Doublezero

Below average 38.9 yd average kick distance for Mike Renaud vs Redblacks. Over the past six years his average is 42.4 yds per kick, inflated slightly by last season's average of 43.9 YPK (due to lots of 2-outs by our putrid offence in 2013). Of course there's lots more to evaluating a kicker's effectiveness than how far your average kick travels. There's also hang time, how quickly you connect with the ball and how well you can position the ball once kicked. Thoughts?

Its early in Drew Willy's CFL career, really. But he seems confident, yet pretty humble too. If he couldn't handle adversity, he wouldn't have made it this far.

Very confident Bombers will get another W at IGF tomorrow night because we will bring effort. Like I said before last week's game, we finally have a coach in Mike O'Shea and a QB in Drew Willy.

Don't understand why Tommy Condell doesn't bring in a couple of extra blockers for his QB. Ham has made no adjustments.

I really doubt that is spin, because if anything that makes him less marketable. Doesn't mean someone wouldn't sign him, but hugely diminishes the "bring him in as a veteran leader" idea anyone might have, basically spins him as a malcontent if that's spin. Puts him down to what he can do on the field, and that probably makes it less likely he finds a better opportunity than the one he's running from. Misunderstood what transpired today. I thought his request for release had been granted by the club. But after watching O'Shea news conference, Banks has obviously not been released - yet. Guess they want to see if they can get a bag of footballs or something for him. Yes, JBR you are correct, Banks's demands makes him look selfish and therefore less attractive to another club. He's as good as gone from here, but as others have said, wouldn't be surprised when we do cut him loose that another team adds him.

Banks had very limited reps in the 2 pre-season games and, frankly, looked like he had lost a step or two during training camp. You knew O'Shea was not happy when Banks took a day off during TC. I was expecting Bombers to release him at final TC cuts. Guess they decided to see if they could get something for their investment while keeping him on ice on the IR, but then word leaked out that they were shopping him and so now he is gone. It's good that it is being spun that Banks asked for his release, it makes him still somewhat marketable. Won't be surprised if Ottawa signs him tomorrow, so they can get a grip on Etch's invisible playbook. Does this mean the person who won the signed #24 Banks jersey at a recent fundraiser I attended now has a collectors item?

Romby should have some inside info on the Argos playbook. Nice timing for this considering we play the Argos tomorrow. The TJ Harris stunt! OK, so just like Harris in Hammy - will will mine Romby for the Toronto playbook. And then shortly thereafter we will release him.

Well, I might boo him if he dresses for our club. Because Bryant clearly quit on his team-mates last time he was here and in my opinion he doesn't deserve to ever again wear a Blue Bombers jersey. It also bugs me that current management shows such obvious disregard for recent history - and disrespect for fans and former players. They may not be mindful of that - new slate etc. but to bring in a player like Bryant, who demonstrated an utter lack of professionalism while here, borders on arrogance more than desperation. Such arrogance is not a good sign and will inevitably boomerang on Walters, O'Shea and Bellefeuille down the road. You guys have no idea of what a total schmuck Mike Kelly was. I can't blame anyone for not wanting to play for him. You can try and spin it any way you like and no doubt current brain trust will try to do exactly that. But you know what? We've all worked for idiots from time to time. That's no excuse. You still do your job, unless, as demonstrated, you are me-first selfish. Bryant had 20 catches for 232 yards and no touchdowns through 11 games the year Kelly punted him to Stamps. We can do better than Romby Bryant, and bringing him in now is an insult to Bomber supporters and his former team-mates in Winnipeg.

Well, I might boo him if he dresses for our club. Because Bryant clearly quit on his team-mates last time he was here and in my opinion he doesn't deserve to ever again wear a Blue Bombers jersey. It also bugs me that current management shows such obvious disregard for recent history - and disrespect for fans and former players. They may not be mindful of that - new slate etc. but to bring in a player like Bryant, who demonstrated an utter lack of professionalism while here, borders on arrogance more than desperation. Such arrogance is not a good sign and will inevitably boomerang on Walters, O'Shea and Bellefeuille down the road.

My confidence in the current Blue Bombers brain trust just went down several notches.

Yep just noticed that too. First I've heard of him being injured. I know O'Shea wasn't impressed with him taking a "veteran day" off earlier in camp. Maybe something is up there... Maybe he isn't 100%. Didn't get many reps or show much at tc or pre-season games. In fact, even during skellys at practice he looked to have lost a step. Or two. I wonder if he is having trouble 'buying in' to the Etch world view.

Banks nicked? First I've heard of that. Explains a few things.

I was disgusted by the way me-first Romby Bryant gave up on the our team while he was here and was glad we traded him to Stamps. Maybe he can now finally fade into obscurity where he belongs.

Thanks for posting these numbers. I'm feeling optimistic that after a long dry spell of pretender pivots, Bombers have finally found a real QB in Drew Willy. Personally, I prefer him to Collaros.

The "Washington football club"? Davin Meggett would be the son of ex-NFL RB/KR, Dave Meggett, who has gained some notoriety both on the field and off it.

MOS says rosters will be set by Sunday - 46 man, PR, one game IR and 6 game IR. Do we need National OL and DL help? Possibly players released from other clubs? Could we pick up an International receiver?

Kid hasn't even arrived here and already he has a Boulevard named after him in Westwood. Took Milt Stegall and Ken Ploen a lot longer to have that happen. Note there is no Hall Street, Brohm Blvd or Willy Way.

No kidding. Kid's got wheels, and we liked that about Jyles too, didn't we?

Hmmmm. A lefty. Oh well, Bellefeuille and O'Shea are both lefties. So they understand this reverse spin, seeing better under water, attacking the right side of the defence stuff.

Lots of changes in a 9 team league. Stamps and Ti-Cats are stacked with talent and they are the class of the league. Sask and BC drop like testicles. Troy Smith, with Chad Javon Johnson, the receiver formerly known as Chad Ochocinco makes Montreal forget about Anthony Calvillo. Effort, determination and better QB play and coaching help Bombers complete the turnaround and make the playoffs. Argos finish behind RedBlacks in the East. West: Calgary Winnipeg Sask BC Edmonton East: Hamilton Montreal Ottawa Toronto

Cool. Who's that wearing the Bombers t-shirt?

Yes, wishing Graig Newman speedy recovery and rehab.

That's a great read, thanks for doing all that typing. Ditto - great read JBR. Thanks!

What do folks think of Troy Smith in Montreal? To me, Smith sure looked like he had all the tools last 3 games of season to make a mark in this league. Smith and Tanner Marsh both recently signed to 3 year deals. Brink could be #3 there. Alouettes could be the whipping boys in the East this year but Troy Smith might be a highlight.

Congrats and thanks! Really enjoying this forum.