Armchair GM

Can we at least stop calling it "forward pass interference?" Just once I want to see a screen pass thrown to a WR behind the QB, and that WR get interfered with, and actually see if the elusive "backward pass interference" penalty is actually called, and how the offending team is penalized.

One thing I can say in support of Howell... he stuck around in the CFL for a lot of years as a bottom-of-roster SB for a number of years. Chances are he has a lot of experience being "coached hard."

Please do. Buzz and Boomer have really underperformed the last few years. And Bella... let's not get into that disaster...

The more I think about it, the more I love how Canadian of an organization we are becoming under Walters/O'Shea. Too much is made of American players and coaches being superior to Canadian players/coaches. Canadian coaches and former CFL'ers understand the nuances of the game. It's also an opportunity to gain an edge from what might be an overlooked area... the best Canadian coaches. That's why I don't think the jump from CIS DC to CFL STC is going to be difficult for Tracey to overcome. Especially with Mike O'Shea at HC as as ST resource. I don't expect our DC to be an off-the-board hire, or necessarily a Canadian. But when you're trying to rebuild both an organization and its perception around the CFL... you have to take some chances along with your safer hires. These are calculated risks, and I'm optimistic that Walters is at least getting good, respected football people.

Depends 1/2 on MOS and his ability to lead this team forward; and 1/2 on Walters' ability to find us a starting QB. My bet is we bring in either Collaros or Willy, and that they struggle somewhat behind a lesser OL than they had previously. Good leadership will coach everyone up somewhat though, and that impact will come at various stages throughout the year. I'm less worried about co-ordinators as most of this board. Schemes are important, but good leadership can help players rise up to overcome deficiencies. Winnipeg hasn't had a good leader at the helm of this football team since arguably Dave Ritchie. It'll be real interesting to watch it unfold, because I believe MOS's leadership will be a big story in 2014. Unless MOS is a Kelly-era tyrant (which I don't believe he is), this team will be on the upswing.

I've only heard one story, and it was reported by Arash Madani. Take that with a grain of salt, but I guess technically that is all the stories I've heard as well. Biggest factor in where Dickenson coaches lies in whether he wants total autonomy with the ST unit, or whether he wants the opportunity for 2 of the CFL's best ST coaches to collaborate. He's unlikely to get total autonomy here, so if he wants that, he's probably out.

Yea frustrating for sure. Our organization dug this hole though so it shouldn't be unexpected. Some people are going to be attracted by the challenge ahead and some will run away from it kicking and screaming. I thought Stubler's comments were very telling. He is a guy who obviously does not have the energy or commitment to put in the long days, weeks, or months necessary to accomplish the task our team has before them. I'm glad he didn't come here and then Rod Rust us. I was very disappointed when he turned us down but the more I read his interviews and comments the more I think we may have dodged a bullet. The thing about Stubler is that he's got the resume to choose his job; so with multiple opportunities and Winnipeg being among the heaviest of lifts, it doesn't shock me. The more telling thing about Stubler is that he's taking on the lesser of the challenges with Calgary's opportunity basically being turn-key. Translation: he's basically out to protect his good name in coaching, and because he's walking into a place that is already winning. We need a guy who relishes the opportunity to make some changes and put his stamp on a winning defence. That could be a young "up-and-comer" like Miles (my choice), or it could be a "stung-and-looking-for-redemption" Marshall. I don't think either type would be bad for us, and that both would be better than a guy comfortable in his own skin like it appears Stubler is.

Don't buy the argument that Miles is a rookie. You don't play 12 seasons at an all-star level in the CFL, plus college ball, and be considered a rookie. This is a guy who played at an advanced level, and his coaching success to present is at an advanced level. My preference is to embrace the rebuild, and start building a winning culture. O'Shea comes from a winning culture in TO... I take culture and pedigree over experience at DC. Miles would be my choice.

I'm not a huge fan of Greg Marshall's defences... but are they really much different than Stubler's? They're both constructed on the "bend-but-don't-break" philosophy. Hate giving up large chunks of yardage... but if we were able to implement a good ball control offense, they would work well together. I think the players are there on defence to make his scheme reasonable effective quickly. The real challenge would be the "good ball control offense" part...

Easy. It's the job security attached to low expectations.

January: C+ Greaves: C Sorensen: D Morley: F Jones: C Neufeld: TBD Pencer: TBD Swiston: D Douglas: C Boatman: Please no. January may have been our best O-Lineman, but we're rating him against the league. As an Import tackle, he is in the middle amongst his peers. C. I don't believe that at present, we have an above-average lineman. Think there is potential in Jones, Greaves, Neufeld, Pencer, and to some degree Swiston. If we can get one A out of the group and 3 B's; this O-Line would be a top-3 CFL group; and we'll be immensely better for it. I'd say Swiston tops out as a C level player, but the rest can rise to B or better.

Not really. Nelson was never in the running here this offseason. Stubler to CGY was a bit of a kick in the nuts, but with him out of the picture, I'd really like to see an up and comer like Barron Miles get a shot. Cerebral guy, always defended well, always a leader on that BC defence. Surprisingly good ST player too, which would probably sit well with MOS.

Please no. We just got rid of a face of failure in Burke. No need to go get another one.

Is there a good reason why we keep bringing Morley back? If you graded out every OL in the CFL, I almost guarantee you Morley would grade out in the bottom 10%.

Playing Devil's Advocate for a moment... O'Shea did say he's after good teachers so that he can focus on leadership and decision making. Maybe Osh is sold that Bellefeuille's experience and having gone through past failures will serve him well as a teacher. Bellefeuille DID coach well enough to earn himself an HC gig at one time in HAM. I don't remember too many around the CFL at that time thinking Bellefeuille didn't earn that gig. I'm not thrilled, but I don't know if there's anything out there that thrills me at OC. KJ sounds like a Burke type... lots of buzz, but no one wants to hire him at OC. Maas is unproven (but high on my list) at anything more than QBC. Chapdelaine and Berry are also retreads. I think Bellefeuille, due to his experience, could work out just fine, in a system where he is relied on to teach and scheme an offense; with a strong leader in Osh behind him.

He really didn't show much loyalty to the Bombers declaring his retirement prior to the draft eh... couldn't have just mentioned it to Walters so we didn't need to protect him and announce the retirement after the draft? Watch we wasted a pick protecting Labbe because we had to send in the list before he made his announcement. Classless...

Marcel was a losing head coach and he did little with our offense this year, plus he advocated for us to bring in Boltus. The experience thing can be overrated, Jim Daley and Jeff Reinbold have experience too Boltus was brutal. But I can think of much better things to judge a coach on than bringing in a bad QB he worked with before. It's up to personnel to dump Boltus, and if we sign Collaros/Willy/Glenn; Boltus has to be gone. The 3rd QB spot has to be a developmental spot. It's painfully obvious that Boltus is a glorified punching bag capable of nothing more than 3rd-and-1 sneaks. If for no other reason; I'd just like a clean break from last year's staff; regardless of experience. Culture change is needed.

Miller in my mind hasn't accomplished a great deal, but I'll give him credit for accomplishing two things: The fan base is excited again about the Bombers, and we have hired an HC from outside of the organization that we are receiving praise for from other CFL cities.

Dear God... why? Marsh showed nothing substantive.

Very important. Players like to know who they'll be playing for. O'Shea's reputation precedes him, and from all accounts, his leadership shows through in his interactions.

As someone who works in the financing field... I can tell you with certainty that restaurants are the most competitive industry in the world. Everyone wants one regardless of whether or not there is a market to support it, and whether or not they have differentiating factors to separate from the crowd. People want the fame and chase the fortune... they don't realize that after they pay their expenses and food costs, the average customer makes them less than $5. So really, it's just a play for glamour, in a lot of cases. Restaurants closing due to unprofitability is not new. Neither is people blaming something other than their own lack of effort or planning.

Or at least put in a bypass. Wouldn't want all that "racism" to rub off on us on our way to the States...

The other side of the coin is we are paying him to keep failure away from what will be our new-look Bombers. I'd pay for that.

Regina to Bismarck = 565.3 km Winnipeg to Bismarck = 666.5 km I think the implied point being that if Dressler hits FA, and Regina can't afford him... we'd be a possible destination. 100 kms more makes Winnipeg closer than Cowtown.

Silly post. To say Burke and Creehan have risen to incompetence as HC and DC so they should not be DC and Positional Coach makes little sense. In those roles, both are proven commondities. If I recall Nelson's D were ball hawks and aggresive. But I could be mis-remembering. Didn't say they should not be DC and LB Coaches. Said that they rose above those roles with the WBB in 2013, and were incompetent as HC and DC. They could very well be proficient in DC and LB Coach roles... but this is a franchise that could benefit from a full reset, and new coaching staff. Advocating for that.