TBURGESS

I don't expect the QB's to be perfect. I'm just saying about 3/4's of the reported 'great catches' in this years TC have been the ball thrown behind the receiver and they've pulled them in. In our first game, Willy was 3 for 6 and he had 2 under thrown balls. One got a PI because the DB didn't look back the other was almost an INT but Smith saved him. That's too high IMO and yes... I get that it was preseason.

Smith also reached back to break up an Int by Herbert on a ball thrown behind by Willy.

FWIW I'm getting tired of hearing of all these great catches where the receivers have to reach behind themselves fully extended. I'd rather hear that the QB's are placing the ball in front of the receivers so they can catch on the run. In real games, DB's will kill receivers who have to reach behind for the ball or maybe even pick it off.

I'll be surprised if Willy plays more than 2 or 3 sets of downs. The first preseason game isn't to get the main offense a bunch of work. It's to get a look at as many players as possible in 'game' situations. Nichols is likely to get the most time IMO.

I think it's funny that Montreal missing the playoffs, with more wins than we had BTW, for the first time since 1996 is considered a train wreck. Only making the playoffs once in 7 years is a train wreck. Popp is a much better GM than he is a HC. I can't understand why he didn't hire a real HC. Last year, they were a decent QB away from making the playoffs and Glenn is a decent QB. They are a team we need to beat (Along with Regina and Vancouver) to make the playoffs this year. Our games against them will be very important IMO.

I'm looking forward to seeing some football again, especially played in our new uniforms. I don't expect much from the game itself as preseason games are rarely any good, but often have a great play sprinkled in here and there. It's my first look at all the new guys so I'll finally get a chance to see what the TC camp folks have been seeing for the last couple of weeks. Montreal won't be bringing all their starters so I'm looking for our starters, when they're in, to dominate their backups. Injuries on our D line probably mean extra reps for our new DL starters. I'm hoping to see them dominate Montreal's O line who will have at least 4 changes on their O line since last year. I hope to see PLAP's new offense generate a lot of yards, some big plays, and protect the QB's. Preseason games rarely have much if any blitzing so this should be doable especially when our #1's are in. I know it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, but I'd like to see a win. IMO, it would be good for both the fans and the team.

He was at RT most of last year after Jace Daniels went down. Maybe 10 games?

Gotta say I'm glad the league mandated that we get to hear from the coordinators. It's a joy to hear from PLAP and Buck and I'm looking forward to hearing from them throughout the season.

Smith for me. Younger. Cheaper. On his way up the receiving ladder. I don't think Dressler's looked as good since coming back from the NFL (May have to do with the team around him), but he's still an upgrade over Moore or Denmark.

Herb Zurkowsky ‏@HerbZurkowsky1 4h4 hours ago Am told QB Rakeem Cato might be one of a number of #Als' veterans released this week. Team tried trading him recently.

I'd certainly bring in Cato. He's got some CFL experience and didn't look out of place IMO.

The BC Lions Football Club announced this afternoon that they have traded the negotiation rights to international quarterback Vernon Adams to the Montreal Alouettes in exchange for Montreal’s first round selection in the 2017 CFL Draft. “Both sides negotiated in good faith, but in the end it became clear that we weren’t going to be able to meet Vernon’s expectations as they relate to length of contract and remuneration,” said Wally Buono. “We’ve got very good depth at the quarterback position so being able to turn this asset into a first-round pick in next year’s CFL Draft is a win for the Lions.” The Lions open mini-camp in Kamloops Thursday, May 26th.

I don't know why people are upset or even surprised. Everyone knew that Denmark was going to have to take a significant pay cut to keep playing. If he was willing to do that with us, everyone would be rightly saying what a great job Walters did. The Riders made the best offer or else Denmark would have signed elsewhere. That contract is what he was worth on the open market.

Not likely. Bucknor's liable to be the 8th starting Canuck and Hurl will get a lot of reps again this year IMO.

Love the home uniform. Don't like the blue shoulders on the away one, but at least they aren't gold lame dancing togs or pigeon poop.

Gotta say that I haven't been following the draft this year. I'll take a look at who we pick after we pick them. I'd give up 9 & 19 for #1.

Who do you think has the inside track at safety then?

Is our secondary really that good? Adams is a shutdown corner and Randle was a shutdown corner before his injury, so assuming he's OK that's 2 very high level players. Johnson is loved by some around here but I don't put him in the top level category. We don't know yet if Randle will be a corner this year or if we need to keep a NI on the field which basically means Bucknor who isn't great by any stretch of the imagination. We don't know who the safety will be, but it looks like Macho Harris has the inside track and he's never going to even be average. We have a free DB spot that Washington played for most of last year... Randle or Adams means finding a new CB or Bucknor gets to play. A newbie may be anywhere from terrible to great.

Don't make statements that I didn't make then add my name to them, then see if I'll complain then say 'just joking' then call it satire. That's douch-bagery. Just saying...

Don't stick my name on your jokes and we'll get along better.

Nope. I didn't say that and it's not accurate.

The first half of our season is way tougher than the second half. I could easily see O'Shea getting fired mid season and PLAP taking over. He'd look better based on the schedule without making many changes.

Excellent read! Thanks for posting it. Any idea who wrote it?

Folks around here don't like his opinion, but Brown's not wrong. New systems and players take time to gel, protecting the QB is job #1 and we have a very tough start to the season. Most of the goodwill the Bombers had has been used up over the last 4 years out of the playoffs so they won't get much support if they can't put some W's on the board early on.

Last time we hired a HC with good experience (IE Winning) was Richie back in '99 worked out pretty well IIRC. I can't remember the last time we hired an experienced GM, but Walters, Mack, Bauer and Reinbold certainly weren't so it's been a long time.