Jaxon

Not so sure. I assume you are referring to FG return team (where we are attempting to block the other teams FB attempt) Dieke is 6'6" as is Hubbard. Richardson is 6'4", Corney and Waterman are 6'3". Butcher is 6'5" but all of the DE types have a more athletic frame than Butcher, and without seeing testing results, I'm going to speculate that they all would have better vertical numbers, and thus have a better chance to get a hand up on the ball. Generally speaking, O-line and interior d-line don't get much specialty team duties. DE's and LB's are the workhorses for those units, both for kicking (covering) and returning.

I don't think that they will use a DI to back-up the d-line. Especially with an import kicker using one of the DI spots, and likely McDuffie or Anderson, or Flanders in another one. Starting 4 on the DL will be: Westerman Cummings Shologan 1 of either Dieke or Hubbard or Green. That leaves Corney and Richardson rotating the ends, with Thomas and Butcher backing up the inside. It may be tough to have 2 backups for the inside positions on the d-line. Both Corney and Richardson play specialty teams, so that adds to their roster-value. Thomas and Butcher don't add that same value. If Dieke can go inside or out, that may give him the edge on getting that last spot.

DL depth is impressive this year, especially the number of Canadians: Westerman, Shologan, Thomas, Butcher, Corney have all looked good. Richardson will have to continue to show well on specialty teams to grab a spot on the game roster but he could be in tough vs Corney. I'm not sure that we can carry both Thomas and Butcher on the final game roster, so it is possible one of those will be assigned to the practice roster. For the Americans, Cummings will have one spot, so you are right, there is only one spot left. I was impressed with both Dieke and Hubbard, but haven't really noticed Green as much.

I agree. Pretty much the same as going on every teams site and complaining that "we will never win with this bunch of losers" and then going back at the end of the year onto 8/9 sites and saying "see, I told you". I'm an all in Bomber fan. I support MY team, and I expect to win.

I would argue that the players from older eras were better athletes to some extent than many of the players today. The difference was that that they were all "athletes" and not so much "specialists". Yes the top player today will have a faster 40 time, but many of the players from earlier generations played multiple positions. Ploen was a QB and a safety. Gerry James played CFL football in the Summer/Fall, and then played NHL hockey in the winter. James played in the Grey Cup 6 times, winning 4 of them. Football was a priority for him over hockey, because it payed better! (my how times have changed). He played in the Grey Cup and the Stanley Cup finals in the same season. (won the Grey Cup, lost the Stanley Cup with the Leafs) Roger Savoie played from '51 to '64 and played both ways, o-line and d-line. He rarely came off the field, and won 4 Grey Cups. Both Savoie and James were local guys too (Savoie was born and raised here, James was born in Saskatchewan but moved here, and went to Kelvin High School. He joined the Bombers right out of high school) Smaller roster, different game, but players from that era were tough and talented. I don't buy the argument that today's players are "better" athletes, they are just more specialized.

Great Idea for the Bombers...make it a party!

Bombers just added Michael Richot from the Winnipeg Rifles to the Rookie Camp. He had one of the best runs I've ever seen last year, which gained him some notice. (against the Saskatoon Hilltops, the top team in the CJFL too) http://www.riflesfootball.com/page/show/2100382-videos

Xander Tachinski and Alex Vitt Because I always cheer for the local kids to do well!

Thank you Bombers for listening to the fans. We wanted Royal Blue and home, and we now have it.

I have absolutely no problem with fans putting their names on the jersey. I've been a season ticket holder since the late 60's. My father, uncle, and grandfather since 1935. I bought each of my kids season tickets when they turned 2. I've got as much invested in the team (financially and emotionally) as any of the players. I fully appreciate the hard work that they put in, and the risks that they take, but this is a community owned team. The team constantly says how the fans are a big part of the organization, so if we put our name or nickname on the jersey, we are re-enforcing that connection.

Certainly in a zone situation, you are correct, the zone coverages are quite different due to number of players and the fact that the Americans play on a scaled down field. In a man defence, the differences aren't quite as large. I should likely have compared O-line to rec's and RB's.

Yes, it is indeed a bad idea.

OL is one of the tougher spots to fill with rookie imports. (compared to receiver, RB, or DB) because the learning curve is longer for our game. The yard at the line of scrimmage changes timing and technique, the wider field creates demands for enhanced mobility, and the different number of players on defence leads to more complex blitz packages that need to be picked up. People have said that RBs and Recs are a "dime a dozen". While I don't believe that this is true, there is certainly evidence that those positions are more "plug and play" capable. A receiver can play after 2 weeks of practice and contribute. A o-line takes multiple games to start to "gel"

I love Sunday afternoon games, but I understand that other people enjoy the NFL. I also like mid-week games, especially on the road. I travel for business and this would allow me to catch many more away games live in person. Starting the regular season before Canada Day wouldn't be my choice, as June is a busy month, and I've got a significant conflict on June 24, and won't be able to make the home opener this year. None of this matters because: The schedule isn't about me personally. In the end, I choose to see the big picture and the positives. We have a great game, a great venue, a team that is actively working to improve, and an affordable ticket price. The league has improved facilities in Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto, and plans for Regina. I'm excited to watch some football once the season starts.

I don't bother with the NFL until our season is over, and even then, I'm more likely to watch NCAA rather than NFL. Just my opinion. No hate, just not much interest.

Very excited to get to a game there. I need to get to the new digs in Hamilton and the renovated stadium in Ottawa as well. (I've been to the pre-renovated stadium in Ottawa, and several games at the old Ivor Wynne, but I've cut back my travel a bit so need to catch up to the newer parks.)

I always get puzzled when 2-for-1 salary adjustments are proposed. It's never 2-for-1, it has to be 2-for-2. It may be fair to say Bucknor and Hurl for Muamba and "league minimum rookie", but there always has to be a balanced number for salary. I like Muamba as a player, and the Bombers should at least have a discussion. IMHO opinion, he may very well be the best Canadian LB, if not the best LB in the league. I don't begrudge a player trying to earn the most that he can. That said, the Bombers may find the price too steep. Never hurts to talk though. Contrary to many others, I think Hurl showed great progress last year, so I am not so anxious to move off on him. The Bombers, like most teams, rotate many players in and out on defence, so having NI players that can step into a roll are very valuable.

My understanding is that 4 CIS coaches make good coin: Blake Nill, Glenn Constantine, Greg Marshall, and Danny Maciocia. These 4 make about what a top OC would make in the CFL. After that, the CIS head coaches make about the same as a position coach makes in the CFL. In addition to this, there only real step up available to a CIS coach is to become athletic director. Better money and more potential if they jump to professional football.

Helluva way to end a game. What I found interesting was that the play never should have happened. The game should have ended on the previous play, but the official threw a phantom facemasking play, which gave Green Bay one more shot. Kudos to the Packers for the play, but the reffing in the NFL is aweful at times, this was one of those times.

I renewed my season tickets and I'm excited to do so. I've been around long enough to know that that there are ups and downs and that things will turn around. I'm keeping the faith. I honestly believe that the loyal fans enjoy the ups more than the bandwaggon jumpers because they know what the downs feel like.

I'm in. 4 Seats.

Go Ottawa!

I have a different perspective. I bought my 4 seats (which are excellent seats near mid-field) with the 3 year committment. Last year I paid 400 per seat for 7 seats which were not nearly as good. I've been a season ticket holder since 1968, so yes, I've supported the club through good times and bad. I don't feel that I was "sold a bill of goods by the Blue Bombers", because they delivered what they promised, and the price was in-line with last year's. To the best of my knowledge, they haven't offered equivalent tickets to my purchase at lower prices. I realize with any ticketed event, that black-market tickets may be sold well above or well below face value, and that you take a chance that cheaper "might" become available. You also might have to pay alot more depending on the laws of supply and demand. History has shown that if the host team is not in the game, cheaper tickets become available, but if they are in the game, it can get crazy. There have been exceptions, such as 2007 in Toronto, but this has been the general rule. I don't consider the Nissan deal to be an equivalent purchase due to the volume of tickets involved. I glad that some younger football players are getting the opportunity to attend the game. It's unfortunate that they didn't sell out at full price, but I have positive feelings about the Nissan deal, because what they did was generous. All that being said, I'm quite concerned with the escalation in Grey Cup ticket prices in general. I go every year, and I can afford to do it. My concern is for the long time fans who support the team year in and year out, but then can't afford to attend the game when it comes to town. I would suggest the league insures that they "dance with the ones that brought them". I don't want the Grey Cup to become too corporate or elite. The enthusiasm that the regular fans from across the country bring to the game is what makes it special.

I'm in the +50 crowd, and I go to the Grey Cup every year, because I'm a football junkie. Apparantly this year I will dance like Uma Thurman at half time, which strikes me as being the theme from the munsters, but I intend to have as much fun as possible. I always try to have fun, and really people, if you let yourself have fun, you will. If you go in bitter, you will stay bitter, and this is true throughout life.

For the record, I'm prepared to give O'Shea one more year at the helm. No hyperbole, but a belief that he's right for the job. I'm a long term thinker, and I know that teams that change coaches like underwear don't do well, and yet that's the path we've been on. Also for the record, it was a mistake to fire Cal Murphy, Doug Berry, and Paul Lapo when they did.