Doublezero

Despite his decision to keep Marcel after last year's obvious problems on O (where we were basically worst in the league) and same thing again this season, we should keep Mike O'Shea next season. Of course I said this about Joe Mack, feeling that he kept LaPo around too long and should have cut him loose immediately after we accidentally limped into the 2011 cup. We were a bad team, poorly coached, masked by that cup appearance. But that decision to keep LaPo marked the beginning of the end for Joe. So likewise, O'Shea's loyalty to Marcel, despite the absence of vital signs on the cold corpse that is Winnipeg's offence, could spell the end of O'Shea here. That would be a shame, as I'm not certain it's all on MOS. Though firing the HC is the pattern: the last time we had a 5-13 record (as seems likely) we fired Jim Daley and replaced him with Doug Berry.

I don't know what kind of chemistry Marcel and Willy have had. Willy wanted his OC on the sidelines and Marcel appeared reluctant - but agreed. Then as soon as Willy gets injured again (which is fairly often BTW) and the next QB installed, Marcel scoots back upstairs.

Shouldn't he design the O around Drew Willy's skill set? Well, I'm throwing it out there that, unfortunately, Winnipeg likely needs a new starter. Someone more mobile and who reads and delivers the ball quicker and from different launch points. Of the limited number of wins Bombers have had past 2 years, relatively few have been due to outstanding QB play. Wins have been greatly assisted by outstanding play of D and ST - who scored needed points. Bomber fans are so starved for good QB play at even average looks good. Here's another hard truth: unfortunately that broken leg isn't going to make Drew Willy any faster or nimble, post recovery. And with the obligation to pay him $400k next year ... well the Bombers are actually in a bit of a pickle at QB. That's a lot of money and commitment tied up in a question mark. Obviously Marcel isn't up to it and what's really scary is that there's no evidence MOS Walters or Miller can even diagnose, let alone remedy, what ails the O. But it starts and ends at QB and IMHO we haven't been trustworthy at that position.

Bombers braintrust, including MOS Walters and Miller have no clue on offence. And so the choice of the next OC is an important one. Hopefully that person will design the offence around a dual threat QB - who is yet to be found.

Bombers braintrust, including MOS Walters and Miller have no clue on offence. And so the choice of the next OC is an important one. Hopefully that person will design the offence around a dual threat QB - who is yet to be found.

If you want to review Walkers skills re-watch the Bombers first game against the RB's last season. No doubt that he had the physical talent at that time but as we have seen until recently with Stoudermire sometimes these guys forget how to use it. No Walker has been the same since day one with Hamilton. He's fast. If he has a big hole to run through he's got the speed to exploit it but when the going gets tough he folds faster than superman on laundry day. Speed gets guys 9 lives in sports but if you can't do anything with that speed but run through gaping holes you're not a football player, just a track star.I was not impressed with Walker and wondered why Winnipeg bothered bringing him in. Interesting comment about his speed though. There is something very wrong with Bombers run game and it doesn't matter who the RB is. First, they telegraph every run. So its easy for the D to pick up. Secondly, every run play takes too long to develop. You can count steamboats while the QB is holding the ball out there waiting for the back to take the ball and then silly-walk into Picard's backside or one of the Bombers guards or the waiting arms of an opposing defender. It's been like that for the past couple of seasons. Its almost like there's no communication between the O line and backfield. And of course no play action to give pause to the D and no misdirection. Major fail. Does MOS not see this? I honestly don't think he does see it and wouldn't know how to fix it if he did. MOS was a LB not a QB, unlike head coaches like Hufnagel and Austin. I'm sure he sees the game differently from many of us and I don't think it's a coincidence that our D is light years ahead of our O.Yea cuz if your a defender.. All you retain and have the ability to follow is defense.. *insert eyeroll emotji* Lets be serious here. Hes been involved in football for how long? He isnt an idiot. He sees now his defenses played against offenses and Im sure he realizes what offenses could and would beat defenses..I'd agree with you if he had shown any kind of aptitude for offence so far. But his throwing of support behind MB for the last two years, and everything that's come with that move, has not really shown that he does know much about offence. hes mentioned more then a few times that the offense needs work. I believe he just trusts his coordinators too much.. the st were struggling mightily and he let tracey attempt to sort it out before he stepped in.. he clearly doesnt know enough to be an OC but to suggest hes ignorant of the woes of the offense is a ridiculious notion.. Have Special Teams improved since MOS took over direct responsibility for that aspect of the game? They are still taking stupid penalties and giving up returns.

I'm in the camp that hopes and expects MOS to be here next year.

If you want to review Walkers skills re-watch the Bombers first game against the RB's last season. No doubt that he had the physical talent at that time but as we have seen until recently with Stoudermire sometimes these guys forget how to use it. No Walker has been the same since day one with Hamilton. He's fast. If he has a big hole to run through he's got the speed to exploit it but when the going gets tough he folds faster than superman on laundry day. Speed gets guys 9 lives in sports but if you can't do anything with that speed but run through gaping holes you're not a football player, just a track star. I was not impressed with Walker and wondered why Winnipeg bothered bringing him in. Interesting comment about his speed though. There is something very wrong with Bombers run game and it doesn't matter who the RB is. First, they telegraph every run. So its easy for the D to pick up. Secondly, every run play takes too long to develop. You can count steamboats while the QB is holding the ball out there waiting for the back to take the ball and then silly-walk into Picard's backside or one of the Bombers guards or the waiting arms of an opposing defender. It's been like that for the past couple of seasons. Its almost like there's no communication between the O line and backfield. And of course no play action to give pause to the D and no misdirection. Major fail. Does MOS not see this?

Agreed there's not much difference & Nichols 6 years of experience shows. But Nichols will sign where he can start - not to back up. Willy hasn't proven to be durable so Nichols might have a chance here. But I guess at $400k next year there's pressure on Bombers to start Willy no matter what. Whether he's worth that kind of coin ... well ... remains to be seen. Hopefully we give Davis and Boyd a look now that we are pretty much in next year country. QB still a question mark on this club going forward.

Unless Drew Willy isn't mobile enough or makes fast enough reads or gets rid of the ball fast enough or fails to bring tempo to the offence. Then the question of what the Bombers biggest problem is, remains open for debate. What if the biggest problem is actually not just one problem but multiple problems - including the problem of assuming the O would function at anything more than a barely acceptable level with Drew Willy?

It was a great individual effort by Marshall to get the 2-pointer before that, on what was essentially a poorly designed play for a 2-point conversion. But he did and that's football. And so it got exciting. Whether the subsequent no end call is to be blamed on players or coaches - it is on the player. Except that Bombers have drawn a flag for that particular infraction more often than usual this season, so the coaches are at fault for not taking steps to correct something they know the officials are repeatedly calling.

I'm with you. Looking forward to this UPSET!

Thanks for assembling some interesting numbers! Wondered about this illegal contact rule change. Kind of makes you think they'll have to review and maybe toss it: • Illegal contact rule change: with the tighter rules regarding contact on a receiver, the frequency of that penalty call has risen from 0.71 per game in 2014 (37 in 52 games) to 1.62 per game – more than double with 84 calls to date in 2015 Especially in light of this: • When taking a defensive penalty, the likelihood of an opponent scoring a TD rises from one in 10.5 (9.6%) to one in every 2.9 possessions. In 304 drives in 2015, defensive penalty-aided drives have gone on to score 106 times (34.8%) Or is that acceptable? This really changes the game IMHO where officiating judgment calls can in effect decide the outcome.

That head shot on JFG should've been a penalty and disqualification for intent to injure. Refs missed it however.

It was efficient at moving the ball, but I wouldn't say it looked really good. We weren't exactly lighting up the scoreboard. For sure the O has not scored enough - that is the real elephant in the room with this club - even with Drew Willy starting. If you take a look at games where Winnipeg scored more than one lousy TD, often it was D or ST who stepped up with a pick or return to help out. Or we have relied on placekicking to score. Certainly that was the case early in 2014 when Bombers put together a few wins and folks thought Drew Willy was the second coming. The fact is, in several of those 5 early wins in 2014 the O got help scoring from other parts of the team. With the odd exception, by itself, the O has hardly put up enough points to win the game. I guess you could call it efficient but that's faint praise. The O doesn't scare anyone, even with Drew Willy in there.

How many more years before we see a team that actually expects to win when it takes the field, instead of one that just hopes not to lose? I don't have confidence MOS and Walters can get us there.

Lulling Als into false confidence. We can still come back from this.

Game is not over. A lot can happen in 30 mins.

Interesting that Castillo is activated, putting heat on LH. And what's with Moore? He was on video yesterday - saying he will play. This will be a good test between teams that look evenly matched. Can Bombers produce Banjo Bowl levels of enthusiasm and effort - especially from ST and D? Nichols has the leadership to instill a bit of confidence in the O, it seems, but I'd gameplan to run run run the football. Looking forward to watching this game on TV.

Ha! lol Indeed. Because for all anyone knows, Drew Willy could be the back-up next year.

I agree. The only problem is that if QB X wins the job, Bombers have a very expensive back-up or #2 in Drew Willy. And I'm not sure they'd want to set themselves up for that. Anyhow, that's for the future. Let's go beat the Als next.

Bombers would be smart to have real competition for the starting QB role in 2016. Not sure if that would be Nichols. But if he plays well for the remainder - why shouldn't he get a shot to knock Drew Willy off his anointed perch?

No more TiCat-Argo games this season unless they happen to meet in the playoffs. If that be the case and I'm Austin, I'd stand some distance from the sidelines should an unintentional event befall him.

Interesting to see Bombers willing to develop a legit dual-threat QB. Much better suited to the CFL than 3 step drop and crumble. If true he's agreed to terms, he'll be among a few Clemson Tigers who've come north to wear Blue & Gold, including Jim Washington and Perry Tuttle.

Bombers are in a good position. If Nichols is so-so for the remainder of the season then no prob, they can let him go when his contract expires at the end of the season. But if Nichols plays well and can make a difference on a bottom rung team like Winnipeg, you can bet he'll demand (and get) starters money from somewhere as a FA next Feb. No way does he want to be a "reliable backup" to Drew Willy or anyone else. If he plays well, then it's likely Bombers will have to choose between him and Willy as the starter for 2016.