it? I'd take Chris Jones traditional 43 defence over anyone else in the league, he's the best and it showed.

I can't wait untill NFL Cutdown day... could be a day that helps this team immensly

I can't wait until NFL Cutdown day... could be a day that helps this team immensely

The team can't wait for miracles. If one of our draft choices comes home, that would be great, but the current lot has to upgrade their efforts.

So Neufeld was injured last night ... how did Goosen do?

I thought he was better than Neufeld...  seemed to have a lower centre of gravity.

 

If anything, Greaves was a bit rusty.  Howard looking more comfortable at RT.  I would keep this line together, could be rock solid.

Sucks that Neufeld is hurt, but thankfully it wasn't at the same time Greaves was out.

I thought he was better than Neufeld...  seemed to have a lower centre of gravity.

 

If anything, Greaves was a bit rusty.  Howard looking more comfortable at RT.  I would keep this line together, could be rock solid.

I'm really liking Howard at RT. Seems very strong. It will be interesting to see him at the spot against an elite pass rusher though which he hasn't yet faced.