After week 4:

From week 3, and something for Our HC to think about:

- Buono says if the offense struggles again he will have no hesitation to pull Jennings again. Believes he hung onto the ball too long at times - Farhan Lalji    Wally, "I didn't pull Jonathan to damage him, I did it to help him. The offense was getting stagnant, I wanted to take the pressure off him" - Farhan Lalji
 
I think Buono was pretty close to pulling Jennings in this last game too. 

Still on Buono ..Buono strolls out, pretty well to midfield, to get the attention of the ref and gets a penalty for his troubles. I wonder if he was trying to one-up Jim Popp for throwing his hat to get the ref's attention? It was a deserved penalty, which spawned a caller to the Rider post-game show to comment: 
“Wally Buono had more yards on the field than the Riders running backs.”                               

Speaking after the Bomber game, Walby says he's surprised O'Shea didn't use ex-Edmonton Nichols in a one or two series scenario. He admits O'Shea is a loyal guy.

Drew Willy just 7-14 in the red zone...- Jeff Hamilton (Hamilton game)

"You don't want to be known as a league that doesn't pay it's assistant coaches as per their contracts." - @scratchingpost #CFL #Esks CFLNews 

GREGORY HIRED: John Gregory has a new football post.
The former Saskatchewan Roughriders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach was recently named the first commissioner of the Arena Development League, an indoor football circuit that has no affiliation with either Arena Football League or Indoor Football 

Some of us conspiracy theorists believe Durant — as good as he is — might not be the Riders’ long-term quarterback, that Jones instead has his eyes on free-agent-to-be James Franklin, an aspiring star who Jones coached last year with the Edmonton Eskimos. And all these other guys are simply short-term backup plans. - Posted on July 12, 2016 by Darrell Davis 

@BlueBomberTalk
Source indicates the #Bombers sold just over 800 new jerseys on preorders alone. That's ~$160,000 in revenue. Not bad. 

CFL News –  @CFL_News
#Riders get rights to QB Vad Lee in deal with Eskimos http://3downnation.com/2016/07/12/riders-get-rights-to-qb-vad-lee-in-deal-with-eskimos … #CFL #Esks via @JDunk12- 

My question is - why in hell does Hervey keep feeding Jones players?

The number of rushing yards per game, according to league stats guru Steve Daniel, has never been as few as this year. Through three weeks, there has been an average of 166 rushing yards per game, which is down 23% from only two seasons ago.  
Through three weeks, teams have combined to rush the ball only 34.7 times per game, which are the fewest in league history. Edmonton’s John White and Calgary’s Jerome Messam are the only two rushers on pace to crack the 1,000-yard mark in the early going.  Kirk Penton, Toronto Sun

The “eye in the sky” video reviewer appears to be working so far. One thing he should be able to fix in the future, however, is plays like Hamilton’s touchdown last week against Winnipeg. Andy Fantuz was clearly offside on Chad Owens’ TD grab, and here’s hoping the league will allow the eye in the sky to fix the mistakes that hundreds of thousands of viewers can see plain as day. KPenton

I'm not as sure as Kirk Penton about the "eye in the sky" working so far. I've seen it work, maybe a few times, but, shouldn't it be preventing at least, some of those challenges?

Insider stuff from Penton: 
Chris Williams and his dropsies from years gone by. He says "Chris Williams is simply catching the football. He had the second-most drops last year, which worked out to more than 300 yards worth. A lot of his drops last year were touchdowns, so his concentration has improved. If he cuts his drops in half, he’s a 100 catch guy every year .." 
I too, was wondering about Williams' drops from years gone by. That's a huge difference.

CFL News - Accepted penalties at a 23 per cent decrease from the same point last season. - @garylawless #CFL  
'Accepted' as opposed to called?

@ArashMadani
So @JDunk12 just came on @timandsid and said Jim Barker/the Argos did not offer the same money as Ottawa to Trevor Harris in the off-season.  -  
This counters the Argos claim that they did.

Coach Jones...
“Just for y’all’s information, Cover Zero is when you don’t play with a free safety and you blitz everybody. It has been 86-per-cent successful over my career for a 3.3-yard average, so that’s why we run it.” - leaderpost.com

Reflecting back on it now, making the convert harder to get, has made the convert....harder to get. - Mr Dee

I suggest that somebody in the bomber employ, phone Marcel Desjardins, and ask him who he thinks is the next 'can't miss' QB for the CFL . Why Marcel? Well, he seems to know what he's doing. 
Then I suggest we go after said QB. Now. Before now. Pre-now, if you will. ASAP. Never mind the repercussions of such move. Just do it.
Only half-kidding.

2 of the 3 must see moments in the CFL involved 2 receivers that made incredible catches in the game this year. Against. Us.

Hearing SJ Green is about a month away from the procedure to repair is ACL, MCL & PCL #Alouettes #CFL - Matthew Scianitti

Willy had 13 incompletions on 38 attempts. In breaking down each of his errant throws, there were eight where Willy was simply off the mark; either too high, too low, behind or too far ahead. Two were intercepted in heavy coverage, a third should have been picked off, one he threw away because of pressure, and it appeared Willy was upset with Darvin Adams for making a mistake on another.
- Kirk Penton

Ed Tait -
The Bombers had 33 first down plays against the Eskimos and, factoring in penalties, sacks and losses, netted just 77 yards offence. Willy was 12 of 19 for 184 yards with a TD and an interception on first down, but the Bombers rushed nine times for only 27 yards, Willy was sacked once, and there were four penalties.
of the 22 second-down plays the Bombers ran, a whopping 13 of them needed 10 or more yards to be converted and only four were second-and-five or less.

Kent Austin speaks his Mind. Mike O'Shea hides his feelings. 2 Complete opposites. #bombers #cfl #ticats - Steve Morley

Hamilton 8 sacks Montreal 4 sacks Not much to say about this game. This was not the same Montreal team the Bombers played.

TSN had been reporting how good their numbers were for CFL games this year. Then came this ugly Hamilton -Montreal affair...GULP ? 

Mack, who took over as general manager in January 2010, produced a 21-39 mark before getting the pink slip in August 2013, which works out to a .350 winning percentage. Since then the Bombers are 15-37, which represents a .288 winning percentage over eight fewer games than Mack lasted. - Kirk penton

In the "news to me" category - Miller, who appears 2 B involved in personnel matters, & Walters will celebrate 3rd anniversary w/ #Bombers in few weeks. - @PentonKirk #CFL

Quebec pouring it on now..Gregoire Martin runs it in from 13 yards and it's Que 25, Sask 8 w/1:06 left.   - Football Manitoba  
Ha! Anything to do with Sask losing at football....I'll post it.

The CFL headline read that Hamilton dominated the Alouettes. More proof that the reality behind the headline is completely different.

Who said this? 
We f—in’ suck,” he said, quite candidly. Until the motherf—ers take control and look in the mirror, it will continue to be no good,”  “Everyone in the locker room has got to be accountable. It’s not about character. We didn’t play very well.”
Nic Lewis
And as the writer says (Herb Zerkowsky - Montreal Gazette) "the Als were coming off a bye week in the schedule, having not played since June 30. The coaching staff had plenty of time to prepare. Instead, they made a Ticats team that had lost two straight at home look magnificent."

Don't know how much of this true... Chris Carter was on the sidelines watching his son Duron perform. At least one spectator sitting in the south-side stands indicated "it appeared the elder Carter was coaching Montreal’s receivers."

Heh, heh. I bet you Duron Carter is sorry he didn't sit out the Hamilton game on suspension...?

Chris Jones - 1st time as a HC - loses 3 games in a row. So sad.

#Riders injuries were a big factor, but @JJ_Jennings10 came of age in 2nd half against heavy blitz, was able to beat man coverage. @CFLonTSN - Farhan Lalji

Durant x-rays were negative for a broken bone. Would like league to look at hit. #Riders Lee Jones

"I'll let the league answer to that." - Jones on whether hit on Durant was dirty. #CFL
-Warren Woods - "Jones not buying the notion Brooks " accidentally" rolled into Durants ankle"..#postgame

-didn't look like an 'intent to roll to me', but he did get 3 roughing-the-passer penalties. Let's just say he didn't try to stop from rolling into Durant. Durant, himself, believes it was 'borderline dirty'......."Durant calls Michael Brooks hit that injured his ankle "borderlne dirty" leaderpost.com/sports/footbal… #CFL" #Riders #BCLions via @murraylp

Does Justin Capicciotti miss Hopkins, Shologan, and Lemon from the RedBlack D?

I thought it was a head's up play when A. Allen, in the grasp of defenders, spotted Jennings, and tossed him the ball for a BC TD.

The hitch screen -  They threw it four times to Weston Dressler and picked up a grand total of zero yards before finally deciding to ditch it. - Penton.
Is this really why we got this guy? - Dee.
Also, Penton reports Sophomore right guard Sukh Chungh was beaten on two of the 3 sacks, and he also took a holding penalty on Winnipeg's drive in the game's final minute.

The kicking curse lives on in Winnipeg? 
"New Bombers placekicker Justin Medlock, who failed to convert from 49 yards against the Eskimos, has missed four of 12 field goal attempts through four games. Last year in Hamilton he missed only five kicks in 47 tries" ..- Penton

You have to ask yourself - do you think the Bombers could have responded the same way the Lions did under all that pressure? Even with that horrid Sask.secondary? .......I thought not.

The #Bombers are running fundamental blocking and positional-tackling drills in practice today. So there's that. - Darrin Bauming

Which brings up the question, "are the bombers physically able to move the opponents off the ball?" MOS brought this up and it's worth pondering.

The Eskimos have a record of 2-1 at this stage of the season. They could easily be 0-3.
 
Have you ever heard the expression "behind the sticks" being used as much as it this year?

And finally, does it ever do any good to rush only 3 men in any kind of defence?

Names who stood out Week 4:

Kenny Shaw - 7-94 yds. Great good route runner and yac getter. Don't much like his haircut though.
T. Harris (28-31, 392 YDS)
G. Ellingson (9 REC, 218 YDS) Nissan player of the game.
Jaime Elizondo - Ottawa OC - brilliant game plan and mix. racking up 455 yards of offence while averaging 8.3 yards per play.
Mike Reilly - 32-45 465
Adarius Bowman - 10-185
D.Walker - 7-154
B. Banks - 86 yd punt return TD
Adrian Tracy - 11 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 deflection
B Maher - 5 FGs including a 56 yarder.
J. Jennings 25-40 429 yds - career high
S. Gore 6-109 yds
N. Roosevelt 8-132 yds

1 minute ago, 17to85 said:

He has had a rough go of it this season entirely. Interior of the OL is getting it handed to them regularly. 

Agreed I thought Goosen struggled the first 2 however was better the past 2 and Chungh while not great had a very rough outing vs EDM I think that 

Sewell was too much for him he was getting pushed around, I know that Chungh has put on 10 or so pounds this year and I think its hurt him rather
than helped him. 

18 minutes ago, BBFan said:

Agreed not much reason to defend Walters however I would say lets give Walters a second Kick at HC like Mack had before we decide.

BBF, does it not bother you that O'Shea was retained after two seasons of futility, plus his inability to assemble a scouting team to bring in standout players?

Just now, tracker said:

BBF, does it not bother you that O'Shea was retained after two seasons of futility, plus his inability to assemble a scouting team to bring in standout players?

It does bother me however I just think that generally speaking GMs get to fire at least one HC before they are canned. I like Walters generally speaking because he have been aggressive at picking up free agents, I didn't like his 2015 draft at all in 2016 I thought he did a much better job.

As for not firing O'Shea I personally had enough of O'Shea him however I believe that Walters gave him the 3rd year because Willy was injured for most of 2015 however its looking like a mistake. I also think nothing will happen even if the loses continue to mount until the attendance starts to drop off dramatically. As much as I have been critical of O'Shea more than Walters I am starting to think that Wade Miller is as much to blame as anyone he promised us improvement and I haven't seen any of it I am not sure what Miller contributes to the Team at this point ? At this point you could fire them all and I think we might be better off assuming that they pick the next Pres that knows how to hire an experience GM ( Like Hervey ) who can then hire an experience and qualified HC and then and only then will we start to see some improvement...

1 hour ago, BBFan said:

It does bother me however I just think that generally speaking GMs get to fire at least one HC before they are canned. I like Walters generally speaking because he have been aggressive at picking up free agents, I didn't like his 2015 draft at all in 2016 I thought he did a much better job.

As for not firing O'Shea I personally had enough of O'Shea him however I believe that Walters gave him the 3rd year because Willy was injured for most of 2015 however its looking like a mistake. I also think nothing will happen even if the loses continue to mount until the attendance starts to drop off dramatically. As much as I have been critical of O'Shea more than Walters I am starting to think that Wade Miller is as much to blame as anyone he promised us improvement and I haven't seen any of it I am not sure what Miller contributes to the Team at this point ? At this point you could fire them all and I think we might be better off assuming that they pick the next Pres that knows how to hire an experience GM ( Like Hervey ) who can then hire an experience and qualified HC and then and only then will we start to see some improvement...

I championed the hiring of Walters but was very leery of his hire of O'Shea but willing to give O'Shea a shot. When O'Shea's management of the team the second season (including his defence of Bellefeuille) was no better than his first, he lost me. Right now I am about 50-50 on Walters and every game or loss (pretty much the same thing) where we see the same mismanagement , Walters drops in my confidence.

2 hours ago, BBFan said:

It does bother me however I just think that generally speaking GMs get to fire at least one HC before they are canned. I like Walters generally speaking because he have been aggressive at picking up free agents, I didn't like his 2015 draft at all in 2016 I thought he did a much better job.

As for not firing O'Shea I personally had enough of O'Shea him however I believe that Walters gave him the 3rd year because Willy was injured for most of 2015 however its looking like a mistake. I also think nothing will happen even if the loses continue to mount until the attendance starts to drop off dramatically. As much as I have been critical of O'Shea more than Walters I am starting to think that Wade Miller is as much to blame as anyone he promised us improvement and I haven't seen any of it I am not sure what Miller contributes to the Team at this point ? At this point you could fire them all and I think we might be better off assuming that they pick the next Pres that knows how to hire an experience GM ( Like Hervey ) who can then hire an experience and qualified HC and then and only then will we start to see some improvement...

If the GM fails to fire a coach when everyone else knows he should be gone, should the GM still get that second hire? That means that he would get another two years to let the next coach prove himself. That's five years and nothing could improve because the GM was a big part of the problem.

5 hours ago, rebusrankin said:

You miss my point. Walters supporters cite his work on the NI side. Chung is his best pick and he's a solid OL who may become an all star. Really his only hit. Gossen is starting but not playing well. Waggoner is a STer. Richards has done nothing. Morgan is a ster. Briggs Ster. His best NI's have come via free agency, Westerman, Harris and Shologan.

Oh and Lemar Durant over Richards, Waud over Morgan and not a first for Waggoner so we keep the #2 and land Gagnon or another top OL prospect from this year.

Looking at the 2014 draft again,  I'd say only Calgary did better than us.

Imo it's still too early to give a final grade on either 2015 or 2016. Having said that, 2016 was a consensus top 3 draft in early reviews. 2015 is the only one that's concerning to me. Passing on Durant was probably a mistake.  I read on Riderfans that Waud was telling teams he'd only play in TO, so he might not be the mistake people think he was. I have no idea if that's true or not though. 

5 minutes ago, sweep the leg said:

Looking at the 2014 draft again,  I'd say only Calgary did better than us.

Imo it's still too early to give a final grade on either 2015 or 2016. Having said that, 2016 was a consensus top 3 draft in early reviews. 2015 is the only one that's concerning to me. Passing on Durant was probably a mistake.  I read on Riderfans that Waud was telling teams he'd only play in TO, so he might not be the mistake people think he was. I have no idea if that's true or not though. 

I Believe we picked Richards over Waud and picked Morgan over Durant either way I would take Waud over Richards and Durant over Morgan.

So at least 2 mistakes in the 2015 with the Morgan over Durant a real head scratcher ???

14 minutes ago, sweep the leg said:

Looking at the 2014 draft again,  I'd say only Calgary did better than us.

Imo it's still too early to give a final grade on either 2015 or 2016. Having said that, 2016 was a consensus top 3 draft in early reviews. 2015 is the only one that's concerning to me. Passing on Durant was probably a mistake.  I read on Riderfans that Waud was telling teams he'd only play in TO, so he might not be the mistake people think he was. I have no idea if that's true or not though. 

2014 draft was nothing to write home about. Goossen who was a no brainer but still not all that great honestly(but the right pick), Briggs solid ST player but nothing special and Jones who I really like BUT we also picked him over Thomas Miles who was right under our nose.

Just now, Blueandgold said:

2014 draft was nothing to write home about. Goossen who was a no brainer but still not all that great honestly(but the right pick), Briggs solid ST player but nothing special and Jones who I really like BUT we also picked him over Thomas Miles who was right under our nose.

Walters doesn't seem to like local players he almost tries to avoid taking them and when he does like this year there was no point he could have just invited the Rec from Manitoba no one was going to draft him...

Our drafts have been no better under Walters than Mack. There's a reason why our Canadian talent isn't up to the level of other CFL teams.

3 hours ago, sweep the leg said:

Looking at the 2014 draft again,  I'd say only Calgary did better than us.

Imo it's still too early to give a final grade on either 2015 or 2016. Having said that, 2016 was a consensus top 3 draft in early reviews. 2015 is the only one that's concerning to me. Passing on Durant was probably a mistake.  I read on Riderfans that Waud was telling teams he'd only play in TO, so he might not be the mistake people think he was. I have no idea if that's true or not though. 

Ottawa ended up with Jon Gott and Antoine Pruneau

Edmonton ended up with Otha Foster and Mike Reilly

Those two teams used picks to change the face of their team...  would like to see the bombers make a splash like that.

I remember all kinds of posters here back before the 2014 season mocking Mike Reilly & there were lots of people here saying they were happy he was traded to Edmonton because he was a crappy qb & that we didn't need him. The same posters were sticking up for Joe Mack.

The same who stuck up for Mack were the same pumping Kyle Walters tires a few months later just before & after he was hired. And that MOS was this young "Can't Miss" coach so he's a great hire. Didn't matter about his lack of coaching experience. And hey, we have a Canadian GM, Canadian Head Coach, a bunch of CIS assistants all with no pro experience & that was great too.

When hired, our GM could call the Notre Dame or New York Giants coaching offices & they would have no idea who he is but that was okay too. A GM doesn't need connections in the US, they said. If anyone disagreed on any of these subjects those same people attacked the ones who said differently vehemently. So, now I read them trying to make a case for Drew Willy, Mike OShea & Walters as the Good Ship Blue Bomber is springing more leaks daily & the boat starts sinking. They really don't have a lot to say anymore in their defense as the losses mount.

Sadly, all it did was just create deep divisions on this forum. The people who like Walters & MOS & the people who don't. Since the 2 haven't won & the team just keeps losing, the divisions have gotten deeper & larger as time goes on. It really is unfortunate as this is not a happy place anymore. Lots of denial, anger & angst. Too bad, really. This is a great site. It would be nice if those divisions heal one day.

Edited July 20, 20169 yr by iso_55

5 hours ago, iso_55 said:

I remember all kinds of posters here back before the 2014 season mocking Mike Reilly & there were lots of people here saying they were happy he was traded to Edmonton because he was a crappy qb & that we didn't need him. The same posters were sticking up for Joe Mack.

The same who stuck up for Mack were the same pumping Kyle Walters tires a few months later just before & after he was hired. And that MOS was this young "Can't Miss" coach so he's a great hire. Didn't matter about his lack of coaching experience. And hey, we have a Canadian GM, Canadian Head Coach, a bunch of CIS assistants all with no pro experience & that was great too.

When hired, our GM could call the Notre Dame or New York Giants coaching offices & they would have no idea who he is but that was okay too. A GM doesn't need connections in the US, they said. If anyone disagreed on any of these subjects those same people attacked the ones who said differently vehemently. So, now I read them trying to make a case for Drew Willy, Mike OShea & Walters as the Good Ship Blue Bomber is springing more leaks daily & the boat starts sinking. They really don't have a lot to say anymore in their defense as the losses mount.

Sadly, all it did was just create deep divisions on this forum. The people who like Walters & MOS & the people who don't. Since the 2 haven't won & the team just keeps losing, the divisions have gotten deeper & larger as time goes on. It really is unfortunate as this is not a happy place anymore. Lots of denial, anger & angst. Too bad, really. This is a great site. It would be nice if those divisions heal one day.

A post that is essentially gloating is going to do nothing to change any "division" on the forum.  Congratulations you were right Iso, the Bombers are a steaming pile of crap.  Is that what this post is trying dig up from "certain posters"?

The "division" is how people view the team and how people choose to be a fan and support the team.  Why do some people not post any longer?  Well because the Bombers suck and there is very little hope right now.  For those people, they'd rather say nothing then come here and read about and post bashing the team.  Not everyone wants to come in here and talk about how much the team sucks in every thread.  

When there is a new regime, they will (hopefully) support it and hope that this is the group to turn around the franchise.  That is how they enjoy the team.  Also,  if everyone saw everything the same way, this place would get pretty boring.  The point of a discussion board is for people of different points of view to discuss and debate.

If you want to gloat for being right, then gloat, but all that does is make people not like you and makes the so called division worse.  Don't wrap it up in this lets be friends and make amends BS.  Especially when you stretch the truth to fit your agenda. 

I don't remember anyone saying Reilly was crappy and we didn't need him.  It was more of Reilly isn't completely proven yet and there are other options out there, especially when we didn't get him, and weren't going to get him, so people move on.  I also think you  mis-interpret hope and optimism for calling O'Shea "can't miss".  He was a rookie coach, no one thought he was can't miss.  But there was hope he would be good coach.  So people went with that because they are fans and love the Bombers and want to believe ( or at least wanted to) they will do well.

 

Well said Rich.

I remember it more like you do. We hoped for Reilly. Nobody mocked him. We were pissed at the circumstances surrounding his going to Edmonton.

We had hope for O'Shea, because, well, he was this icon..who knew football.

And Walters? Same thing. He only had minor experience, but we again, wre hopeful. He was ours. 

There is only division if things are taken too seriously and take oneself too seriously.

No, things are not working out and people are mad. And they have a right to be. Losing isn't fun. But still, we are Bomber fans and there's always the next game. Right?

12 hours ago, iso_55 said:

Our drafts have been no better under Walters than Mack. There's a reason why our Canadian talent isn't up to the level of other CFL teams.

It's almost like Walters was the top NI scout when Mack was here.... imagine that. 

Rich, this group running the team will either rise up or fail. Right now, nobody knows what will happen. That's all I'm going to say on this.

Edited July 20, 20169 yr by iso_55

Nick Moore out for the season. 

12 minutes ago, sweep the leg said:

Nick Moore out for the season. 

Well, lets see what Wally can pull out of his bag.

Nick Moore, wow.