BigBlue

How often in times past has bringing in Import talent in July, August & September led to such players starting that year?

I can understand a revamped defense will take a little time to gel, I really do But is there a structural problem, one that can't "gel"? So far, Hurl doesn't seem to understand the offensive schemes and is getting fooled too often. The MLB is the defense's general, its strategist and counter strategist. When you can't read a scheme .... anticipate a counter or misdirection play, show some instincts for the game, you can't be the general even if you are especially gifted... Someone is having a love affair with Hurl. He was given the job; no one else had a legit chance at it. I can't see what Hurl has done to earn the MLB job - - has any poster seen him show signs of brilliance and future potential that we should be waiting for? Is he physically gifted? Are the coaches having a collective brain cramp? Is it something else? Thr defensive line is a different story, veterans on the downside of their careers. Last year we stood pat under Kuale's leadership. No attempt to go on a talent search for our back 7 ... we just had to "gel" a year ago this time too ... anyone see a parallel brain cramp from our brain trust? Comb the league's taxi squads ... other teams have talent in waiting, players with potential that are starting to learn the CFL ... if there is genuinely no one there, then start an airlift of MLB's and pass rushing specialists because there is a ton of talent south of the border, its not a myth. We need the will to go find it, not gel to soften things up

I can't remember the last time we had two overtime games in 1 CFL season. But look Ma, the Riders had back to back OTs, and they lost them both. What's the chances of that happening Ma? Do the Riders lack courage or wisdom Ma, being spooked about their short yardage team, gambling when they should have kicked and then kicking when they should have gambled.... Great entertainment this CFL! When was the last time we had this kind of excitement?

Personally I don't think its as good as certain times in the past. Based on what I saw tonight I would give it a C+ ... a scary win tonight

For those of us too challenged to use the chat room ... For those of us ... who don't know a gif from a pdf ... For those of us ... who value our own opinion and just can't type fast enough to remember what everyone is discussing and don't want to scroll up all the time in case we can't find our place again For those of hoping to be able to remember our own chain of thought .... here is our game day thread Enjoy

After that blow out last Thursday we all have to give our head a shake annd try and recover as a fan. How are you "FEELING" about our chances on Friday?

Then we would have to qualify it .... we have lots of senior & junior scouts

I agree the reffing could be better, more consistent The big deal for me is getting the clowns out of the circus .... the dangerous and hyper violent players off the field and warning the other players to not imitate the bad behavior

" "CFL fines Hamilton defensive lineman Tracy for hit on Bombers QB Drew Willy ...Tracy made helmet-to-helmet hit" The problem is not with the Refs ... The problem is with the league owners The problem will never change until they decide to change

I am not sure what I am happier about .... the more potent offences or an exciting convert ... but I love both a lot

Also the rec. There were a few plays, one were Willy got pissed at JFG cause he didn't react in time to a pass....may have been the interception actually. Rec need to know when to run an option route and when to look for a ball. The greatest ever was very good at that! Yeah .. it was definitely after the interception. JFG wasn't even remotely aware the ball was coming his way and Willy was none too happy about it. There were was at least one / two more instances after Brohm came in where the blitz was on and JFG didn't appear to make that read and adjust his route accordingly .. not everyone was on the same page that game. I would say that when facing a team you know will send a blitzs on a regular basis you should always have a blitz/quick option designated and change it up so that the D can't key on one thing at that player should be ready from the snap of the ball then there should never be a miss communication... Whatever system the Bombers are using it hasn't work under Marcel B... Don't disagree at all. I don't remember who said it last year (it was either Bob Irving or Doug Brown) but they noted there didn't seem to be a safety valve or check down option built into the offense. But even if you look back at MBs body of work, he *HAS* gotten some QBs killed .. Cavillo suffered through a terrible season protection wise and started in only 13 games that season (the fewest he'd played since 1997) .. he was beaten, took a lot of punishment and people said that was the end of AC. What I recall is the Cats using many delayed/deep blitzes repeatedly yet I saw many sets with nobody but Willy behind our front 5 ... how is that thinking strategically .... where is the flexibilty in that .... it has every appearance of setting up "target practice" on the QB

Also the rec. There were a few plays, one were Willy got pissed at JFG cause he didn't react in time to a pass....may have been the interception actually. Rec need to know when to run an option route and when to look for a ball. The greatest ever was very good at that! Yeah .. it was definitely after the interception. JFG wasn't even remotely aware the ball was coming his way and Willy was none too happy about it. There were was at least one / two more instances after Brohm came in where the blitz was on and JFG didn't appear to make that read and adjust his route accordingly .. not everyone was on the same page that game. I would say that when facing a team you know will send a blitzs on a regular basis you should always have a blitz/quick option designated and change it up so that the D can't key on one thing at that player should be ready from the snap of the ball then there should never be a miss communication... Whatever system the Bombers are using it hasn't work under Marcel B... "you should always have a blitz/quick option designated " ... if I heard MOS correctly they do .... he made the problem out to be a player learning problem i.e. a coordination execution problem by the players ... it only takes one weak link to kill the entire play ... we need togetherness, togetherness, togetherness .... maybe in a few games we will get that down & "gel"

On Irving's coaches show MOS was asked about the QB from Calgary, Davis, that we hired in favor of Portis because he is a developmental project ... apparently Marve beat out Portis ... didn't need a 4th vetreran arm

On Irving's coaches show MOS was asked about handling the blitz .... he said the players have to learn how to adjust themselves ... there is a contingency plan on every play to help take advantage of the blitzes .... apparently they have a lot of learning to do ... he didn't speak to the coaching involved

"We want Davis...We want Davis...We want Davis!" no sense having a good QB sitting on the bench

After watching a bit of the hammy game and most of last night I have to agree with you... but it is only week 2... it literally takes half a season before we get a true grasp on every team in the CFL What exactly is a "true grasp"?

"I'd rather they force teams to go for 2 from the 5 than any other change they've made, but personally I'd just leave it how it always was and let the players decide the games, not the kickers." This whole chain of reasoning sounds frustrated and self contradictoryy

a two point convert will NEVER become less exciting

Its easy to blame the officials for whats ailing us but thats the last place I would put our problems Putting better safeguards to protect our qb's is the first place I would go and hand out multi-game suspensions until there is compliance; body slams, accidentally "rolling" into the qb; unnecessary force to tackle: all get 3 game suspensions on first offence ... it will stop .... we just have to decide to do it .... teach the refs their highest priority is protecting the players; 25 yard unnecessary roughness along with getting tossed out of the game will start waking up both coaches and players .... we are still too in love with the violence of this game ... going "overboard" at first is ok: there will be no harm in it and it will extend the careers of so many players ... this is not being a wuss, its responsible behavior .... the players association should love it

That was a typo that I think has been corrected

After watching the Toronto - Regina double overtime game, how do you think the new convert rule is affecting the CFL from a fan enjoyment perspective. If you were Toronto's head coach, would you have gone "all or nothing" just before the end of regulation time going for the two point convert rather than kick the single to go into overtime? Although the odds are perhaps anti-percentage, Toronto could have controlled their own destiny with one play. When the convert rule change was first proposed a couple years back, many posters decried the proposal as gimmicky and potentially ruining the game. One even said it was too exhausting for the players after the big climax of scoring a TD. Has any body changed their mind from negative to positive on the new convert rules? In pre-season, (although I don't think anyone actually tried it this year), the league tested the possibility of having a 3 point convert, scrimmaging from the 10 yard line (which might allow a team to come back and tie the game when 9 points down). Is that too crazy, would that ruin the game or is it a good thing to keep the comeback team's hopes alive?

They just did it in Regina. Regina wasn't brining the house every other play like the Cats

This problem is 100% league/owner policy, a matter of will .... maybe if the new commish is not a puppet it can be fixed ... save our QBs ... end the stupid violence .... shut down the unwritten instructions to kill the other teams QB

I have watched with great envy over the years as I have watched other teams make mincemeat out of our blitzes.... too many have just picked us apart too often for too long For the life of me I can not figure out why our Blue can not put together effective packages to counter the blitz I don't even know if MB knows how to do it

is it stubbornness or too much trust in his OC/DC?