Armchair GM

The problem is that it wasn't good defence. It was defensive backs mugging the receivers in man coverage. That's not skill and its certainly not entertaining. Skill is being able to stay in coverage without doing that. I like that the CFL did something to address DB's mugging receivers in man coverage. That being said, I do think they've way overreached the past 2 seasons; and have addressed symptoms instead of the real problem: wildly inconsistent officiating and enforcement of rules. Sure, there's the people who say that CFL is doing it to make the game higher-scoring and marketable, but there's the argument that the CFL did just fine for 100 years without making the game into basketball. As players have gotten bigger, stronger, and faster, officiating hasn't progressed; and as a result, the game has suffered. Defence is lousy now because in order to combat inconsistent officiating, they've simplified the game by watering down what you can do on defence, and making it less of a guessing game for comparatively poor officials. Officials are too inconsistent on pass interference calls? New Rule: PI can be challenged! Officials are too inconsistent with what constitutes illegal contact? New Rule: Any kind of contact after 5 yards is illegal contact! I think that I can sum my position up by saying that I don't think CFL fans have ever expected perfect officiating, but do expect it to be reasonably consistent. Score your officials and enforce performance standards; rather than watering down the game into more easily enforced rule applications.

Hard to argue with these rankings. Pretty safe. Stamps and Ticats look like 2 top teams, but I'd have a hard time ranking the Cats over the Argos after their performance last week. Swapping the Cats and Argos and the Esks and Lions would be the only changes I'd make. I want to have the Riders lower after losing Durant and getting gashed by the Bombers in every element on D; but the reality is that I don't have anyone lower as showing better. They've still got the best DL in the CFL, and a more-than-serviceable QB in Glenn. 1) Calgary 2) Toronto 3) Hamilton 4) Winnipeg 5) Sask 6) BC 7) Edmonton 8) Ottawa 9) Montreal

Your MLB and your DT's are the key positions in stopping the run. Sask did a good job of getting their OL's to the 2nd level, and our LB's did a poor job of avoiding them. I'm more concerned about our tackles this morning, than I am our LB's. Admittedly they were not great, but I think a lot of it had to do with the position that the DL put them in by allowing several blockers to the 2nd level. Really hard in my eyes to evaluate the LB corps after that game, except for Randle, who when he wasn't out of position, he was getting overpowered at SAM. Get that guy back at halfback ASAP.

We've got depth for sure... it's easy to look at the Bombers and think, "well if they lose 2-3 Canadians to injury, they'll still be okay on ratio, because the drop-off isn't that much." What we don't have is any proven standouts. I expect that we WILL have some standouts, but none are proven of yet. C+ is pretty accurate.

For the first time in a long time, I don't think depth will be a key problem for us in 2015. We're starting 10 Canadians tomorrow... we have capable Canadian backups for all 3 interior OL positions (Goossen for all 3, Neufeld/Chungh for either G position). And although it's pretty much acknowledged that Newman and Sherman won't start; an injury to Westerman won't hoop us, as we've still got Bucknor on D as our 7th CDN, and capable players in Newman and Sherman. We also should have the flexibility to start EITHER Kohlert or JFG/Bastien if we want to play Moore, Denmark, Darvin, and Jhomo (or Clemons). Walters and his team have done a really great job retooling in about a year and a half on the job.

Interesting. When I went into the Bomber store to pickup my season tickets, I chatted with the lady manning the jersey customization desk. I remarked about how the number of royal blues in the finished rack were outnumbering BOTH the home and away regular jerseys. She confimed that the Bombers weren't planning on a jersey change for 2015, but that the fans' preference of the royal blues has been noted within the organization. Then she said something really interesting about timing... given that the royal blues were our colours from our glory years, the organization wouldn't want to make a switch until the team was on its way to restoring itself as a contender. I get that they have the power to make the change whenever they WANT to, but it made sense to me that they'd want to combine the momentum of a really good year with the momentum of a switch to the royal blues. Food for thought... I thought it was really interesting to hear.

I love your enthusiasm, but a few things I've learned over the years: 1) Pressure and expectations never help. Especially with a young team. 2) Chemistry takes a lot longer than 2-3 games to develop. The 2014 Ticats are a good example. 3) You can't surprise the entire league out of the gate 2 years in a row like we did last year. We're actually going to have to be good to win. I expect a tighter league this year. For bad 2014 teams to gain wins, better 2014 teams have to gain losses. The Renegades or whatever they're called only won 2 games. I expect that to become at least 4-5. Hamilton was 9-9, and that was due to Collaros learning Austin's offence and him and the whole team being terrible for 1/2 a season. BC didn't look like a playoff team last year, and I think are a good candidate for regression. Montreal looks like they're due for a regression. Toronto... depends on Ricky Ray's effectiveness. Probably 8-10 to 10-8. You could argue Edmonton is due for a regression too given the massive jump they made in 2014; but I bet 12-6 or better for them. They're solid all around. Cowtown could be the surprise of the group... I see Edmonton winning that division, and a 10-8 ish Calgary isn't out of the question. We were 7-11 last year and that was good for 2nd worst team in the league. 9-9 or 10-8 gets us to the middle of the pack, and a likely playoff berth. That's attainable, but Willy's got to stay on his feet longer, progress on a good 2014, and play smart to achieve that. The defense also has to be much better, and steps were taken there as well. If you don't go into a year expecting playoffs, you're a Cleveland Browns fan. I'd say 9-9 or 10-8 is achievable, but needs an offensive progression to come to fruition or we don't hit this. I'd call 11-7 a ceiling. There's just too much change on the defensive side of the ball to go any higher. Floor? The floor isn't high with this team. I could see 3-15 if Willy gets hurt and the defensive chemistry doesn't come together quickly.

I wish him well. Liked his intensity and competitiveness, but he had too much of a penchant for bad, timely penalties. I won't miss those.

Peach's 2 seasons under Etch-a-sketch were decent. Definitely good enough to earn a camp invite. DE's a spot where the Bombers at this point honestly don't know who's in their 2015 plans. I'm sure that they WANT Johnson, Booker and a 3rd new guy to be in their plans... but they need to see everyone in TC before they determine it. In a situation like this... Peach has absolute value coming into TC as a known quantity, at least in a backup valve kind of way. Guys like Peach can absolutely be beaten out for jobs in TC... but it's nice to have SOME known quantities in case the new recruits underwhelm.

This. The Willy camp is doing the smart thing... creating some urgency with the Bombers, and trying to cash in. But the key word is potential. To me, "potential" equals a reasonable base + incentives.

I tend to agree with you. Going for a guy that can contribute *this year* at 2, and hoping that some good OL prospects are still available at 11 and 15 is walking a tight rope. Honestly, the draft is about stockpiling the best collection of prospects for future seasons. If Durant's the best player available at 2, then by all means take him, but I'd much prefer if we didn't let "capable of contributing this year" influence their draft at all.

I'd contend that Chiarot will probably be the 7th defenseman when he gets healthy. When not with Byfuglien... he looks pretty ordinary out there. I like Harrison (and his experience) more as our 6th D-man.

Spot on. I remember my first LDC in 2001.... the Rider fans would always have this "lovable loser" mentality to them... "we just hope our home side can give you guys a good game." It was cute. It was homey. It was a false sense of security, especially in 2003 when we lost and felt the wrath of the Rider fans, after the home side won a game they had no business winning. Nowadays, you go to the Vaj, and it's not about how good the Riders are, it's about how great SASKATCHEWAN is. The economy that Canada forgot since confederation is now its powerhouse. Rider fans make the CFL tick because of how they support everywhere. They're the Pittsburgh Steelers of the CFL awash in green beer. Oil isn't what it used to be. Taman's decisions have started to erode the draft and develop and CanCon that made the Riders strong for so many years. Durant is getting older. The telling thing will be how the loud, proud screams of Rider Nation (or more on point, Saskatchewan Priders) persevere over the next 2-3 years. Will they stay loud, or will they muffle out along with the strength of oil, and the Priders retreat back to the safety of the "lovable loser" role.

He's too breakable to play FB... but I get what you're saying. I hope we got the "sign a declining veteran for leadership" thing out of our system with Korey Banks. Some guys who lead with their play, have nothing to lead with when their play tapers off.

I'm in the same boat as you guys. I'd bet money that Walters is too. Drew Willy and his agent on the other hand? I'm sure they're looking at the OL signings, and the fact that Willy's healthy and has a full year as a CFL starter under his belt, and taking an educated gamble on playing out at least a 1/3 of the season before talking contract. Could be the difference between extending at $250k and extending at $350k.

Highly doubt it is under-scouted, although I understand why people would think that. NDSU is the 4-time defending NCAA Div I FCS champions. I think they're probably on everyone's radar.

Purportedly, Korey Banks was the same type of player in February 2014. Locker room leader, experienced veteran, bridge solution... The guy's made his living over the middle taking hits and breaking tackles... that takes a toll on a guy's body over time. I'm not sure WPG's rebuild is even the right place for him, but even if we were, I'd pass. A lot of injury risk that won't come at a cheap enough price.

Agree with this x1000. LT with CFL experience has to be a priority. Maybe a starting and some depth Canadians, at decent prices. There's tremendous resistance to starting a rookie (no matter how good they look in practice) at the expense of a veteran with a large salary/bonus. No GM wants to look like he signed a contract that has become a sunk cost (see: BANKS, Korey).

LB has not been a position of strength for the post-2008 Bombers. I don't mind the idea of a whole new LB corps, and hopefully find some true gems from it. Wild was a tackling machine and I'd have loved him back, but I think we can find a good WIL, and a good SAM that doesn't lead the league in penalties, and doesn't play with so much reckless abandon that he hurts himself routinely.

I sure have egg on my face for my "Heenan or Holmes or bust" posts earlier in this thread. Had no idea Heenan was generating NFL interest, and happy for him he's a Colt. Would have been happier with him a Bomber, but them be the breaks. Okay, with the 2 marquee CDN OL's off the board... have at it with Ellingson, Wojt, Bryant, and Rodgers. Please nab a couple of them. This isn't the bottom of the barrel by far... my posts were more geared towards us not accepting "2nd place" or worse, which is as Bomber fans we've been accustomed to seeing over the years.

Yep that's my dream. That line would be dominant.Dominant's a stretch for sure... Neufeld and Greaves are far from dominant Gaurds... Wojt would be a big upgrade if he's healthy. The Picard add says to me that the Bombers want to fix the OL in short order. Also says they believe that Goossen might be better off stepping in at guard when he's ready to crack the lineup. While Wojt's a good CDN guard, Walters' actions in signing Picard say to me that I don't think he's too high of a priority, even if we do whiff on both Heenan and Holmes. Why would signing a center stop Walters from signing a former all star Canadian Gaurd who was his teams nominee for most outstanding lineman the last season he was healthy in 2013? Because Goossen was a 2nd overall draft pick, and I'd think the Bomber brass would believe he's ready to step in at some point this year. Signing Wojt as an FA would thrust him into a starting role, making one of Greaves/Neufeld the 6th OL, and Goossen/Morley the 7th. We'll be able to stash a draft pick on the PR, but I doubt we'd be able to keep around 3 more CDN guys on the active or practice roster. That'll be a fair bit of cash tied up off the active roster. I'd only consider Wojt an option for the WBB if we get neither of Heenan/Holmes.

I agree we'll get a fresh, healthy Willy intent on playing QB the way he did in the first half of 2014. But more predictable and reliable protection and a little longer to survey the field will only help him develop. I think he's got decent weapons in Moore, Denmark, Watson, and Kohlert/JFG. A 3rd import receiver doesn't need to be a big ticket FA... if Willy's got time and reliable protection, a young recruit can develop into a star with Willy if he can get open and catch the ball.

Yep that's my dream. That line would be dominant. Dominant's a stretch for sure... Neufeld and Greaves are far from dominant Gaurds... Wojt would be a big upgrade if he's healthy. The Picard add says to me that the Bombers want to fix the OL in short order. Also says they believe that Goossen might be better off stepping in at guard when he's ready to crack the lineup. While Wojt's a good CDN guard, Walters' actions in signing Picard say to me that I don't think he's too high of a priority, even if we do whiff on both Heenan and Holmes.

I think history has shown that going crazy in FA isn't always the best idea (see Hamilton). That said, if we could pick up Heenan, I would be pretty darn happy. Oh boy... I've always been of this mindset as well, but either Heenan/Holmes paired with a good OL prospect in the draft would go a long way to way towards fixing both the OL and Canadian skill/depth issues.