blueandgoldguy

Any word on how Waggoner did? I can't recall hearing his name during the broadcast?

Maybe it's time the Bombers take a chance and look at Franklin as a legitimate option for the backup role in Winnipeg if Willy continues to struggle. He was excellent when he started or relieved the starter last season with the Esks. He played better than Nicholls and was the reason they traded Nicholls to the Bombers during the season - they knew they had a good backup to Rielly in Franlin. Nicholls is an OK backup but has the potential to be nothing more than a low-end starter. We already know this. Franklin has the potential to be one of the best starters in the league and is probably the 2nd best backup in the league after Harris. Waiting until the end of the season with hopes of getting Franklin in free agency is foolish...unless Willy turns things around of course. If he doesn't the Bombers shouldn't hesitate to give up a pick for Franklin as there is no doubt in my mind that some other team will outbid the Bombers in the 2017 off-season if it comes to that...probably Saskatchewan. Trade for him and sign him to an extension tout suite.

First game of the doubleheader tonight was impressive to say the least! Ottawa wins in OT.

Anyone else notice the major blunder by Rod Black with 11 seconds left on the clock. He said this is the final play and I was thinking, um, there are 11 seconds left Rod. That is enough time for 2 plays. Then Willy scrambles for the first down with a few seconds still on the clock and Rod said, "That's it." before finally cluing in to the fact that there was indeed time still on the clock. Typical.

Who? Some GM and coach in the 80s? I know from 1989 - 1999 Al Ford was the GM but his early teams made the playoffs and a Grey Cup. He also went through several head coaches none of whom lasted over 3 consecutive years without a playoff appearance.

Both can be considered below average

I really think we have a good chance against Calgary. They lost quite a bit of depth this off-season and their o-line which was a big concern last season will remain on ongoing one this year. I think our front 7 can make life interesting for Mitchell next week. With that said, even if the team does go 0-5 to start the season, the club should stay with O'Shea until the bitter end of 2016. The off-season is when the best candidates are available. When the Bombers fired Ritchie mid-season in 2004 they did not make the playoffs that season and missed the playoffs the following year wasting a year and a half on Jim Daley. Then the Bombers fired Lapo mid-season in 2012 and the team did not make the playoffs that year or the following one wasting a year and a half on Tim Burke. Firing a coach mid-season has never turned around a Bomber season and there is no reason to think it would if the Bombers can O'Shea in August or September. A mid-season firing of O'Shea probably means this organization will waste a year and a half with Paul Lapolice as coach with no playoffs to show for it.

name a franchise in the history of the CFL that has kept both their GM and head coach after 3 consecutive seasons out of the playoffs. That is, of course, assuming the team finishes below .500 and out of the playoffs this year.

The defense was bad. There were many long drives by the Als in the first half and the time of possession was nearly 2:1 in favor of the Als. Very few, if any, 2 and outs. The defense also surrendered 300 or more yards in that first half. They were lucky that turnovers and a penalty and a play away from the play kept the score at a respectable level going into halftime. Irving commented on the poor performance by the D in the post-game show.

Possibly tired to covering the bad news Bombers. They wanted to cover the good news story of the day with the Jets' draft.

I sure hope you aren't insinuating that Willy was not at fault in parts of this game. The poor throw to Smith in the end zone and the fumbled snap on third down while the game was still in reach - albeit a long shot even then - had nothing to do with a porous offensive line.

If he has done a good job, we need to see major improvements in all areas - national and international depth. Another year without the playoffs means he will have done a worse job than Mack.

Andrew Harris came as advertised. I'm looking forward to more of that this season.

If the Bomber fail to make the playoffs, they will probably fire O'Shea and Walters and promote Lapo "righting a wrong" from 4 years ago when he was fired by Joe Mack. I doubt they fire the person who hired Walters and himself after doing an "extensive search" for the right candidates.

Is management capable of finding a a few good international offensive lineman.

that was a poor throw by willy, behind the receiver. Willy was awful when it counted when there was still a reasonable amount of time on the clock. First, on that poor throw to Smith and second, on that fumble on the snap. I getting a little tired waiting for a legit #1 QB to emerge on this team.

If Willy has another shaky season the Bombers should be aggressive in their pursuit of Franklin. I was very impressed with his showing last year. Looked much better and was more productive than Nicholls and may be the primary reason Edmonton got rid of him. Franklin has greater upside. Of course, that's assuming the Riders don't trade for him during the season.

Both nervous and excited for the upcoming season. I'm happy with the additions to the offense - Harris, Keeping, Smith and Dressler, but I am concerned with our offensive line and the lack of changes there. I hope Willy can play the majority of the games (my guess is 16 starts) and show more awareness in the pocket to limit sacks - and potential injury - and fumbles. GO BLUE! Predictions for the upcoming seasonWestEdmonton 13-5BC 11-7Winnipeg 10-8Calgary 8-10Saskatchewan 4-14EastHamilton 11-7Toronto 11-7Ottawa 7-11Montreal 6-12Playoffs Semi-finalsWinnipeg beats BCToronto beats CalgaryDivision FinalsEdmonton beats WinnipegHamilton beats TorontoGrey CupEdmonton beats Hamilton

The Riders were a whopping 11 games over .500 in that "decade." I would hardly call that dominance...but I guess for the Riders it would be given their history.

If the Als don't sign Harris as Qb this off season, I think they will have the cheapest combined salary for their top-2 Qbs assuming it's Cato and Glenn. This will mitigate the impact of having the 2 most expensive receivers on the roster.

-24 with the windchill in Minny today. Effin Walsh misses a chip shot field goal to win it and Adrian Peterson is useless in the playoffs as usual. Interestingly, there were several hundred tickets unsold for that game today. Good crowd of 52,000 but even NFL fans have their limits when it comes how much cold they are willing to tolerate. Same thing happened in Green Bay a few years ago. At Canad Inns it was minus 20 with the windchill for the 2011 Eastern Final and the game was sold out with 29,500 in attendance. The Bombers can draw in cold weather.

Given the dispute going on between Edmonton and Ottawa over the signing of Maas, I would like to know if Rick Campbell was still under contract as OC in Calgary when he became Head Coach in Ottawa for their inaugural season?

Dear Santa, I would like 1 Saskatchewan RoughRiders season completely in the tank in 2016..... Sincerely, Noeller Sorry Noeller, even though for the most part you have been a pretty good boy this year, I will not be able to grant your wish this year. But as a gift that can still be enjoyed you are getting a Edmonton Eskimo season instead. Santa. Chris Jones can't fix the Riders Canadian content in one season. Nor can he fix Darian Durant. If he is not 100% or if the injuries negate his mobility - a big part of his game - the Riders will not be able to touch the Esks' 2015 record.

Bombers need to sign Sukh Chungh to an extension. Did he not only sign a 2-year contract as a rookie?

I wonder where Waggoner would be ranked in this draft?