JuranBoldenRules

For me: Hamilton Winnipeg Ottawa Edmonton Calgary BC Sask Montreal Toronto

The Argos and Als both look far more disorganized than any team I can recall in a long time, like worse than Burke’s Bombers for sure. Crazy thing is that they both have quite a bit of talent. What’s killing the Argos roster wise is Popp’s fascination with size over ability. Popp really lucked into Tracy Ham and Calvino providing him with a career. He’s been brutal when he’s actually had to try to build a team. The Argos and Als did have training camps, right?

Disagree. No offense is designed to go completely stagnant. They are spending quite a lot on guys like Matthews, Adams to have a QB who can make a throw, they were in the market for receivers in the >$200,000 range. Sure they don't want to turn the ball over, but I think they'd like to have more than 2 first downs per quarter.

It's more of an advantage for the pass rushers, they should have more in the tank than the OL and therefore be more effective. I can't see any of these guys having an attitude about playing in a rotation, everyone does now and even down to younger ages. I watch Jefferson and just see a freak who's not really a defensive player. He has no technique aside from using his length and speed rush to try to beat tackles around the edge, he's always trying for the ball, which leads to spectacular plays he can make, but down after down he just kind of floats through the game. Once the ball crosses the LOS or leaves the QB's hand he just stops moving. Meanwhile Nevis is 8 yards downfield tackling receivers. I think maybe he needs to make a big play to get fired up and then they'll come in bunches. I agree with the post about letting Jefferson play more of a "wide 9" type of OLB that you see in American 3-4 schemes. On a passing down have him behind a 3 man front take a look at the protection and pick which edge he's going to rush from, behind either Jeffcoat or Roh.

I don't know how Kowalski assigns some of those routes, but Alexander's targets/catches look pretty low to me.

Our scoring has been hugely reliant on field position, which I mean to an extent everyone's is, but ours even more. Since 2016 the Bombers have been both the top team in special team exchange (punt kickoff & return net) and tops in turning the ball over on D. Nichols was hugely efficient in the redzone in 2016 and 2017, lackluster last season. Streveler became a significant factor for us in those situations last year and scored a lot of TD's. Nichols has been very efficient when we've got to the redzone in 2019 through 2 games, and that's obviously very important. If the factors controlled by ST and D aren't at that "best in the league" level we really struggle to win. When we play the top teams in the league, past few years that's Calgary, Hamilton, Ottawa, Sask last year, we really struggle to win. There's no margin for error, but those phases need to play at a crazy level to give Nichols a huge margin for error if we have a shot to win. Extended drives don't happen often for this offense. There's also a very troubling tendency to go very long stretches with very few first downs and many consecutive two and outs. This allows teams to make comebacks against us, even when we have a 2-3 possession lead and really need just one score to close it out. There is a tendency to blame this on the defense but what happens is field position gradually becomes worse and worse. We hand the opposition 7-8 possessions with essentially no push from our offense and it's not surprising that they put up 2-3 scores.

Adams throws leaning back without his feet set and the half speed pass is easily picked off.

About $300,000 on BLM/Reilly, so that's like Willie Jefferson and Matthews essentially.

He's good because the D held repeatedly, even when the O couldn't get 1-2 first downs to kill the clock at the end of each half and turned the ball over at the end of each half handing Edmonton the ball in our territory. Half those FG's go for TD's and we're just a team with a QB who can't make enough plays to win, or more likely we should fire the DC and cut all the DB's. Funny how that works.

BLM and Reilly have won a Grey Cup, Grey Cups for BLM. Harris and Collaros have played in Grey Cups, but Collaros is a shell of his prime. Nichols 1-4 in playoff games career. He's out of runway in terms of excuses, or the "but if we had this we'd win." We have a ridiculously great D, great RB, great receivers, OL that has performed well through 2 games, I'd say great vs BC, average vs EDM, but certainly not a problem and will only get better as guys play more together. Nichols needs to win this year, and by that probably win the Grey Cup or at least get there, or he's done here. Very much like Glenn in 2008. Nichols is the guy completely under the microscope because everything else is in place.

Less that 5 times out of 100 according to an expected win formula I ran that includes net offense, turnovers and TOP based on last night's game. It was created for American Football but I think it transfers to Canadian Football. It's actually incredible the Bombers didn't give up a TD last night. 3 Edmonton drives started on the Bombers side of midfield and one started at the Bombers 20.

From the author who brought us “Fire Hall”

The only thing I don’t like about Fenner are the penalties. As the field corner in this scheme he’s doing his job, which is staying on top of outside breaking routes, deep routes and playing more aggressive on routes breaking into the field, digs, posts etc. If teams want to throw a 45 yard pass for a 4 yard gain this scheme will allow it all day. If anything Fenner needs to be less physical as the field corner to cut down on those IC calls...can be more physical inside. For those interested there are several blog posts floating around that explain Hall’s basic scheme and coverages in great detail with video.

Brutal in zone too, he’s gotta cut off routes and ya sit on top of some too, but way too much covering grass while a guy is wide-open 2 steps away and Harris is checking down. Bad reads tonight by Bighill repeatedly.

Works if play a team that has no hope of getting a first down...I mean **** Edmonton had two more possessions after that FG.

How many 2nd and 4th quarter first downs?

Did EDM even throw a ball into the endzone?

Loffler torn ACL, 3rd time possible career ender. Bombers moved on right in time.

They both aren’t good enough. Clearly Nichols is a huge limit on what the offense can do. Can’t run RPO’s because there’s no R...mid range pass game is basically nil, we need to rely on misdirection to get the ball into the hands of guys who can do the rest. A guy like Matthews is gonna have a hell of a time getting balls in this offense and we’re going to be disappointed with what he does after the catch on the short ones.

When you actually throw the ball your QBR tends to level out. Take out YAC and how’s it look?

Would be nice if we didn’t have entire quarters where we can’t even get a first down, significantly due to Nichols lack of pocket presence and ability to make throws. This game is a laugher if we have an offense. With the offense we had we were very fortunate to pull it out.

Ridiculous to hold these drafts in season. If guys can’t get their **** together in time for Draft now that it’s literally a week before rookie camp they go in next years class.

Ya forearm/elbow to helmet, lots of nerves there.

By killing people faster?

Edmonton barely held on to beat Montreal in their home opener...Montreal is a horrendous and disorganized team that will be lucky to win 3 games this season.