Blue Bombers - 2023 Regular Season - Discussion Thread

[Mark F]

Some lawler stats … not what was hoped for.

 

last seven games

Week 10.    2 catches  For 49 yds

2/20

2/65

2/48

4/104

3/41

3/29  (Argo game)

 

Edited October 2, 2023 by Mark F

[GCn20]

2 minutes ago, Mark F said:

Some lawler stats … not what was hoped for.

 

last seven games

 2 catches  For 49

2/20

2/65

2/48

4/104

3/41

3/29  (Argo game)

 

Yea..but he has been drawing a crap load of double coverage.

[Booch]

5 minutes ago, Mark F said:

Some lawler stats … not what was hoped for.

 

last seven games

 2 catches  For 49

2/20

2/65

2/48

4/104

3/41

3/29  (Argo game)

 

Yeah....but he is opening up space for Schoen and Woli...so you take what they give, until they gvie it back....He still has 6 td's so is an obvious redzone commitment to defenses

2 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Yea..but he has been drawing a crap load of double coverage.

beat me too it...actually a lot of double and a 3rd high....it also gives room for BO....Look at his numbers since Lawler returned...pulls guys out of the second level...since Lawler joined lineup....BO has had 5 games over 100 yards, and 2 at 80 or more ...there is a direct reason for that

Edited October 2, 2023 by Booch

[bluto]

FWIW, Lawler faced Qwan'tez Stiggers on Friday and the youngster did very well against him. Held him to 3 grabs and got a pick on him.

Stiggers had never played Boundary before. He is 21, never played college ball. Never saw the CFL before training camp.

Not a chance we get to keep this kid next year.

 

[Fatty Liver]

3 hours ago, JohnnyAbonny said:

If they want to stop Ouellette, they’ve got to figure out a way to get a bigger body like Fox in the middle.

I’d also play Bighill closer to the LOS, and consider moving BA or Wilson to dime in some packages. 

Not really worried about Ouellette running, that is a straightforward fix along the D-line, more worried about him imitating Andrew Harris taking those dump passes in the flats and running through and over the secondary.  Bighill needs to stay home and play MLB and not spend half his snaps rushing the QB. 

[Bigblue204]

4 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

Not really worried about Ouellette running, that is a straightforward fix along the D-line, more worried about him imitating Andrew Harris taking those dump passes in the flats and running through and over the secondary.  Bighill needs to stay home and play MLB and not spend half his snaps rushing the QB. 

honestly, I'd like to see them sub him out for Cole on passing downs. Bighill has lost a step, love the guy. But it's obvious at this point that he isn't the player he once was. 

[Booch]

28 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

Not really worried about Ouellette running, that is a straightforward fix along the D-line, more worried about him imitating Andrew Harris taking those dump passes in the flats and running through and over the secondary.  Bighill needs to stay home and play MLB and not spend half his snaps rushing the QB. 

yup....and easily fixed with quality and deeper dline depth....Why moving forward we dont start The Jeffs with Walker and Fox (for Clements) as the starters....as we dont need to start a Canadian at Dtackle with the Kramdi experiment...rotate in Haba (For Jackson) and Hansen primarily of the edge, and Lawson in the middle is baffling to me to tune up for the playoffs....Gives us a solid Jefferson....Jeffcoat....Walker....Fox...Haba.....Lawson......Hansen primary rotation. 

Thats 7quality guys there who would make a difference, and have a high motor to ball out rotated properly....you wouldn't even need both Bennett and Thomas....really neither if you utilized the Nationalized American rule.

If we had more National depth on the PR we could replace both....Tho once Gauthier and Miller are back it's an easy swap as both make our cover teams better...Gauthier I am sure will be back...Not sure of Miller as don't even known what his issue even is....but if Miller isn't available then we do have fullback Burtenshaw who is also good on ST's....It's not rocket science to tweak this roster, make the defense morphed into a more dominant unit, and maximize the roster....now....why isnt this being done...what defensive front looks better...the one I just mentioned....Or the Jeffs with heavy reps...Walker with no import back-up...Thomas starting taking reps from Lawson and Bennett as your primary edge guy?...I think the answer is obvious

23 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

honestly, I'd like to see them sub him out for Cole on passing downs. Bighill has lost a step, love the guy. But it's obvious at this point that he isn't the player he once was. 

Cole is an amazing athlete...killer on teams, and yes would be very effective in passing downs, and has been effective off the edge, and would likely kill it at SAM.....I'm sure we all saw him track dowm Leakes on that punt return that was called back....so imagine his sideline to sideline pursuit of a back out of the backfield or a short crossing pattern with a slot

Edited October 2, 2023 by Booch

[Fatty Liver]

19 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

honestly, I'd like to see them sub him out for Cole on passing downs. Bighill has lost a step, love the guy. But it's obvious at this point that he isn't the player he once was. 

I think the natural transition is Wilson to MLB and Cole or Clements to WIL.  

[wbbfan]

5 hours ago, JohnnyAbonny said:

If they want to stop Ouellette, they’ve got to figure out a way to get a bigger body like Fox in the middle.

I’d also play Bighill closer to the LOS, and consider moving BA or Wilson to dime in some packages. 

Nailed it. Bigger deeper better dl being rostered. A nose who can actually be effective taking two gaps away is key. 
 Honestly coaching is part of it too. The Jeff’s have been getting exploited lately for jumping and not maintaining contain. 
 Hansen is also a beast of a run stopper. Kongbo was too. 
 

I don’t think it’s about getting biggie closer to the line. If any thing I think he needs to be at regular depth more and reading the play scraping to the ball rather than trying to fill an A gap. He can’t fill and get off a block any more. 
 I think you are really on it though with the dime. I’d bring in Cole/clements in at Sam on some run downs. Or put brings at wil and slide kyrie over to sam for those plays and bring in an extra imp dl. It would also be smart to use Jeffcoat as a naturalized American for the added flexibility at dl. 

3 hours ago, Mark F said:

Some lawler stats … not what was hoped for.

 

last seven games

Week 10.    2 catches  For 49 yds

2/20

2/65

2/48

4/104

3/41

3/29  (Argo game)

 

How many targets in each game though. 
 

1 hour ago, Bigblue204 said:

honestly, I'd like to see them sub him out for Cole on passing downs. Bighill has lost a step, love the guy. But it's obvious at this point that he isn't the player he once was. 

It’s not a speed issue. He can get out into the flats or back into a deep zone. He can’t get off blocks any more, and isn’t very reliable tackling 1 on 1. It’s an explosive/strength issue. Usually older guys get heavier and stronger while getting slower. He has done the reverse. He does a ton of work to stay in shape, but the work he’s done maybe isn’t the best for a mac lber. 
 

51 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

I think the natural transition is Wilson to MLB and Cole or Clements to WIL.  

That’s one of those vets we need to take a long hard look at in the off-season, and probably offer a diminished role to. 

[Bigblue204]

13 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

It’s not a speed issue. He can get out into the flats or back into a deep zone. He can’t get off blocks any more, and isn’t very reliable tackling 1 on 1. It’s an explosive/strength issue. Usually older guys get heavier and stronger while getting slower. He has done the reverse. He does a ton of work to stay in shape, but the work he’s done maybe isn’t the best for a mac lber. 

I agree...but they put cole in to spy Duke later in the game because he was running right by bighill. Duke made him look like he was jogging. And he's not the first QB to do that to him this year. Nevermind RBs/Slot rec.

[Booch]

31 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Nailed it. Bigger deeper better dl being rostered. A nose who can actually be effective taking two gaps away is key. 
 Honestly coaching is part of it too. The Jeff’s have been getting exploited lately for jumping and not maintaining contain. 
 Hansen is also a beast of a run stopper. Kongbo was too. 
 

I don’t think it’s about getting biggie closer to the line. If any thing I think he needs to be at regular depth more and reading the play scraping to the ball rather than trying to fill an A gap. He can’t fill and get off a block any more. 
 I think you are really on it though with the dime. I’d bring in Cole/clements in at Sam on some run downs. Or put brings at wil and slide kyrie over to sam for those plays and bring in an extra imp dl. It would also be smart to use Jeffcoat as a naturalized American for the added flexibility at dl. 

How many targets in each game though. 
 

It’s not a speed issue. He can get out into the flats or back into a deep zone. He can’t get off blocks any more, and isn’t very reliable tackling 1 on 1. It’s an explosive/strength issue. Usually older guys get heavier and stronger while getting slower. He has done the reverse. He does a ton of work to stay in shape, but the work he’s done maybe isn’t the best for a mac lber. 
 

That’s one of those vets we need to take a long hard look at in the off-season, and probably offer a diminished role to. 

agree with all of this

 

16 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

I agree...but they put cole in to spy Duke later in the game because he was running right by bighill. Duke made him look like he was jogging. And he's not the first QB to do that to him this year. Nevermind RBs/Slot rec.

this too

If we rostered a deeper and more athletic/active dline we wouldn't have to rely so much on Biggie and to a lesser extend the Wil being in gaps...or doing run blitzes...which btw is something of an over used/rated concept that gets thrown around.

We get better up front...like we used to be..2019...2021...very erly 2022 and our LB's and BA at safety can play their more traditional roles...thats why we getting burned and at times gouged in games, as guys are being asked to do too much...or sacrifice responsibilities that teams exploit...and scheme for knowing we try to do different things to compensate for our issues up front...plain and simple

 

[Fatty Liver]

24 minutes ago, Booch said:

agree with all of this

 

this too

If we rostered a deeper and more athletic/active dline we wouldn't have to rely so much on Biggie and to a lesser extend the Wil being in gaps...or doing run blitzes...which btw is something of an over used/rated concept that gets thrown around.

We get better up front...like we used to be..2019...2021...very erly 2022 and our LB's and BA at safety can play their more traditional roles...thats why we getting burned and at times gouged in games, as guys are being asked to do too much...or sacrifice responsibilities that teams exploit...and scheme for knowing we try to do different things to compensate for our issues up front...plain and simple

 

Gauthier coming back will also help against the run, as he's the heaviest LB of the bunch.

[wbbfan]

48 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

I agree...but they put cole in to spy Duke later in the game because he was running right by bighill. Duke made him look like he was jogging. And he's not the first QB to do that to him this year. Nevermind RBs/Slot rec.

He was, since we’ve been feeding biggie to an interior ol for basically two years with out a nose tackle he’s stopped playing heads up football vs the run. If it’s not a pass he’s just chin charging an ol trying to clog the a gap. 
 Cole is also a really sneaky smart guy. It’s rare to find that level athleticism with decent size and great football iq. He’s gonna be a stud in this league. 
 

29 minutes ago, Booch said:

agree with all of this

 

this too

If we rostered a deeper and more athletic/active dline we wouldn't have to rely so much on Biggie and to a lesser extend the Wil being in gaps...or doing run blitzes...which btw is something of an over used/rated concept that gets thrown around.

We get better up front...like we used to be..2019...2021...very erly 2022 and our LB's and BA at safety can play their more traditional roles...thats why we getting burned and at times gouged in games, as guys are being asked to do too much...or sacrifice responsibilities that teams exploit...and scheme for knowing we try to do different things to compensate for our issues up front...plain and simple

 

Totally. Run fits in the cfl are just too thin when you don’t have a 2 gap nose. Dbs end up taking off tackle gap while getting smacked by WRs, lbers eat dirt from ol. It’s just bad business for defences. If any thing I’d rather run two 2 gappers force every thing out side and lbers flow to the back. 
 I bet the depth BA has had to play at post injury is a big big factor in his dip in performance. 
 

Having to use dbs to fill out run fits all the time also means you have to play off wrs more, as the help they have just isn’t as deep. So we play coverages designed to be shallow but further off and give up tons of easy first down passes. 

[rebusrankin]

4 hours ago, bluto said:

FWIW, Lawler faced Qwan'tez Stiggers on Friday and the youngster did very well against him. Held him to 3 grabs and got a pick on him.

Stiggers had never played Boundary before. He is 21, never played college ball. Never saw the CFL before training camp.

Not a chance we get to keep this kid next year.

 

Kid is good and I agree NFL bound next season.

[wbbfan]

5 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

Gauthier coming back will also help against the run, as he's the heaviest LB of the bunch.

Remember when cfl mlbers were 245-260? 
I know the game has gotten faster and more pass / side line of side line oriented but soo many big athletes kick around down south I can’t believe we can’t get 1 guy who is that big and fast enough to cover ground. 

4 hours ago, bluto said:

FWIW, Lawler faced Qwan'tez Stiggers on Friday and the youngster did very well against him. Held him to 3 grabs and got a pick on him.

Stiggers had never played Boundary before. He is 21, never played college ball. Never saw the CFL before training camp.

Not a chance we get to keep this kid next year.

 

It’s funny we were talking in another thread last week about the league focusing more on guys who fall between the cracks of hs and d1. They’d likely be more projects that need more than a year but I think it’s clear guys like him are out there that should be in the nfl or on the path to it but miss out because they aren’t cut out for school. 
 I think that talent pool is extremely deep personally. And that a lot of them would jump at the ability to earn cfl rookie imp cash vs juco or the ultra fringe leagues. 
 

Is stiggers nfl draft eligible? Is that still a thing? I remember a few times in the past guys became eligible. Don’t think any one was picked but signed as rookies.  

[Booch]

10 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Remember when cfl mlbers were 245-260? 
I know the game has gotten faster and more pass / side line of side line oriented but soo many big athletes kick around down south I can’t believe we can’t get 1 guy who is that big and fast enough to cover ground. 

It’s funny we were talking in another thread last week about the league focusing more on guys who fall between the cracks of hs and d1. They’d likely be more projects that need more than a year but I think it’s clear guys like him are out there that should be in the nfl or on the path to it but miss out because they aren’t cut out for school. 
 I think that talent pool is extremely deep personally. And that a lot of them would jump at the ability to earn cfl rookie imp cash vs juco or the ultra fringe leagues. 
 

Is stiggers nfl draft eligible? Is that still a thing? I remember a few times in the past guys became eligible. Don’t think any one was picked but signed as rookies.  

There are huge amounts of guys in the states...just can't get into div 1..2 ..3 schools and even have trouble getting into JUCO do to diff factors...but are skilled beyond belief...just unknown...untapped or not offered and avenue...see tons of it 

 

14 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

He was, since we’ve been feeding biggie to an interior ol for basically two years with out a nose tackle he’s stopped playing heads up football vs the run. If it’s not a pass he’s just chin charging an ol trying to clog the a gap. 
 Cole is also a really sneaky smart guy. It’s rare to find that level athleticism with decent size and great football iq. He’s gonna be a stud in this league. 
 

Totally. Run fits in the cfl are just too thin when you don’t have a 2 gap nose. Dbs end up taking off tackle gap while getting smacked by WRs, lbers eat dirt from ol. It’s just bad business for defences. If any thing I’d rather run two 2 gappers force every thing out side and lbers flow to the back. 
 I bet the depth BA has had to play at post injury is a big big factor in his dip in performance. 
 

Having to use dbs to fill out run fits all the time also means you have to play off wrs more, as the help they have just isn’t as deep. So we play coverages designed to be shallow but further off and give up tons of easy first down passes. 

We could easily Excell at funneling things to the outside especially with Wilson and Cole on the roster...and now this Deng guy...especially with Rose on a corner...very underrated run stopper for a slender DB and likely Parker now that Houston is likely out....as he would be horrible in that aspect....but...Swarmay....diamond in rough and like to see him back on roster...unreal closing speed and anticipating...and is an actual tackler....and high Football IQ ..I bet if given chance to grow into things him and Nichols would be as lock down as u will find in the league

[Bubba Zanetti]

I for one would like to see Jamal Parker take over for Houston moving forward, injury or not. Parker was more impactful in half a game than Houston has been in a month.

[Mark F]

kind of Doubt that the bombers signed lawler to be a decoy at whatever he is getting paid.

[wbbfan]

4 minutes ago, Mark F said:

kind of Doubt that the bombers signed lawler to be a decoy at whatever he is getting paid.

I think they’ve struggled to find ways to get him involved with the role schoen has played, especially with the effort to spread the ball around to woli and Bailey plus Demskis break out about to be 1k season. It’s hard to feed the ball to 3 1k WRs and a 1500 yard back. 
 Come play offs though lawlers fresh legs will be key. I’d cut back on Baileys plays and give Demski the runs and lawler the routes. Love Bailey but to run designed plays to him over those guys. Demski is too much better a runner and lawler too much better a wr. 

[kelownabomberfan]

23 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

I think they’ve struggled to find ways to get him involved with the role schoen has played, especially with the effort to spread the ball around to woli and Bailey plus Demskis break out about to be 1k season. It’s hard to feed the ball to 3 1k WRs and a 1500 yard back. 
 

New policy - you get the 10 yards for a first down, and immediately slide and give yourself up.  That way everyone gets a chance to make a catch as you go down the field and no one hogs the yardage.  A socialist football utopia as it were.

Edited October 2, 2023 by kelownabomberfan

[Booch]

28 minutes ago, kelownabomberfan said:

New policy - you get the 10 yards for a first down, and immediately slide and give yourself up.  That way everyone gets a chance to make a catch as you go down the field and no one hogs the yardage.  A socialist football utopia as it were.

it's just what teams are scheming now...trying to neutralize him, and so be it...thats the poison they have picked for now...his fist few games they didn't....and he had 3 killer games right out of the gate...now they blanketing him, and at times ZC feeds right into it forcing things....for picks or incompletes....while Schoen and Woli have had all kinds of room, as well as BO....so he's earning his keep in that regard alone

If you look at it...coming in basically off the street he still on a prorated season of 1300 yards and 9 TD's if he played the full yr...and still leads the league in avg yards per reception. I'll take that.

Schoen's numbers have gone up since the Lawler insertion...just like I mentioned about BO's....4 100 yard plus games post Lawler...only 1 pre Lawler....but I bet in the clutch...and in a big moment...Lawler gonna make some huge plays....he always does

[kelownabomberfan]

7 minutes ago, Booch said:

it's just what teams are scheming now...trying to neutralize him, and so be it...thats the poison they have picked for now...his fist few games they didn't....and he had 3 killer games right out of the gate...now they blanketing him, and at times ZC feeds right into it forcing things....for picks or incompletes....while Schoen and Woli have had all kinds of room, as well as BO....so he's earning his keep in that regard alone

If you look at it...coming in basically off the street he still on a prorated season of 1300 yards and 9 TD's if he played the full yr...and still leads the league in avg yards per reception. I'll take that.

Schoen's numbers have gone up since the Lawler insertion...just like I mentioned about BO's....4 100 yard plus games post Lawler...only 1 pre Lawler....but I bet in the clutch...and in a big moment...Lawler gonna make some huge plays....he always does

Good points.  It never hurts to have an exceptional receiver in the mix that most teams are afraid of and will scheme for, sure opens up a lot of other opportunities, and with the guys we have now they can eat all night.  Not like Lawler has to open up the field for Craphonso Thorpe or Brock Ralph lol....as those guys would still find a way to be covered.

[WinnipegGordo]

Who is the Bombers' defensive player of the year so far?

Houston and Willie both had great starts but have leveled off as of late.

To me, no one has really stood out.

[SpeedFlex27]

3 minutes ago, WinnipegGordo said:

Who is the Bombers' defensive player of the year so far?

Houston and Willie both had great starts but have leveled off as of late.

To me, no one has really stood out.

We certainly don't have a ball hawking secondary. 

[Booch]

33 minutes ago, WinnipegGordo said:

Who is the Bombers' defensive player of the year so far?

Houston and Willie both had great starts but have leveled off as of late.

To me, no one has really stood out.

yeah hard to say...also...who would be our rookie??...I'd have said Haba if Osh would roster him since he been healthy...but he didn't....I guess Sheehan has to be it....he's only one who played significant games