Slimy Sculpin

I'm leaning towards Kolankowski. So, what are the responsibilities of the centre? He's got to snap the ball either shotgun or short to the QB. Kolankowski seems OK with this but I've noted several mis-fires both long and short over the season. He's also got to call out or adjust blocking assignments for the called play based on what he sees of the defense. I don't know how he did this, yelling above the crowd noise? He certainly didn't do it by hand signals. And, given the way our QBs were under duress during most plays, he might not have done a good job of this. As for blocking, he looked terrible to my eyes. As someone else posted earlier, he was always looking for someone to block. And, I think that he is undersized.

FWIW, I emailed Wade Miller yesterday in response to the club's email to me about being part of the sold out season. I hemmed and hawed but finally hit "send" (could have been the second glass of wine with dinner.) It will be interesting whether I get a response. Mr. Miller, Now that this disappointing season, in my opinion, has ended for the Bombers, I feel that I must express my views on a number of issues: Congratulations on the 14 straight sell-outs! As a partial season ticket holder (split two seats with two others) and also a casual ticket buyer, it felt good going to games that were sold out. The atmosphere was "electric" at times. However, based on what I saw on the field this year and to a lesser degree last year, I am considering not renewing my portion of those two season tickets. The current staff's use of the league's roster rules is a bit baffling to me, for instance, continually dressing more than the minimum required Canadians. (There are a couple of roster spots currently occupied by, in my opinion, non-starter quality Canadians.) The lack of use of the "nationalized American" rule is also concerning. (There are several veteran Americans on the team who would qualify and who might be better used in this category.) I realize that this is the C(anadian)FL but make better use of the rules. Head Coach O'Shea has made some odd roster choices throughout his tenure here. I first noticed it with his continual playing of Sam Hurl at MLB. Then it was the truly baffling decision to roster and keep trotting out the American, ex-Navy Seal, Damian Jackson. Truly bizarre, in my opinion. Currently, two players come to mind as starters who shouldn't be, Kolankowski at Centre and Thomas on the D-line. I've watched every Bomber game this season and the ineptitude of these two is quite evident. Surely, there are better players on the roster than those two veterans. Loyalty is fine to a degree but the coaching staff (Coach O'Shea?) is taking loyalty to another but detrimental level. I was wary when Jason Hogan was announced as the new OC but, at the time, trusted that the Bombers' tall foreheads knew what they were doing. However, I'm extremely disappointed in Hogan, not so much that he was a "rookie" but, to my eye, because he didn't improve his plans and playcalling over the course of the season. It is my opinion that Hogan should be relieved of his duties. I greatly appreciate what Collaros has done for the team signed he was signed. However, I (and a few others) have noticed a decline in his play that started at least a year ago. I don't understand why before this past season started, he was signed to a contract extension. To me, it would have made more sense to have him "show us" before the extension was offered. The "elephant in the room" for me, and judging by letters to the editor and comments on online CFL and Bombers forums, many others (a majority of current CFL fans?) are the proposed rule and field dimension changes. No doubt tweaks to the rules are warranted. Getting rid of the single point for kicking or punting through the end zone and a few others I can live with. However, the dramatic changes to the dimensions of the field of play and moving the goal posts (literally) are a "no go" for me and many others. When was the last time that someone was injured by the post? Sure the odd football hits an upright as Collaros this past Saturday. As a teenager in the mid-1960s, I was at a playoff game where the Bombers beat the Roughriders because Ron Lancaster hit an upright when had Gord Barwell wide open for what would have been the game-winning TD. It's rare but it's part of the Canadian game. The lack of prior consultation by the league with its stakeholders (i.e., the fans) was not a good move in my opinion. Perhaps, the league's brain trust thinks that the changes will bring in new fans? Perhaps but will that offset the potential loss of current fans (i.e., me). I have also read that the players and management were not even consulted. And what of Football Canada, U Sports and minor football in general? What are they to do and better still who will pay for it? I will not comment on the league's (and pro sports in general) ever increasing "symbiosis" with the "gaming" industry other than that I abhor it. Sincerely, real name and mobile phone number

"If Hogan comes back as OC for sure we lose"...me (a season ticket holder). I was wary when he was announced as the new OC but, at the time, trusted that the Bombers' tall foreheads knew what they were doing. However, I'm extremely disappointed in Hogan, not so much that he was a "rookie" but, to my eye, because he didn't improve over the course of the season.

Ah, so you're into the gin again.😊

On that pass to Wheatfall, I watched Kolankowski miss his block and then fall down.

Might be the worst quarter that I've seen them play. Absolutely embarrassing.

Did I miss the memo where they swapped out the artificial turf at Molson Stadium for real grass?

One can dream!

I agree about his throwing. He generally throws a pretty tight spiral which is more than I can say for Streveler or even Collaros. On the INT in the endzone, he did have Stearns wide open but tried to feather it to him and off of his back foot to boot. I like his athleticism, too. For his first real action, I thought that he did OK. I also wasn't too impressed with Hogan's play calling but I also think that he should be fired so even if he had called a good game, I'd be still calling for his firing. No brakes to pump regarding Wilson, I don't recall any posters thinking that he was the "second coming."

I wasn’t sure where to post this but here goes. Yesterday I received an email from the Bombers thanking me for being “part of something special”, a sold out PAS for this season and going back to mid-season last year. As season ticket holders or casual ticket purchasers, I’m guessing that more than a few of you got the same email. The sender was “Wade Miller <info@news.bluebombers.com>". This appears to be the Bombers’ generic mailbox with Miller’s name attached to it. However, when I hit “reply”, I got what appears to be Miller’s actual Bomber email address (wmiller@bluebombers.com). So, if you’re less than happy about the CFL’s proposed rule changes and/or changes to the field dimensions as I am, this might be an opportunity to let the President of the team know how you feel about it. Cheers.

I think that you have been voted off the island.

Interesting stat. I've been a diehard Bomber fan for decades. I'm currently on vacation in the Azores but I made the time to listen to this past weekend's game (5 hr difference from Winnipeg) much to my wife's chagrin. But I tuned out after the third quarter because I was so frustrated with their play including the business of not receiving the ball to start the 2nd half. (I think Doug Brown thought the same.). I'll still be there to the end but I lost faith in O'Shea and his rostering and other mind-numbing decisions when he kept that ex-US Navy Seal, Damien Jackson, on the roster for a whole season. What a waste of a roster spot! End of rant. By the way they make some excellent white wines on Pico Island. Cheers. 😊

Agree with both of you. Wheatfall looks good at times but has been very inconsistent and, from what I've seen, is not a very good blocker. And, he looks like a blade of wheat, legs too thin for the rest of his body. I don't think that it's much of a surprise that with the return of Wilson (and Stearns) and the insertion of Mitchell, the receiving corps is looking quite decent, IMO. Throw in a healthy Collaros and the opposition now have to show a little more "respect" for our guys.

The Bombers have the best looking unis in the league when they are actually "blue and gold" as they were yesterday. Whoever in the Bomber office thought that "blue and blue (pants)" was a winner is not a winner. Sorry SF27, for some reason your post did not appear on my screen until after I posted.

That does seem to be a lack of practice sessions. I wonder whether anyone has looked into how the other eight teams are practicing.