Floyd

3 import OL again... interesting - don't see how Bombers can make that work but who knows this year Is Graig Newman practicing or injured? And is he still slotted at MLB or are they moving him around? And somebody tell me that Desia Dunn is looking super impressive... please.

The "fact" you are arguing is incorrect - this is not practise time. It's training camp. Players are being evaluated to decide who will make the team. If you feel this is unimportant we could have stuck with last years roster. If you feel that spending a large portion of training camp evaluating our backup import Olineman instead of our NI prospects, then I guess we'll just agree to disagree.

I think O'Shea is just throwing that out there to try to get the NI's to step up. I've seen this as his plan from the beginning. When have we ever brought in import competition at guard and center? There is no way the Bombers can actually afford, ratio wise, to have 3 import olinemen. It's just a matter of which two positions on the line will have imports. Definitely LT, maybe RG, maybe RT. That's why it is so baffling that so many imports are getting the bulk of the practice time... Let's say there are 6 import Olinemen in camp, and let's say the Bombers intend to keep 3 of them. One starts for sure, another may or may not start depending on how the ratio sorts itself out, and a 3rd will be on the practise roster for depth. Now lets say that 2 linemen are head and shoulders above the other 4, for example, January and Jones, but the other 4 are all pretty equal in their ability to play tackle. How to pick the 1 guy out of those 4 to keep on the PR? Gut instinct? Sure, that counts for something. Hundreds of reps at the tackle spot over and over trying to spot mistakes? Well, yes, they'll do that too. But if you're going to keep 1 guy to back up 2, just 1, and all 4 are relatively equal at the tackle spot, wouldn't it be important to find out how those guys handle playing center and guard? Just in case? Even if the ratio makes it terribly unlikely that he would ever line up at those spots, wouldn't finding the most complete and versatile player who can potentially back up all 5 spots on the Oline be really important? The Bombers will keep almost all of their NI Olinemen. They might cut 1. Do we still have Pollywollydoodlealltheday on our roster? Maybe 2. That does not change the fact that we are spending practice time evaluating import OL at the expense of playing CK, Pencer (before the flu), Everett, Goossen, etc... Just my opinion, but our ratio is so lean this year that we essentially need a 4 NI OL - the more our Cdns work with Wylie the better. I don't really care if our PR import OL is great or not...

After he signed with the Ticats he did say he didn't sign with Montreal because he felt he didn't fit with the style of defence they run. Honestly, I don't think we would have been Laurent's first choice but I would have liked to see us pursue him... basically, its 'beggars can't be choosers' right now. Just the fact that we seem to be broken up about losing Ryan Lucas... a 'journeyman castoff' if he had been signed by any other team... speaks volumes about our NI content. Laurent was the best available, we have capspace - sign him! if it works, great; if not, trade him for picks... at least, you tried...

Darrin Bauming @DarrinBauming Mike O'Shea on 11-year vet Korey Banks: “I think he took a vet day, whatever that is.” Coach did not look impressed. #Bombers

I think O'Shea is just throwing that out there to try to get the NI's to step up. I've seen this as his plan from the beginning. When have we ever brought in import competition at guard and center? There is no way the Bombers can actually afford, ratio wise, to have 3 import olinemen. It's just a matter of which two positions on the line will have imports. Definitely LT, maybe RG, maybe RT. That's why it is so baffling that so many imports are getting the bulk of the practice time...?

So, you guys wanted us to pursue someone who …..didn't re-sign with his original club after no NFL offers, and …..it was reported he wanted to go 'home' to the east, most thought Montreal, turns out he wanted Austin and the Ti-Cats, and …..to throw huge sums of money at him to try and convince him to come here, meanwhile knowing full well that he wouldn't fit in the system we are running. Have I got that right? Ah, the old justifications... at least, they are rarer now that Mack is gone. Sounds like Jones did not pursue him... and it was reported that he might want to go home, Laurent never said that. And yes, I did want to throw big money at him - unless you can think of another option besides Lucas/Thomas...?

All of these injuries pretty much end the 'old stadium turf' conspiracy theories I guess...

My thoughts exactly - we pencil in Lucas/Thomas as our starting NIs and don't even make an offer to possibly the best NI DT in the CFL? Bombers have had a starting Canadian DT in mind for a few years now, yet never pursue anyone in free agency... its bizarre. Laurent is a true 3-tech guy, they don't come along everyday and we sat on our hands because Etch 'doesn't protect against the run'... My concern is that we're bringing in Etcheverry-type players and Etch won't be here next season...

Joe Pascucci ✔ @Pascucci015 Cory Watson watched first half of Blue Bombers practice. Has come out with helmet in hand for 2nd half to work on Jugs machine

But I don't want our D to look like Montreal's...

Well, anyway, I thought Neufeld performed well as a right tackle in Sask - never really got torched from what I saw... but if he can't play Tackle, he's pretty much a backup - Morely is a better guard.

I believe he is healthy when his leg is not broken.

4 NI OL is not a fantasy - Neufeld when healthy is a good RT. Whether 3 or 4 NI OL, you still only have one backup hog dressed.

Starting 3 imports on the o-line seems to be complete speculation by Penton.As for Pencer, maybe he just has the flu. I hope so. Still doesn't make sense to be giving imports the majority of practice time at RG though...

Why not run TC with an NI safety and field corner - these are the only two positions where we have some level of depth. Cdns at these positions just seem inevitable... Talk of 3 import OL, Watson already hurt, a starting NI DT?... I am sure there is an overall plan for our ratio but its definitely not too clear right now. A bit worried that Etch's defence is so complicated that rotating NIs to meet our ratio will not quite work.

I'd offer a second rounder for Greg Wojt in a heartbeat.

Walters looking to trade for another NI OL... I wonder how much Pencer's flu has to do with this? Maybe he didn't show up in shape...?? Why else would we be wasting time with Dan Knapp, etc at RG... We have six imports competing for essentially one tackle position (which should be Jones or January... no brainer)... and eight NI competing for the other four - its a weird camp. Edit: Just read this... http://www.winnipegsun.com/2014/06/05/bombers-scarily-thin-on-canadian-talent Three import OL considered... now I am sure Pencer is either pissed off or out of shape... Sure hope we don't move ahead with that, NI OL seemed like one of the few positions on the team where we might have some depth

Sure seems like Dunn has just been penciled into WIL... weird.

Wow, everyone seems really upset that we might have to start Zach Anderson.

Watson still out Bauming reporting that Pencer is 'MIA'...

If Kelly and Kohlert are our starting wideouts, that's not really great news - good guys but hardly striking fear into any team's DBs.

A bit strange that Jarvis Jones performed so well last year and does not seem to be on the radar Wish we would just put Pencer or someone in at RG... the idea of an import RG just makes zero sense If anything, we need a 4 NI OL especially with Watson's health and our lack of NI REC depth

lol wut? It's the first bloody day of Training Camp. he's been injured for three years now... hard to win a spot standing on the sidelines

Not thrilled with the Lucas and Dunn placements so far but depth charts have a way of changing...