Floyd

Well, don't be surprised if our new offensive playbook to protect Buck looks a hell of a lot like this youtube video. To me, it looked like Crowton trended towards a 'spread option' - if i can use that mangled terminology - last year... this is really not that far away. Of course, if they are planning to ask Calvillo to go 'no huddle' after a zillion years in the league, we may have a chance... he likes to have his rhythm and no huddle is more of a no momentum offence in the CFL. On the other hand, we are still talking about fast-pace and rhythm too... sigh. I would like a run the clock down and rest the defence offence myself. Buck can't get hurt if he keeps taking a knee...!

While we're blaming 2012 on everyone, we really shouldn't forget Chip Garber. That was just a bad decision.

And to the Grey Cup.

Nice thread. I would say the East is totally open and its actually too bad that we have so many potential achilles heels this year... we really could be last or first if even one of our QBs steps up. Montreal - Wholesale changes with aging QB and some key D, probably growing pains but at least Reinbold experiment is over Hamilton - new D - big questions on offence and defence, likely depends on Burris racking up the score again, Austin is still a rookie coach in CFL Toronto - offence in tact but D is completely blown up, Jones has shown he can do it though... Winnipeg - Buck and the newbies, very suspect NI depth, Creehan is the big question mark, season depends on Simpson and Renaud/Palardy performing BC, Calgary, Sask - some changes but not too much, all three look strong and look like they have improved weak areas Edmonton - all on Reilly, defence should be good, NI receivers need a strong year So, yeah, right now I would say we are playing for the chance to get destroyed in the crossover game... but who knows, anything can happen.

Well, I never said they were rookies... Just saying they are not what you'd call 'experienced'. There is no reason to go through our 'new' starters and our lack of proven depth (and proven lack of depth if you look at Labbe...) - but yeah, if Mack isn't going to do free agency or sign CFL vets, then I would like him to find guys that can do more than 'play the position'... I really expected someone (like Wild) to come into camp and blow us away... Markett seems to have done that and no noe else. I don't mind trying out new guys, I just wish they would actually steal jobs from our vets instead of being annointed heir apparent seemingly on gut instinct. The pressure is on Washington and Cauchy for sure, I honestly hope they rise to the occasion because the combination of WHB and S is pretty critical to a D.

I guess the problem is that 2010 was a major overhaul after Kelly... whereas 2013 SHOULD be a continuation instead of yet another roster explosion. It just comes down to whether you feel guys like Goltz, Cauchy and Parker have 'experience' or don't and I don't feel like arguing about that anymore. What IS absolutely worrisome is McGee and Dunn pencilled in at SAM.

Hmm, DAguilar is an NI DL/LB... Edem is a S/LB... but Mulumba will be awesome... someday.

- Still amazed by the utter lack of conversation about our linebackers this pre-season... if this is a coaching move by Burke to distract us, nice job...! - Like Will Ford as KR but Simpson not so much... we need him healthy. And what happened to having a dedicated return guy - ??? - Would be good to see Woodson stay healthy and contribute - Etienne maybe, Kohlert probably...

This is a legitimate debate that always gets hijacked... Mack has never been against free agents, he just is ultra-conservative. He went after or sniffed around Gauthier, Picard, Van Zeyl and a few others - he just balks at the final price tag and backs off. Same thing happened with Reilly because whatever anyone wants to believe, if Mack offer some substantial picks for Reilly and the chance to start, Reilly is not turning around and going to Edmonton just because he has buddies there. But, I digress. People weren't calling for half a dozen free agents over the years... Just some depth guys, a vet to compete in camp, an OL, etc. There were decent guys available, we all know this. Its just not Mack's style. I liked this year's signings - Muamba and Dewit - but again, Dewit's back injury and cutting Logan before TC kind of soured it for me. The unfortunate part is that I believe Mack now has a reputation with other GMs and agents of being a 'non-player' in trade and free agent talks... just my feeling, but even if he wants to change now, its probably too late.

I know its only five reps but it sure doesn't seem like he's learned to read quicker or for that matter, choose the dump pass to Simpson over 'dive head first' and then jump up to pretend I'm not hurt option. I'd say a better 'over-under' would be... Max Hall starting - 9 games I call 'under'.

I know he's a 'running joke'... but I actually would take Tristan Black over Labbe.

I thought the over/under would be more like 3 not 9. Baby steps, people.

Just sayin', we all pretty much knew he wouldn't start the season. Okay, maybe Westwood didn't.

Hmm, so we are talking about what a smart move it is to place Pencer on the 9-game but if Bowman is on the 9-game, its proof that his career is over and we were right to drop him? I'll wait and see. I'd still take Bowman for half a season right now... Whoa. SIX guys on the 9-game? 8 on the 1-game...

We must have seen something in him to take him before Swiston... and now two camps and he's done. While Kowalczuk has already lost a starting job and, despite his off-season training regimen, still can't snap... Just wondering why we haven't looked at other guys - at least to see how their snapping/long snapping is. We're in a major bind if Sorenson or Cvet goes down this year.

How did Dunn survive pre-season...? And have we cut Brendan Dunn outright? Why not groom him at Centre or Greaves, Swiston or ANYONE other that Kowalczuk... Somehow Labbe managed to make the very limited highlight reel of what not to do this pre-season... and has the most job security of almost anyone on the team, ha All or nothing season at a few positions... interesting, anyway.

Heard them as in 'good' or repeatedly torched?

The CFL Stats page... its awesome!!! http://www.cfl.ca/statistics/statsGame/id/10569 Terrell Parker punted once for 45 yards, Andre Douglas is had two tackles and Cauchy Muamba had a 12 yard reception...!!! The sad thing is that I am not completely sure that these stats are wrong, ha... I mean who knows!

Except the dude that intercepted Goltz in the endzone said that he saw that Goltz had keyed in on that side of the field and there was only one receiver as an option so he jumped it. He read Goltz whether the receiver was there or not...

What is especially disturbing is that we were schooled by Lindsay Lamar, Erik Harris, Raymond Brown and Greg Ellingson... as in, the guys that won't make Hamilton's team just destroyed the guys that won't make our team... Not sure about this rookie plan anymore. I just wonder what our locker room is like... I mean we're the only team to get severely manhandled in the pre-season. Sure hope its really is meaningless.

Mack influenced the Kent cut...? That's not quite the story we heard... in fact, I remember hearing that Mack let Lapo make the decisions...

Hefney is cut, Washington is out with hamstring and now Pendleton is injured too... Without any actual practice or anything today. So much for making it through pre-season.

"Most of these guys are the same guys who were here in 2011," Burke said. "I feel like they should believe that they're winners." So... that would be JJ, Suber and Turner? Could count Muamba and Sears I suppose - they were backups - but, wow, our D has had a serious overhaul since 2011...

Neat idea... kind of concerned about shattering Goltz's confidence or Goltz himself though... probably would have stuck with our A-list OL if we are testing out QBs. That LB lineup is, um, yikes. Hard to believe that Labbe really is still our only option if Muamba goes down. Receivers look good. Would be nice to see Thomas or Lucas really stand out.

Well, if we're really being honest... looking good in TC and pre-season against TOs backups is what it is... Carter and Etienne are still HUGE questions marks, Kohlert and Poblah have only shown glimpses, so we have one proven NI receiver who also happens to get hurt alot. Thanks for pointing that out. I was trying to be positive, ha!