Booch

we can do much better than Ellingson...

Yeah very raw, no technique whatsoever to speak of...yet. Slow feet too and doesn't look like his strength is anywhere near his mass...but maturing and growing and getting stronger and good teaching...could be a beast

He's not dominant yet, darn good but has his blemishes and money talks...especially when on average a football career isn't that long and can end in an instant. We also have an advantage that most other teams do as well, in that we are a short drive away from Saskatchewan and if he is hedging on not wanting to leave, but we offer something too good to pass up, well being 6 or so short hours from home isn't that big a deal

if we get who we want in free agency, and with first 2 picks score nicely I could see, and personally I would take Varga with the 15th pick...If draft and free agency go how we want, we can actually afford to do that this year

very good move by Walters, he is earning his stripes as a G.M. He has a good handle on the Salary cap management and has it set up to retain core guys longterm, creating stability. We just secured 4 picks in the top 20 of probably one of the stronger drafts in years where we could realistically see 3 draftees make the game day roster. He's created cap room for a big splash in free agency and if cards fall into place as they just may now, we may be in a position in one full swoop of an off-season solve O-Line issues, ratio and Canadian depth issues and allow us to more than likely play 4 import receivers, or possibly an all american d-line

his system was more into just occupying a lineman's space to allow others to get to ball carrier, and not actually get after anybody, or search and destroy through the gaps. Also he always had his down lineman working at going in on angles and never squaring up, hence getting washed out by the oline. Once OC's seen the philosphy all they needed to do was have the o-line slide step and use the momentum and wash out any down lineman and linebackers and the ball carrier was immediately in second level, or meeting a db with a full head of steam allowing pretty much any time to get extra 3-4 yards push through the tackler...pure garbage system He also if you watched preached to rally around the ball carrier, but instead of planting him in the turf, keep em up and try for the strip...watch some game film...drove me nuts with that mindset. Nothing wrong with the size of our line man..Fraser is a beast...as is Turner and Anderson... Booker as well was used totally wrong U will see next year what a difference a sound system makes

I have no issues with keeping Nelson Martin on here actually...proven...players like him, and db's were least of our concern

yup...give him a full camp...integrate into the system and working with whoemever is the rest of the starting oline and then assess

he wasn't that bad..I think more of a case of rusty, and trying to over compensate while being new to the schemes

ahhh...gotcha....yes agreed in that sense he has been yes...as really for all intents and purposes Morley was just a stop gap there If Goosen was ready to step in Morely would have stayed at guard i believe...especially due to all the injuries

replaced at center sure, but in a spat of injuries, and or piss poor play from others he has value as he can step in and play virtually any spot, and be more than adequate. Goosen, I can't say that with him yet, he not ready, heck he only what...gonna be 22...he just a baby still. Hinse...not as good as Morely, we have no other "game ready" Canadians in the pipe who could step in and not be a detriment, and you can't bank on a draft pick being your guy..the odd time yiou get a stud who steps in right away and performs but that is not generally the norm. After free agency and say we sign 1 or 2 bonafide starters...2 canucks, or a canuck and an import well maybe then bid him farewell, but at this point now it would be one of the more foolish things to do.. U don't just toss away canadians, especially o-lineman when you don't have an already sure fire replacement who is just as good and cheaper with upside, or one who is better in place.

yeah agreed, if he can be signed to a reasonable contract as a swing guy/6th olineman he would be a valuable and versatile piece, that is if we can replace him with better, and Canadian. I sure as well he would be a good mentor for the younger lineman as well.

truley...I don't think so...both have their merits. My thoughts is we can't go wrong with either..too bad this didnt occur last year and we would be in our second season with the staff...building onto what we created.

I like him...coming into his fifth year as a convert at 28 now I think he should be establishing himself as a very solid guy. Has the physical tools, agility, and smarts to be a well above average guard, and he should have the inherent instincts down now where he doesn't have to think as much rather than just react now. He didn't have the 10 years or so prior to being drafted to aquire this, so I think he is coming into his own just about right on schedule and what you would expect. Injuries hampered him a bit last year, as well as trying to do too much to compensate for lack luster play elsewhere on the line. But surrounded by even just decent linemates, he can focus on his own role and not be noticed, which is what you want. He has great run blocking instincts though and gets into the second level very well to make blocks, and even just get in the way of a defender trying to track down a ball carrier which I like as well, whereas a lot of linemen u see make their designed initial play, then just kind of stand there dumbfounded...Greaves seeks out guys

I actually think Holmes has more upside and more to offer...If we had a choice I would take him, and he would prob save us about 30k in cap space...initially anyway

O-Line men actually in most cases are in their primes between 28-and 34...some cases even longer especially at center so I like this pick up. If you truly wanted to nit pick and dissect a player you could find fault in all of them and signs to the un-trained eye that may lead you think that they are on the decline. 32 going on 33 for a center is not an issue in the CFL unless they were a marginal guy all through their careers, which Picard was not. I would bet he has 3 good years at least left and the new environment and the desire to nip the "on the decline" generalization in the bud will motivate him for sure. Regardless, the front office and most people who know anything know Goose isn't ready for prime time yet so I would much rather have even a slightly declining Picard at center than him to teach and groom with. In all honesty with what we have now, we are already well on way to establishing depth and talent on the line. If Daniels continues to impress like most think he will, Neufeld stays outta the tub, we find one other "dominant nasty" import to challenge or win a job and can draft one stud, and lure one above average younger free agent we just may be sitting pretty, and if Wiley is the perceived magic man he has shown and reputation dictates our one main area of weakness last year could be one of our strengths this year...

rather be vice....less responsibilty hahaha

Never got around to this before but was bored at work semi-regular poster on other boards, was on the original OB site wayy back when Former NCAA player, bumbled around a couple camps north and south of border but 2 knee reconstructions and and 5 other surgeries derailed that life Coached and did clinics north and south of the 49th, am a trainer and post mainly from personal experiences, first hand knowledge and the occasional tidbit i fel like tossing from people in the "know"

actually no, the defensive system was flawed, the game is slowly migrating back the other way in terms of defences and how they need to play so this was the right move. Agreed what Osh said about continuity and development of Drew, I think the sputtering mid season on with the offence was more a result of mismanaging the tailback situ until too late, compounded with injuries (moore, watson, oline guys) as well as Willy only being capable physically at a fraction of what he was from beginning of year due to injuries, and mentally from playing behind that sad sack line, which in the end limited what we could do offensively. Contrary to public opinion that MB got figured out, or didn't know how to in game adjust...thats plain dumb as if that were the case all teams offences would be figured out and everyone would suck...we just got stuck in perfect storm to flounder..injuries, shitty oline play, in essence rookie QB who had defences (and the pain he was gonna get) creep into his head and rookie coaching mistakes, and some lack of depth in skilled offensive positions. That being said, if things still seem to be stagnating mid season, or sooner...you may see MB punted. As for the d...injuries aside....scheme sucked, no play book was dumb, personnel use questionable (and a lot had to do with Etch and don't let media sessions and Osh falling on sword fool you)

Yea I was thinking the same thing, if he can nail down a couple more of them, then we can focus and budget SMS wise for who we truly want to score in free agency and put together a pretty much top offer. If we miss out on our projected #1 wants in free agency we surely will land a very good option #2. Then can worry about our fringe guys in free agency and can actually be a bit choosy as opposed to desperate to sign them...a big difference in building a winner, and just trying to filed a team. The perception now around the league and with the players is that Winnipeg has now developed the First Class Management and Professional team culture to match the First Class Stadium and all it's amenities, not to mention fan base and is allowing Winnipeg to become a very attractive destination to play. For all the worrying and panic about KW hopefully the fan base can see he does know what he is doing, the ship is going in the right direction and that this off season, combined with the past year and partial off season where we started wayyy behind everyone else due to the turn over and change in management will be the true indicator of where we are at, and the competency of the group leading this team

Liking how Walters is going about things....Locking down the guys we want to build with now before they even get to free agency, having the core "you" actually want and then doing inventory as to what you need to fill in the missing pieces with via free agency, scouting and the draft, and knowing what you have to work with cash wise with the cap. After the dust settles with the initial free agent frenzy, then you can re-visit some of your own second tier guys that were not first priority, and other teams guys who are still floating around to see if they fit in with what you are doing. Well done, and I can see this team has a plan and system in place to correct 10-15 years of wrongs and it is doing it in a way to sustain the organization long term

What about Dave Easley as a special teams coach back here? I know he was still living in the Peg last summer and hasn't been coaching this year as far as I know. Last I remember he was actually I think working at Costco in the city here...be a big upgrade to what we have now as he has a lot of CFL coaching experience and is a great guy...always liked him

go watch clips of the 1990 team and defence....also the grey cup that is what we need to get back to...linebackers who are line backers....talented skilled big men who can tackle...cover...rush...create havoc and traditional dline play be it 3 man..4 man fronts or combinations of

Interesting to hear that the players (a lot of the young newer ones to the CFL) said that after hearing about the LDC and the atmosphere/crowd noise at Mosaic, and to be prepared for it actually said that IGF is much louder crowd....easily

ha!...didn't know that...I still think tho we will give their line a bit of greif and cause KG to put on his pout face none the less. I shocked the experts on these boards weren't all over signing him lol