Floyd

Pretty hard to come up with a depth chart where we have the luxury of starting Maher... Not as high on Neufeld as you are... if we were testing him at RT, yes... at RG, giving up a 2nd round pick was too much - and Neufeld is just an average RG, would rather see Goossen get reps there and learn to read Ds REALLY like the way Goossen was active and taking charge in that last game. Great pick. Do we have any receivers from the mini-camp on speed dial? Greg Carr? Kuale reminds me of a Brandon Isaac that has lost a step... Korey Banks reminds me of a Korey Banks that has lost a step. Would be nice to see Briggs... but rushing a shoulder injury would be a terrible mistake.

This is the first year that I can remember that we haven't had an import receiver really stand up and take charge in training camp... JFG is probably the closest... I'm pretty surprised given our expanded scouting staff.

Before we talk 3 NI receivers... we probably should see if Watson can get (and stay) healthy.

I wouldn't cut Hall yet but I would be actively looking for his replacement. Any of Hall's positives are cancelled out by his tendency to lock on receivers and throw up a floater every few downs.

I think the chances of Blake long-snapping for us in game 1 are zero after tonight. Multiple screwups by long snappers don't usually result in roster spots for them. Also see Woods on the roster as a receiver/returner, and Unamba and Grigsby are PR at best IMO. Plus can't see them sacrificing Goossen at guard. He might make the game roster as the 6th or 7th OL (if we use the last Canadian spot on another OL). Yeah Goossen or Neufeld... Not sure what options are besides Blake - haven't heard of anyone else practicing LS... and I think I still might be short one 'National'

We sucked in the preseason last year. People were worried and it turned out they had every right to be worried. We lost by a total of 7 points combined and our starting QB appears to be pretty good. I'd say we're miles ahead of last year at this time. I completely agree actually. And, it turns out 2010 was miles ahead of 2013... Maybe we'll make it to the Grey Cup next year...

This is my depth chart after two pre-season games (7th Cdn is rotating Thomas and Richardson... maybe Alexander at S) Randle-Washington-Leggett-Suber-Bucknor (Johnson, Jones, Alexander) Wild-Kuale-Unamba (Markett, Banks, Sherman) Moseley-Anderson-Turner-Vega (Thomas-Richardson) January-Greaves-Morley-Goossen-Jones (Neufeld, Knapp) Urrutia-Moore-Denmark-Watson-Kohlert (Carter, JFG, Kelly) Willy-Marve-Brohm Cotton-Grigsby-Volny Pontbriand-Fitzgerald LH-Renaud Blake No room for Maher Knapp and Banks are reserve And, yeah, we can't really afford to cut any NIs right now...

Maybe several of the players aren't that good? For instance, we had Rene Stephan playing the majority of the game, a guy who probably shouldn't be on a CFL roster in any capacity, let alone LB on defense. I partially agree but we did play most of our A-list DL for the whole game... Anderson, Peach, Thomas, Turner, Vega, Moseley/Tate... these guys will be rotating in our starting lineup. They did nothing. Most other teams didn't even dress their best defensive players... the only guys who sat out for us were injured. My biggest concern is that Kuale did not stand out... and that for a second game, Banks and Dunn looked a step behind. These guys are pretty much locks to make the starting lineup. Wild, who has been our best LB, likely will be a backup on Day One...

like who ? Like remember when Irving started feeling sorry for Burke last year and stopped asking real questions...? He may still be in that mode... 'So Mike, its roster cut down day tomorrow. Do you think you might have to cut some guys?'

Irving tossing up floaters for OShea tonight....

Just comparing Bomber's peformance compared to all the other meaningless games for other teams. Sask and Ottawa both looked more prepared than we do. But, yeah, this team reminds me of 2010... the guys love the coach and respect him but its just not there.

Barring a miracle, Newman is done for the season... Stamp fell on his leg during ST coverage. Knee.

Bottom line... we played our starters that were ready and they were manhandled by Calgary's starters. Our DL did nothing against any of Calgary's OL and our ST looked a lot like Lapo was in charge.

I second TBurg... we heard last pre-season about 'Vanilla this, Vanilla that' and 'pre-season doesn't count'... Sure looked like pre-season counted to Nik Lewis tonight. But he's used to winning... Etch will not last this season - its not even the schemes right now, its sloppy tackling, the confusion and the utter lack of pressure by our DL You look at some of the tackles in this game - a LOT of arm tackling - the guys really using their body from what I saw were Wild, Markett, Suber, Newman, Randle - I can't think of anyone else off the top of my head. We've improved from last season but this team looks worse than Lapo's in 2010.

I'll take WIlly over Sunseri but Weber has got a real arm (and yes, that's not all that matters....) Palardy punts? Never thought Durant would end up as good as he is. Sask's B-team OL looks really good too... or maybe Ottawa's depth really is worse than ours... Really like the way Pruneau plays

I think we already know the answer to that one. The only scenario where we start 4 IMO is January-Greaves-Goossen-Morley-Neufeld, and that's not going to be a very good OL over 18 games, where we have some potential to get stuff done with Knapp in there at guard. I would flip Goossen and Morely in that 4 NI scenario.... and you're too hard on Jones in your pre-season analysis - he had a poor series but really got it together after those three plays. Anyway, I think we keep all three - Jan, Jones, Knapp - our OL depth is just too weak... The more I look at it, the more burning a DI on the OL doesn't seem that insane. I think some NI talent will shake out after Sunday - some teams are ridiculously deep at NI OL... and Wylie is good enough that we can plug-n-play someone at RG. Goossen didn't look good at guard. I'd be very hesitant to start him there week 1 as a rookie, at least at centre he'll see a lot less 1 on 1 scenarios off the snap. He lost ground pretty consistently at guard, but he at least made himself into a speed bump to give his QB a shot. Jones was getting beat off the edge in every series he played, most often by #6 the guy from Ohio State name is escaping me right now, the worst was the 4th possession after the Argos 2nd TD. Luckily Willy was at QB, would have been a lot of sacks in those scenarios with Brohm or Hall in there. Well, if Knapp starts at RG, I'm not going to rip my hair out... but an NI RG will shake out and we sure could use that ratio flexibility. ONeill, Wojt and Filer are competing for OC in Hamilton... add Rockhill, Myddleton, Reinders to the mix.... a decent talent will be cut, maybe ONeill - hopefully not... Maybe Dan Clark in Sask, Baillargeon in Mtl...? Granted these guys are not as good as Knapp but them and their passport makes them better. We'll see, some DL depth will shake out too...

Never underestimate the CFL's capacity to make things even more complicated.

Amazing how Brink has stuck around this league...

I think we already know the answer to that one. The only scenario where we start 4 IMO is January-Greaves-Goossen-Morley-Neufeld, and that's not going to be a very good OL over 18 games, where we have some potential to get stuff done with Knapp in there at guard. I would flip Goossen and Morely in that 4 NI scenario.... and you're too hard on Jones in your pre-season analysis - he had a poor series but really got it together after those three plays. Anyway, I think we keep all three - Jan, Jones, Knapp - our OL depth is just too weak... The more I look at it, the more burning a DI on the OL doesn't seem that insane. I think some NI talent will shake out after Sunday - some teams are ridiculously deep at NI OL... and Wylie is good enough that we can plug-n-play someone at RG.

is mtl-ticats televised anywhere?

Had this really strange feeling today... like as in, I'm actually excited to see Steve Morely play. Bizarre.

When was Jarrett Lee cut by BC... ever since Mike mentioned him as one of our 2013 options, I've wanted to see him here.

Bottom line is that Knapp has been better than Jones this year so far. Last year is pretty irrelevant at this point. Except he hasn't... everyone just went nuts when Knapp ran as fast as Drew Willy. For me, I still don't see the benefit of an 'international' RG... especially if a 3 import OL means sitting Anderson and Kuale on certain plays. The only competition I see is Neufeld v. Jones... and if Neufeld can steal that spot then there is really almost no reason to have a 3 import line.

I wonder if the CFL qualifies for the 'temporary foreign worker' program. Could open up a whole new talent pool.

Same amount of practice as Jarvis Jones had, and he instantly looked like a monster... I think its great that Knapp is the flavour of the month now... reminds me of when Andre Douglas was the next big thing.