Don't Look Back - 2022/2023 Bombers Off Season

[Wideleft]

Too soon?  Too many truly painful Grey Cup losses have taken the sting out of yesterday's loss already.

Time to look forward while we cope with the recent disappointment.  

Who do we keep?  Who do we let go?  Who do we go after?

Someone was going to start this thread at some point.

[Jesse]

We were talking all night about this.

OL runs it back with a strong possibility that Drew D returns to solidify our interior. Our PR guys may try to push Hardrick, but I think continuity wins out.

There exists the possibility that we sing Kenny Lawler and then Dalton spends half the season trying to make it in the NFL but returns for the second half push. 
 

We are going to have a plethora of options in the secondary after another season of young guys getting long looks.

The only thing in question for me is the DL. Do we see some changes there? I know the team loves Willie, don’t anticipate anything changing there. Does Jeffcoat move on? Can we add to our interior?

[Noeller]

This is the only important thread now. I'm done with the '22 season. It's time to start looking at '23. It starts with some new contracts for coaches and management, and then hopefully some key players. Concerned about an aging core, but we'll trust Walters to hopefully do the right thing. 

[Wideleft]

For posterity's sake, here's the roster as of today:

Active Roster
NO		NAME	POS	A/N/G	HT	WT	AGE	COLLEGE
54		Adams, Keion	DL	A	6'2	240	27	Western Michigan
37		Alexander, Brandon	DB	A	6'0	180	29	UCF
27		Augustine, Johnny	RB	N	5'9	194	29	University of Guelph
88		Bailey, Rasheed	WR	A	6'1	211	29	Delaware Valley University
40		Benson, Mike	LS	N	5'11	220	35	Acadia
4		Bighill, Adam	LB	A	5'10	219	34	Central Washington
34		Briggs, Jesse	LB	N	6'1	207	32	McGill
6		Brown, Dru	QB	A	5'11	195	25	Oklahoma State
66		Bryant, Stanley	OL	A	6'5	313	36	East Carolina
32		Burtenshaw, Konner	FB	N	5'10	223	26	Queens
47		Cadwallader, Tanner	LB	N	5'11	215	25	Wilfrid Laurier
0		Clements, Malik	LB	A	6'0	224	26	Cincinnati
41		Cole, Brian	LB	A	6'2	210	25	Mississippi State
8		Collaros, Zach	QB	A	6'1	218	34	Cincinnati
59		Couture, Michael	OL	N	6'4	307	28	Simon Fraser
22		Darby Jr., Alden	DB	A	5'11	194	30	Arizona State
10		Demski, Nic	WR	N	5'11	216	28	Manitoba
64		Dobson, Liam	OL	N	6'2	314	24	Texas State
2		Ellingson, Greg	WR	A	6'3	211	33	Florida International
25		Ford, Tyrell	DB	N	5'11	194	24	University of Waterloo
44		Gauthier, Shayne	LB	N	5'10	223	30	Laval
80		Grant, Janarion	WR	A	5'9	160	29	Rutgers
68		Gray, Geoff	OL	N	6'6	301	28	Manitoba
21		Hallett, Nick	DB	N	5'11	202	28	University of Toronto
51		Hardrick, Jermarcus	OL	A	6'5	319	32	Nebraska
31		Holm, Evan	DB	A	5'11	180	24	North Dakota
94		Jeffcoat, Jackson	DE	A	6'3	243	31	Texas
5		Jefferson, Willie	DL	A	6'7	242	31	Stephen F. Austin
67		Kolankowski, Chris	OL	N	6'1	309	30	York
46		Lawrence, Desmond	DB	A	6'1	185	27	North Carolina
99		Lawson, Cameron	DT	N	6'3	284	24	Queen's
13		Liegghio, Marc	K	N	5'7	198	25	Western
0		Maruo, Les	LB	G	6'0	225	26	University of Texas-San Antonio
24		Miller, Mike	FB	N	6'0	221	33	Acadia
53		Neufeld, Patrick	OL	N	6'6	307	33	Saskatchewan
1		Nichols, Deatrick	CB	A	5'9	184	28	South Florida
20		Oliveira, Brady	RB	N	5'10	215	25	North Dakota
84		O’Leary-Orange, Brendan	WR	N	6'4	207	26	Nevada
45		Parker, Jamal	DB	A	5'8	177	24	Kent State
12		Prukop, Dakota	QB	A	6'1	212	29	Oregon
30		Rose, Winston	DB	A	6'0	174	28	New Mexico State
90		Sayles, Casey	DT	A	6'4	282	27	Ohio
83		Schoen, Dalton	WR	A	6'1	218	26	Kansas State
95		Thomas, Jake	DT	N	6'2	274	31	Acadia
82		Wolitarsky, Drew	WR	N	6'2	227	27	Minnesota
1-GAME INJURED LIST
NO		NAME	POS	A/N/G	HT	WT	AGE	COLLEGE
23		Hallett, Noah	DB	N	6'0	191	25	McMaster
3		Hansen, Thiadric	DE	G	6'2	250	29
17		Kramdi, Redha	DB	N	5'10	192	25	Université de Montréal
69		Machino, Tomoya	OL	G	6'5	314	25	Kyoto University
9		Taylor, Nick	DB	A	5'9	181	34	Florida International
36		Thompson, Malcolm	DB	N	5'10	201	27	Wilfrid Laurier
6-GAME INJURED LIST
NO		NAME	POS	A/N/G	HT	WT	AGE	COLLEGE
86		Agudosi, Carlton	WR	A	6'6	220	28	Rutgers
35		Houston, Demerio	DB	A	5'10	169	26	Southern University
7		Maston, Mercy	DB	A	6'0	210	30	Boise State
39		Rene, Patrice	DB	N	6'2	206	25	Rutgers
60		Richmond, Drew	OL	A	6'5	301	26	USC
19		Wilson, Kyrie	LB	A	6'1	221	30	Fresno State
PRACTICE SQUAD
NO		NAME	POS	A/N/G	HT	WT	AGE	COLLEGE
15		Cooper, DeJaun	LB	A	6'3	224	23	South Dakota
14		Heiligh, Jaivon	WR	A	6'1	198	23	Coastal Carolina
42		Karamoko, Souleymane	DB	G	6'2	210	0	Laval
89		Knuettel, Timothy	WR	G	6'2	200	30	Seton Hill
26		Lavigne, Cedrick	DB	N	6'1	209	24	Carleton University
55		Lofton, Eric	OL	A	6'4	293	29	Temple
29		McCrae, Greg	RB	A	5'10	180	24	UCF
87		McMillan, Luke	WR	N	6'0	175	22	Winnipeg Rifles
18		Mourtada, Ali	K	A	5'7	172	32	Pace
38		Rutledge, Jr., Donald	DB	A	6'1	215	25	Georgia Southern University
96		Walker, Ricky	DT	A	6'2	287	26	Virginia Tech
50		Witt, Tyler	OL	A	6'2	305	25	Purdue

Edited November 21, 2022 by Wideleft

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

6 minutes ago, Jesse said:

We were talking all night about this.

OL runs it back with a strong possibility that Drew D returns to solidify our interior. Our PR guys may try to push Hardrick, but I think continuity wins out.

There exists the possibility that we sing Kenny Lawler and then Dalton spends half the season trying to make it in the NFL but returns for the second half push. 
 

We are going to have a plethora of options in the secondary after another season of young guys getting long looks.

The only thing in question for me is the DL. Do we see some changes there? I know the team loves Willie, don’t anticipate anything changing there. Does Jeffcoat move on? Can we add to our interior?

Get Oakman and Lorenzo Mauldin IV

[JohnnyAbonny]

1 minute ago, Wanna-B-Fanboy said:

Get Oakman and Lorenzo Mauldin IV

Is he a pending FA? They’d better start filling sacks of cash for him right now if so. 

[Wideleft]

Just now, JohnnyAbonny said:

Is he a pending FA? They’d better start filling sacks of cash for him right now if so. 

Mauldin is for sure.  Not sure about Oakman.

[Noeller]

No way you're getting Oakman, Mauldin, Jeffcoat, Jefferson and Bighill all under the same cap

[Super Duper Negatron]

This loss feels so much like 2001, that I fear a 2002-style let down next season. I wonder if the string being broken causes some players to turn an eye to their next adventure/team rather than sticking around.

[GCn20]

I gotta be honest, I'm OK with running it back for the most part. We may need to say goodbye to a veteran or two to shore up some areas of need like the DL (just not enough quality depth) but overall it's hard not to like a 15-3 team... even if they lost the big game...there are very few areas of need. We just need a couple small tweeks here and there.

I have a feeling that Neufeld may hang them up, but Dobson is ready imo and if Drew comes back we are all set.

Edited November 21, 2022 by GCn20

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

6 minutes ago, Noeller said:

No way you're getting Oakman, Mauldin, Jeffcoat, Jefferson and Bighill all under the same cap

Oakman, Mauldin, Jefferson- I would drop Jeffcoat for those other two.

[GCn20]

Just now, Wanna-B-Fanboy said:

Oakman, Mauldin, Jefferson- I would drop Jeffcoat for those other two.

You need to drop more than that. Mauldin is going to be way more money that Jeffcoat, and Oakman is likely to get a pretty hefty raise as well. 

[rebusrankin]

So the aging vets, who do we let go of?

Ellingston is an easy choice imo but others are tough.

[JohnnyAbonny]

Just now, rebusrankin said:

So the aging vets, who do we let go of?

Ellingston is an easy choice imo but others are tough.

Hardrick, Thomas and Jeffcoat for me, as much as I’ve loved watching all 3. 

[Noeller]

Interesting to see the Jeffcoat hate today....I thought he was our best defensive player, or at least the most impactful.

[Super Duper Negatron]

3 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

So the aging vets, who do we let go of?

Ellingston is an easy choice imo but others are tough.

Bighill.

[rebusrankin]

I'd argue that Jeffcoat is better than Jefferson.

Hardrick and Biggie are interesting choices.

[Jesse]

3 minutes ago, Noeller said:

Interesting to see the Jeffcoat hate today....I thought he was our best defensive player, or at least the most impactful.

Not hate - but he was planning on hitting FA last season and has had injury trouble. 
 

He was easily our best player of the first half - before getting injured….

He’s a player I can see moving on. Ellingson is another guy who I can see not coming back. I would bring Thomas back if there’s mutual interest. I hope we can fit Darby in this time around.

[M.Silverback]

4 minutes ago, Noeller said:

Interesting to see the Jeffcoat hate today....I thought he was our best defensive player, or at least the most impactful.

Not sure if you're saying best in the Grey Cup or the season. Grey Cup I agree. Very noticeable when he went out. Even the season, I think he's overall a better D-end than Jefferson, but doesn't make the splash plays Willie does. 

[ShyGuy]

I think Bighill and Jefferson end up staying. They are pretty entrenched in the community.

I'd worry about Jeffcoat. Seemed like he took a bit of convincing to come back this year, he had a bit of a rough season injury wise as well.

[JuranBoldenRules]

Zero interest in Oakman for me.  He got moved around the field at will.  The other DT for the Argos was killing us.

[BBlink]

Play calling by Bucky was not good enough. With the players we had on offense we went away with what we were successful with. Specifically the sweeps, running game and roll outs. Zach had a horrible game but I feel like he didn't have the hot reads available to him to account for the blitzes.

That said, I think it will be important to give him one top receiver for next year. And I think we all know who that is. If we're without Schoen then we need another one.

Simply put the Bombers thought they could continue the aerial assault in the Grey Cup and they couldn't.

Defense IMO was not at all the problem. We were missing Kyrie Wilson but still did a pretty good job in the Grey Cup. We can do better though.

Get a kicker to challenge legs.

Honestly I'm a bit surprised at the negativity surrounding our defense. No it wasn't our best game but given the Argos field position all game they did well enough. Didn't get it done in the final minutes, but our offense mostly didn't get it done all game

[JohnnyAbonny]

48 minutes ago, KshyGuy said:

I think Bighill and Jefferson end up staying. They are pretty entrenched in the community.

I'd worry about Jeffcoat. Seemed like he took a bit of convincing to come back this year, he had a bit of a rough season injury wise as well.

He’s had a few rough years injury wise. Top DE in the league when healthy but I’d be fine with the club moving on at this point. Can’t rely on his availability. 

[Stickem]

Jeffcoat was injured a lot this year....IF he regains his durability I say we stick with him.....Could see a return of Lawler which would make Ellingson expendable....Hopefully Drew D returns....Don't know what Kongbo's status is but the possibility of him returning would definitely be a plus....

[rebusrankin]

We need to step our DL scouting. Needs lots of competition in camp next year with the goal of finding a Stove/Nevis type DT and a young DE to at minimum rotate in with the Jeffs.