gbill2004

I was just looking at the list of new Bombers Walters has brought in this offseason and it is quite impressive. When Wade Miller said at the end of last season "you won't recognize the team next year" he wasn't kidding! Here is the list so far: Willy, Drew QB Import Banks, Korey DB Import Bucknor, Matt DB Non-Import Tate, Kenny LB Import Vega, Jason DE Import Hogue, Doug LB Import Moody, Semaj DB Import Hajrullahu, Lirim K Non-Import Francis, Josh DB Import Loper, Gabriel DB Import Feoli-Gudino, Julian WR Non-Import Renaud, Taylor SB Non-Import Brescacin, Jordan WR Non-Import When I look at the list and see 5 DBs, the writing is clearly on the wall for Jovon Johnson and Brandon Stewart. Walters is looking to change the culture. EDIT: Even though the Bombers list them as DBs, looks like Moody and Francis are more LBs than DB's.

I think it's time to move on from Jovon. Looks like the Bombers may be thinking the same: http://www.goerie.com/article/20140207/SPORTS0509/302079940/John-Dudley%3A-Johnson-set-for-camp-then-free-agency He's unsure how serious the Blue Bombers are about bringing him back despite his being named a CFL East All-Star defensive back four times and winning the league's most outstanding defensive player award in 2011. After picking off 22 passes over his first four seasons with Winnipeg, Johnson had only one interception in each of the past two seasons. He said that's created a misconception that, at age 30, his game has slipped. "I think a lot of people determine how good a season you have by the number of interceptions," Johnson said. "But that's only one part of it. I had 62 tackles last season, which is the second most I ever had. And I played about half the season at safety, which changes a lot of things." Johnson also forced one fumble and recovered two, one of which he returned 48 yards for a touchdown. "I have plenty of football left," said Johnson, who spent one season with the Steelers in 2006 but turned down subsequent reserve/futures contract offers from the Dolphins, Jaguars and Bengals because he felt he deserved at least some guaranteed money. "I haven't really thought much about it yet, but I know I'll play somewhere in 2014."

If the GM isn't constantly looking to upgrade each and every position on the team, he's not doing his job. It's that simple; there is no disconnect between O'Shea and Walters. They could have been a little better prepared for the press conference though.

Where are you getting the $350k number for Collaros? Everywhere I've heard it has been in the $275k range. And I also heard that Willy got virtually the same money as Collaros, maybe a little less because there was no one else bidding against us to drive up the price.

I get the feeling that the Bombers had a 2 phased approach. They wanted Burris as this years starter, he was option A for 2014. The plan for 2015 was Willy as option A and Collaros as option B. With Collaros being released expectedly early, and Ottawa overpaying for Burris, Willy was the only one left. I suspect the ideal scenario for the Bombers was getting both Burris and Willy.

That's a very good point.

A few notes for this morning: According to his Twitter account, Jade Etienne has signed with Sask. According to his Facebook profile, Brandon Stewart is resigned to the fact he won't be back with the Bombers. He says Bombers haven't even contacted him since the season ended.

I'd also like an earlier start to the season. Would mean more warm weather games and fewer cold games.

I think some of Walters answers are being misinterpreted by the media. When Walters was asked if he's comfortable with the QB position, he said he will continue to explore free agency and trades to improve the QB position, just like all positions. I took that to mean Willy is the starter, but Walters wants to bring in more competition behind him, likely to compete/replace Hall, Goltz and Brown. Walters did stumble a bit in answering some of the questions, but the questions asked by the media could have all been expected. Maybe Walters needs to prepare a little more for his press conferences.

On CJOB Mike O'Shea just said Bombers had Willy ranked higher than Collaros and if Willy was released first he would have got the first offer. He also mentioned McManus; sounds like organization places a ton of weight on his opinion.

He didn't tear his ACL. It was his ankle I believe. He was close to 100% by the end of the season.

@CJOBSports: O'shea not disclosing who will join #Bombers coaching staff. @DarrinBauming: Mike O'Shea says #Bombers' coaching targets have contracts in their hands. Kyle Walters say agents slow the process.

@saraorlesky: Bombers HC Mike O'Shea emphatically declares Drew Willy the starter for the Bombers to start the season #CFL

@DarrinBauming: Head coach Mike O'Shea jumps in to clarify; Drew Willy is the starter. #Bombers @saraorlesky: Bombers HC Mike O'Shea emphatically declares Drew Willy the starter for the Bombers to start the season #CFL @DarrinBauming: Kyle Walters says quarterback Drew Willy was not the #Bombers third choice.

Downside is the season is a week longer; not good for a Winnipeg Grey Cup in 2015, weather-wise.

Oh ok. I guess that's supposed to be funny. You must be fun at parties. Jay Detain is funny because that's what the close captioning on IGF interprets his name as. Same with Rory Dough Alert. And Demons Washing Ham. Must be it. I'm not much of a partier so that's okay. Thanks for the background though on the close captioning. I wasn't aware of that. It's pretty funny though.

Yep, that or a late draft pick.

Oh ok. I guess that's supposed to be funny.

Who/what is Detain?

I've heard rumblings Plemmons is going to follow Burke to Toronto. I was hoping we'd keep him.

Quite an interesting read. Looks like if Etienne doesn't sign, we owe Sask something else: http://www.leaderpost.com/touch/story.html?id=9480815. Taman admitted the Roughriders took a risk by dealing for a player who could walk away next week, but the trade will benefit Saskatchewan in some way. "If (Etienne) does leave (and sign elsewhere), we'll have some other considerations that would come into play," Taman said. "They're not significant of any note, but we'll get something out of this, put it that way." Willy, 27, spent two seasons as the backup to Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant. The Roughriders expected to lose Willy as a free agent, so dealing him before the deadline allowed them to get something for him. "We talked to Drew last week and he reiterated what he'd already told us, that he wanted to get a chance to play," Taman said. "With Darian here, that probably wasn't going to happen. We knew he wasn't coming back. "(The Bombers) wanted to get to him sooner than later, especially when Henry (Burris) was off the market, so they said, 'Can we get his rights?' and we said, 'Shouldn't be a problem.' "To make it somewhat sensible from our end, we were hoping to get back the rights of a guy we could talk to who maybe didn't figure into their plans for whatever reason. That was Jade."

Yes he is.

SK is very high on their 3rd string QB, making Willy expendable. Willy also told SK he'd be testing free agency because he wants an opportunity to start. That wasn't going to happen in SK with Durant entrenched as the starter.

RBs are a dime a dozen, so I'm not overly concerned with losing Will Ford.

There were reports several weeks ago saying the Bombers were higher on Willy than Collaros.