Would we have any interest in Franklin?

[Mr Dee]

I'm glad the status of Matt Nichols has been brought up. Because that's the direction Nichols play has been trending - upwards. We had the very best chance to look at Nichols' development throughout the year. And develop he did.

Game manager is where he started. Slowly, he developed into an offensive leader. Now he's a team leader. His understanding of our offence, along with the execution of same, all with different receivers is commendable. 

He's making more and more throws, the really good ones. 

He's not quite there yet, but whereas I was worried about a starter for next year...I'm not now.

[pigseye]

And he's a pending free agent, I think a few clubs will be looking at him now. I'd rather get him signed than getting stuck with leftovers.

[M.O.A.B.]

Yup. I pinned the loss to the run D by Hall. 

I wish we could upgrade on our DC this off-season. Thorpe. Steinauer (is he available?). How 'bout Missick ?   

Edited November 14, 2016 by M.O.A.B.

[Taynted_Fayth]

I'm still left shaking my head at the 61 yarder attempt vs 4 yards. Does O'shea have the same confidence/view in Nichols as many of us do? 

[bearpants]

4 minutes ago, Mr Dee said:

Game manager is where he started. Slowly, he developed into an offensive leader. Now he's a team leader. 

This is a great point... guys follow their leader into battle... this is based on nothing but a hunch, but it didn't seem like guys would follow Willy they way they do with Nichols...

[blueandgoldguy]

Defense played the biggest role in loss yesterday, followed by O'Shea's inexplicable blunder at the end.  Nichols played a role in the loss though.  If he actually generated a TD drive in the second half like one of the better starters in the league would have, the game would not have come down to a bad decision from O'Shea.

Nichols is one of the weakest starters in the league and the Bombers will have to better than most other teams like BC, Edmonton, Ottawa, Calgary, Hamilton in all other areas - running, special teams, defense - to compensate for the lack of quality at the QB position.  Right now, they aren't and it's unlikely that will happen anytime soon.

Right now, Nichols is the undisputed starter on the team and bringing back our current backups and whatever signings or castoffs Walters brings in from down south is will not result in any serious competition for the starter's spot next season (Bombers are incapable of recruiting and developing their own Qbs; we have known this for a generation or longer now).  The best bet would be to use a first round pick+ to entice the Eskimos to trade Franklin to the Bombers and get him signed to an extension.  That would provide legit competition at next year's camp.

Franklin has shown quite well in the games he has played and started in this season and last.  Despite these limited appearances, all indications are he will be a star Qb in the league.  This is similar to Mike Reilly, who despite even more limited appearances with the Lions, was touted to be a star Qb when he was given the starter's job and proved to be just that with Edmonton.

Hopefully Walters has the courage to make a move for Franklin which should put this team on a more even standing at the Qb position with other teams in the league.  The Bombers have the assets to make such a move thanks to the WIlly deal and shouldn't be afraid to use them accordingly. 

Get it done Walters.

[pigseye]

Personally, I would stay away from this guy:

Negatives

• Will need to adjust to a more normal drop back progression after playing in an unorthodox system at Mizzou
• Inconsistent on long passes targeted near the sideline
• Needs to put more touch on short screen passes
• Tends to collapse under pressure if he doesn’t have a viable receiver to throw to; not great at deciding when to get rid of the ball
• Not too much experience working under center
• Injury-prone (has missed seven games over the past two seasons) and refuses to take pain medication

[Mr Dee]

Disagree with trading Non-import assets.

We have some deficiencies on our team, mostly defence, but nothing can stop us from bringing in our own QB, if he isn't here already. 

Nichols is developing into a #1 and K. Glenn is a more than adequate veteran backup.

Look for players down south, but keep and develop as many nationals as possible. We've been behind in that category for too many years.

And there's always free agency - although we don't have to go as deep as last year. We can go for the minimum. (Eliminimum)

[blueandgoldguy]

14 minutes ago, Mr Dee said:

Disagree with trading Non-import assets.

We have some deficiencies on our team, mostly defence, but nothing can stop us from bringing in our own QB, if he isn't here already. 

Nichols is developing into a #1 and K. Glenn is a more than adequate veteran backup.

Look for players down south, but keep and develop as many nationals as possible. We've been behind in that category for too many years.

And there's always free agency - although we don't have to go as deep as last year. We can go for the minimum. (Eliminimum)

Qb is the most important position in team pro sports and teams trade non-import assets for them all the time.  If we don't make an attempt for Franklin, who else is out there that has the potential to be a star QB?  The bombers have been unable to recruit a player from down south in 26 years.  Kyle Walters might be different but I wouldn't count on it.  So far, our two primary starters were players he signed and traded for from other teams - Willy and Nichols - not players he scouted and signed from down south.

[blitzmore]

so what? Doesn't mean he can't or won't. I'll take 11 wins with Nichols and an almost win in the Semi any day!

[Goalie]

3 hours ago, blueandgoldguy said:

Qb is the most important position in team pro sports and teams trade non-import assets for them all the time.  If we don't make an attempt for Franklin, who else is out there that has the potential to be a star QB?  The bombers have been unable to recruit a player from down south in 26 years.  Kyle Walters might be different but I wouldn't count on it.  So far, our two primary starters were players he signed and traded for from other teams - Willy and Nichols - not players he scouted and signed from down south.

Honestly besides Barker and Buono who has? 

[blueandgoldguy]

21 hours ago, Goalie said:

Honestly besides Barker and Buono who has? 

Hufnagel, Hervey (with Franklin soon), Popp (finished off Calvillo's development behind Ham).  Jones has only been GM for 1 season so he shouldn't enter the equation at this point.  Past Sask Gms (not Taman) brought in and developed Glenn and Durant.

[BigBlue]

4 hours ago, blueandgoldguy said:

Hufnagel, Hervey (with Franklin soon), Popp (finished off Calvillo's development behind Ham).  Jones has only been GM for 1 season so he shouldn't enter the equation at this point.  Past Sask Gms (not Taman) brought in and developed Glenn and Durant.

Lapo developed Glenn

 

[SpeedFlex27]

On ‎11‎/‎14‎/‎2016 at 1:03 PM, bearpants said:

This is a great point... guys follow their leader into battle... this is based on nothing but a hunch, but it didn't seem like guys would follow Willy they way they do with Nichols...

Nichols played with confidence. Willy played with very little confidence out there. The hits & injuries really took their toll on the man. He looked the same in Toronto as he did here. He didn't look comfortable when he played. His facial expressions & body language just gave everything away. Willy's teammates could see that & I'm sure that is why his teammates didn't play as hard for him as they did for Nichols.

Nichols had some gruesome injuries as well to deal with but to his enormous credit he was able to put that in the back of his mind & not let it get to him. That's a quality a lot of us wouldn't have to be honest. To face your fears, come back from adversity like that & play well. I feel bad for Drew Willy but even coming back the way he did took guts on his part. At the same time, I admire Nichols for what he's done. He's courageous.

Edited November 16, 2016 by SpeedFlex27