The MBB All-time Blue Bomber team: Mount Rushmore and the all-time Happy Honkers

[SpeedFlex27]

Paul Robson won 1 Grey Cup as a GM. To this day, I have no idea why he left the Bombers to go to the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1987. When he was fired after the 1988 season, it finished his career as a CFL exec.  Cal Murphy won 2 Grey Cups & lost 2 as Blue Bomber GM. Although in 1992 he was lying flat on his back in hospital in London, Ontario recovering from a heart transplant.

Edited January 25, 2019 by SpeedFlex27

[TrueBlue4ever]

The voting is closed for defensive tackle, and to no one's surprise Doug Brown is an all-timer, but very impressively, so is Stan Mikawos, with a clear-cut victory, over 3rd place, showing that steady excellence over a long period is valued as much as big flashy numbers. The defence is now set, and I have the coach and GM nominees up for voting this week. We will next consider the special teams, starting with the kicker and punter (where discussion has already commenced in other threads). Punter will be a short list (and even shorter voting argument, I'm sure) with Cameron and Ryan in just so we don't have an acclimation. Kicker has a couple of obvious choices in Kennerd and Westwood, but I'm prepared to add Medlock given his accuracy percentage. Any others?

[SpeedFlex27]

6 minutes ago, TrueBlue4ever said:

The voting is closed for defensive tackle, and to no one's surprise Doug Brown is an all-timer, but very impressively, so is Stan Mikawos, with a clear-cut victory, over 3rd place, showing that steady excellence over a long period is valued as much as big flashy numbers. The defence is now set, and I have the coach and GM nominees up for voting this week. We will next consider the special teams, starting with the kicker and punter (where discussion has already commenced in other threads). Punter will be a short list (and even shorter voting argument, I'm sure) with Cameron and Ryan in just so we don't have an acclimation. Kicker has a couple of obvious choices in Kennerd and Westwood, but I'm prepared to add Medlock given his accuracy percentage. Any others?

Walt McKee, Bernie Ruoff & Don Jonas. Check out his kicking stats in 1971.  I think he led the league in passing & scoring that year. 

Edited January 26, 2019 by SpeedFlex27

[TrueBlue4ever]

2 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Walt McKee, Bernie Ruoff & Don Jonas. Check out his kicking stats in 1971.  I think he led the league in passing & scoring that year. 

Added.

[SpeedFlex27]

1 hour ago, TrueBlue4ever said:

Added.

Jonas was the last of the straight head kickers for the Bombers.  Walt McKee was the first "soccer style' kicker the Bombers had. He took over the PK job from Jonas in 1972. 

Edited January 26, 2019 by SpeedFlex27

[TrueBlue4ever]

So looking at the defence overall, what a formidable bunch! Screams aggressiveness and athleticism. Any quibbles from anyone? In my one alternative universe, I would move West to inside linebacker in place of Barrin Simpson (who would be brilliant as a spell-off coming in on second down passing plays) and keep Tony Norman as a back-up, and promote Elfrid Payton to starter. That way he could switch from outside back to rush end at will, and we could employ a 4-3 or 3-4 whenever it suited us. And I still want to find a way to get Rowland and Casey on the team, but Hefney does offer the added benefit of both punt returns and punt coverage, so I’m content with his selection. Well done all, and great discussion so far about all positions!

Edited January 27, 2019 by TrueBlue4ever

[SpeedFlex27]

Charlie Sheppard is another punter who should be on the list if he isn't.

[Stats Junkie]

For punter, I would include

Jack Jacobs, Charlie Shepard, Ed Ulmer, Bernie Ruoff, Bob Cameron - possibly add Russ Rebholz, Jack Delveaux, Walt McKee, Jon Ryan, Mike Renaud, Justin Medlock

For kicker, I would include

Gerry James, Don Jonas, Bernie Ruoff, Trevor Kennerd, Troy Westwood, Justin Palardy, Justin Medlock - possibly add Greg Kabat, Bud Korchak, Alexis Serna

 

[TrueBlue4ever]

On February 1, 2019 at 5:02 PM, Stats Junkie said:

For punter, I would include

Jack Jacobs, Charlie Shepard, Ed Ulmer, Bernie Ruoff, Bob Cameron - possibly add Russ Rebholz, Jack Delveaux, Walt McKee, Jon Ryan, Mike Renaud, Justin Medlock

For kicker, I would include

Gerry James, Don Jonas, Bernie Ruoff, Trevor Kennerd, Troy Westwood, Justin Palardy, Justin Medlock - possibly add Greg Kabat, Bud Korchak, Alexis Serna

 

I will work on the bios today and have the lists out. Not sure about Serna, but I will add him, but then Hajrullahu could be added too (best all-time single season field goal percentage in club history, st least before Medlock) 

Edited February 4, 2019 by TrueBlue4ever

[Stats Junkie]

8 minutes ago, TrueBlue4ever said:

I will work on the bios today and have the lists out. Not sure about Serbs, but I will add him, but then Hajrullahu could be added too (best all-time single season field goal percentage in club history, st least before Medlock) 

Oops! I had a feeling that I was missing a name.

[SpeedFlex27]

On ‎2019‎-‎02‎-‎03 at 8:36 AM, Stats Junkie said:

Oops! I had a feeling that I was missing a name.

Hajrullahu could have his own separate stat. Worst game ever by a FG kicker & punter in the history of pro football anywhere. Then the guy hid from the media. He should have been told to take his lumps. Own it.

[TrueBlue4ever]

OK, if not noticed, Bud Grant was the all-time coach choice, and Cal Murphy the all-time GM choice, and the punting voting is in, and to no one's surprise, Bob Cameron is the viewer's choice award winner, easily outpacing Jon Ryan who at least got 3 votes. everyone else was shut out.

On to the kickers, which I am posting now with their bios. Voting will run until Sunday night.

And it is time to consider the return game. I will list both punt and kick returners here, so please forward nominees for both categories. Off the top of my head:

For punt returners - Jovon Johnson, Paul Bennett, Gord Rowland, Ron Latourelle, Kevin Fogg, Henry Janzen, Troy Stoudemire

For kick returners - Leo Lewis, Dave Raimey, Tom Scott, Demond Washington, Ryan Lankford, Paul Williams, Mack Herron, and since he holds 2 club records I feel obliged to throw out the name Quincey McDuffie (the T.J. Heath of this group)

Dual threat (and also missed FG returner) - Charles Roberts, Keith Stokes, Eric Blount, Albert Johnson III, Maurice Leggett

[SpeedFlex27]

On ‎2019‎-‎02‎-‎11 at 4:09 PM, TrueBlue4ever said:

OK, if not noticed, Bud Grant was the all-time coach choice, and Cal Murphy the all-time GM choice, and the punting voting is in, and to no one's surprise, Bob Cameron is the viewer's choice award winner, easily outpacing Jon Ryan who at least got 3 votes. everyone else was shut out.

On to the kickers, which I am posting now with their bios. Voting will run until Sunday night.

And it is time to consider the return game. I will list both punt and kick returners here, so please forward nominees for both categories. Off the top of my head:

For punt returners - Jovon Johnson, Paul Bennett, Gord Rowland, Ron Latourelle, Kevin Fogg, Henry Janzen, Troy Stoudemire

For kick returners - Leo Lewis, Dave Raimey, Tom Scott, Demond Washington, Ryan Lankford, Paul Williams, Mack Herron, and since he holds 2 club records I feel obliged to throw out the name Quincey McDuffie (the T.J. Heath of this group)

Dual threat (and also missed FG returner) - Charles Roberts, Keith Stokes, Eric Blount, Albert Johnson III, Maurice Leggett

Paul Williams & Doug Strong as well. Strong was a sure handed punt returner in the days when there was no blocking on punt returns & the poor bastards would get snowed under. There was a reason punt returns back in the day were called the Suicide Squad. Williams was a pretty good kick returner. 

Edited February 13, 2019 by SpeedFlex27

[johnzo]

I don't think I've ever seen a Bomber who could ignite a rally like Jovon Johnson.

Anything good that happened between 2008ish-2012ish, he was usually the guy sparking it.

Edited February 13, 2019 by johnzo

[Fred C Dobbs]

Fritz Hanson as punt returner. His punt returns reputedly won us the 1935 Grey Cup. Over 300 yards in punt returns (including one for the game winning touchdown) with no blocking.

[TrueBlue4ever]

1 hour ago, Fred C Dobbs said:

Fritz Hanson as punt returner. His punt returns reputedly won us the 1935 Grey Cup. Over 300 yards in punt returns (including one for the game winning touchdown) with no blocking.

Yes. Thank you. Will also add James Jefferson. 

[TrueBlue4ever]

So we are down to final voting for the returners, as we selected Justin Medlock as the all-time kicker. Next up is the special teams player. This category will be limited to those who did the "other" duties on special teams, like those on the cover teams (either way) and other specialists like long snappers. Off the top of my head, I would throw out the following names:

Wade Miller, Mike Miller, James Green, Henoc Muamba, Pierre-Luc Labbe, Brendan Rogers, Chandler Fenner, Donald Smith, Ian Wild, Shawn Gallant, Graeme Bell, Neil McKinley and Wayne Weathers among those who had high special teams tackle totals

Rod Hill, Paul Clatney, Merv Walker, Marcus Howell and Michael Allen who excelled at blocking or recovering blocked kicks

Chris Cvetkovic, Chad Rempel and John Bonk who were the long snappers on the team (Speedflex, was Bob Swift a long snapper too?)

Would also consider anyone who was a great special team blocker or "broke the wedge" repeatedly, although this list of candidates is getting long already.

Will try to get the bios up by Sunday, so add or subtract to this list before then.

[Noeller]

I demand votes for Stoddard for his role in the Lager ST Play.... 

[SpeedFlex27]

I just remember Rod Hill blocking a lot of punts when he played. One in the 88 Eastern Final that won us the game.

[TrueBlue4ever]

33 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

I just remember Rod Hill blocking a lot of punts when he played. One in the 88 Eastern Final that won us the game.

Hill holds the CFL record for career punt blocks with 8. Micheal Allen holds the CFL record for TDs off of blocked punts with 5 (3 in one season is also a record) - pretty sure all of his TDs came off of Rod Hill blocks. 

[SpeedFlex27]

1 hour ago, TrueBlue4ever said:

Hill holds the CFL record for career punt blocks with 8. Micheal Allen holds the CFL record for TDs off of blocked punts with 5 (3 in one season is also a record) - pretty sure all of his TDs came off of Rod Hill blocks. 

Hill may be the best defensive player to ever play in the CFL. Yeah, that includes all the greats at different positions. Total ball hawk. Great instincts to anticipate where the ball would be all over the field. Just a nose for the football. Those are  qualities no one can coach. . You either got it or you don't.

Edited March 1, 2019 by SpeedFlex27

[do or die]

On 2018-12-21 at 5:51 PM, SpeedFlex27 said:

The best linebackers we had were Greg Battle in the middle & West & Jones outside. Absolutely freaking dominant.  I think the best 3 starting linebackers together on any team & any time period in CFL history.

Add Aaron Brown and call it 4

[TrueBlue4ever]

Voting complete on the returners, and Keith Stokes and Albert Johnson III (in possibly a bit of an upset over Leo Lewis) are our punt and kick returners of all-time. While we sort out the last of the special teams positions, it is time to move to the offence, and we will start with the o-line, specifically the centre position. My initial list includes the following - all Blue Bomber hall of famers, by the way:

Lou Adelman, John Bonk, George Druxman, Bob Swift, and Mel Wilson.

Please add any you think I should consider for the centre position, will look to have the bios up for Friday. 

[SpeedFlex27]

Center Paul Desjardins. Never missed a game in 6 seasons with the Blue Bombers. Ninety six regular season games plus playoffs in 65 & 66. Played in the 65 Grey Cup. Just to be clear, in hockey it's centre. In football, it's center.

Edited March 4, 2019 by SpeedFlex27

[TrueBlue4ever]

1 hour ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Center Paul Desjardins. Never missed a game in 6 seasons with the Blue Bombers. Ninety six regular season games plus playoffs in 65 & 66. Played in the 65 Grey Cup. Just to be clear, in hockey it's centre. In football, it's center.

I thought it was just a Canadian vs American thing.