2024/2025 Blue Bombers Off-Season Thread

[kelownabomberfan]

3 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

I'm going to get this in before I forget, a Happy New Year to all. May 2025 bring us a Bomber Grey Cup win at PAS in November. 

I'm going to try to stick to my New Year's Resolution - if the Bombers make it to a sixth straight Grey Cup (I can't believe it even as I type it as it is quite possible this will happen) this year, I'm not going to watch the game live.  I'm going to wait until I see the score, and only watch the game if they win.  I can't take a fourth year in a row of disappointment.  That's what the Jets are for lol....

[Mark H.]

1 hour ago, Noeller said:

Hodge is on here for sure... You just know him better as Mike

LOL man.  

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, Noeller said:

Hodge is on here for sure... You just know him better as Mike

But what I'm saying is that people FEEL like 3DN is "bang on" because it's saying what the angry mob wants to hear. 

That's flattery for hodge lol. 

To be fair, I was defending biggie last year till his late injury. That is really when the wheels fell off him. Before that you'd get the, "Hes lost his speed" argument from randos grasping at straws every soo often. It really isnt the case. Biggie is cooked. Maybe with rehab and more specialized role he has a good year in him left. But it is a big risk and one that we shouldn't be taking. 

Losing 3 grey cups in a row that we were favored in, in progressively worse fashion is reason to grab some pitch forks. Expectations are, and should be higher than that. 

If we got beat on star power, that'd be one thing. But getting out coached repeatedly in the biggest game of the year is bad. 

[17to85]

36 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

That's flattery for hodge lol. 

To be fair, I was defending biggie last year till his late injury. That is really when the wheels fell off him. Before that you'd get the, "Hes lost his speed" argument from randos grasping at straws every soo often. It really isnt the case. Biggie is cooked. Maybe with rehab and more specialized role he has a good year in him left. But it is a big risk and one that we shouldn't be taking. 

Losing 3 grey cups in a row that we were favored in, in progressively worse fashion is reason to grab some pitch forks. Expectations are, and should be higher than that. 

If we got beat on star power, that'd be one thing. But getting out coached repeatedly in the biggest game of the year is bad. 

I think prior to that injury the general consensus was bighill needed to be 100% healthy to play at an acceptable level. Dude hasn't really been healthy though. Lotta city miles on that body.

[wbbfan]

2 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

I think prior to that injury the general consensus was bighill needed to be 100% healthy to play at an acceptable level. Dude hasn't really been healthy though. Lotta city miles on that body.

Yeah. We really needed to adjust his role and get him some one who could bang in side eating blocks a couple years ago. Let him play wil and drop back more than rush. But we just kept feeding him to OL year after year. 

[Stickem]

21 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Yeah. We really needed to adjust his role and get him some one who could bang in side eating blocks a couple years ago. Let him play wil and drop back more than rush. But we just kept feeding him to OL year after year. 

Bang on.....Mike O has a lot of faith in players of his ilk.....tough as nails and 'never say quit' kinda of guys....only thing is he has a blind spot for players who have too many miles on them and seems to be expecting a 'miracle'....Biggie was a great signing for us and he has played his heart out BUT when it's time ....it's time.....I'm sure he knows/sees  that, even if his head coach can't or won't

[wbbfan]

3 hours ago, Stickem said:

Bang on.....Mike O has a lot of faith in players of his ilk.....tough as nails and 'never say quit' kinda of guys....only thing is he has a blind spot for players who have too many miles on them and seems to be expecting a 'miracle'....Biggie was a great signing for us and he has played his heart out BUT when it's time ....it's time.....I'm sure he knows/sees  that, even if his head coach can't or won't

Every team needs to have a few guys who put their body on the line to enable others to shine. But you should be using role players to enable guys like biggie. Not guys like biggie to help the Jake Thomas’. 
 

Yeah he was soo critical to our getting over the hump. Hope he goes into coaching. Such a smart great hard working guy. 

[Mike]

Sounds like we lost Bourgoin to BC

[Goalie]

7 minutes ago, Mike said:

Sounds like we lost Bourgoin to BC

It’s official 

https://www.bclions.com/2025/01/02/lions-name-eight-to-2025-coaching-staff/

[BBlink]

Where's good news though

[Noeller]

Bourgoin, Charbonneau, McDiarmid and Young we're all Bombers coaches, at least at one point, right? Buck loading up a decent staff...

[wbbfan]

10 minutes ago, Noeller said:

Bourgoin, Charbonneau, McDiarmid and Young we're all Bombers coaches, at least at one point, right? Buck loading up a decent staff...

Yep. 
 Bourgoin is interesting. Guessing he wasn’t high on the list for oc candidates. He’s a good coach but even more of a lapo guy than buck. 
That means hogan and Costello are the only possible hold overs on offence. 
 Meanwhile most of the rest of the league has finalized their coaching staffs. 
 I hope we aren’t waiting to the point it becomes a detriment. 
 I would bring in Jackson as the oc and promote Costello to run game co. 

[Mark H.]

IIRC Glen Young was calling the defense for a few games - back when Coach Hall was unavailable due to a family situation? 

[rebusrankin]

I'd take Jackson as Oc

[bearpants]

3 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Yep. 
 Bourgoin is interesting. Guessing he wasn’t high on the list for oc candidates. He’s a good coach but even more of a lapo guy than buck. 
That means hogan and Costello are the only possible hold overs on offence. 
 Meanwhile most of the rest of the league has finalized their coaching staffs. 
 I hope we aren’t waiting to the point it becomes a detriment. 
 I would bring in Jackson as the oc and promote Costello to run game co. 

With Bourgoin going to BC... it all but guarantees our new OC will be an external hire... which could be a good thing... I like Jarious Jackson or one of the guys from Toronto - Can't-stand-ya or Miller (I also just think it would be fun to have two coaches named Mike Miller).... 

[Mark H.]

2 minutes ago, bearpants said:

 (I also just think it would be fun to have two coaches named Mike Miller).... 

They'd be grinding out wins...

[wbbfan]

21 minutes ago, bearpants said:

With Bourgoin going to BC... it all but guarantees our new OC will be an external hire... which could be a good thing... I like Jarious Jackson or one of the guys from Toronto - Can't-stand-ya or Miller (I also just think it would be fun to have two coaches named Mike Miller).... 

imo Costello still has a great chance. As he should. But the best case is with an oc to groom him or a former oc to be qb coach and support him. 
 Not many out comes it worried about for oc rn. 

[Fatty Liver]

3 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Yep. 
 Bourgoin is interesting. Guessing he wasn’t high on the list for oc candidates. He’s a good coach but even more of a lapo guy than buck. 
That means hogan and Costello are the only possible hold overs on offence. 
 Meanwhile most of the rest of the league has finalized their coaching staffs. 
 I hope we aren’t waiting to the point it becomes a detriment. 
 I would bring in Jackson as the oc and promote Costello to run game co. 

O'Shea may have to flip way back through his rolodex till he stumbles upon this smiling face.

 

Jason Hogan might be a cheap in house dark horse candidate, here's his background.

A Montréal product, Hogan brings a wealth of experience to the Blue Bombers coaching staff, having most recently served as the assistant offensive coordinator, running backs and wide receiver coach with the Université de Montréal Carabins after originally joining the staff in 2018 as quarterbacks coach.

Previous to his days with the Carabins, Hogan spent two years with the Montréal Alouettes, beginning as an offensive quality control coach and then serving as defensive assistant/receivers coach.

Hogan was also the program coordinator of the junior varsity and varsity teams at École secondaire Curé-Antoine-Labelle Loups as well as offensive coordinator for the varsity team.

Hogan also previously worked for the Alouettes as a youth football program coordinator, where he helped organize the Anthony Calvillo Leadership Academy for Quarterbacks as well as serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at College André-Grasset.

Hogan was a member of the Université de Laval Rouge et Or’s Vanier Cup win in 2006.

 

Edited Thursday at 09:36 PM by Fatty Liver

[Goalie]

So what’s the over under on Lapo as OC. 

[Noeller]

9 minutes ago, Goalie said:

So what’s the over under on Lapo as OC. 

I don't understand how an over under works in this situation....?

[wbbfan]

34 minutes ago, Noeller said:

I don't understand how an over under works in this situation....?

Over rated and under whelming? lol. Idk how to feel about the idea of lapo. On one hand he’s never had a set of weapons like he could here. On the other I don’t think he excels with a qb who improvs a lot. I’m not sure if lapo helps reign in buck or if they clash badly.  He learns from each failing and is a great player coach / football mind. 
 

Im hoping for new blood. And I hope Marty gets to grow in his role. I don’t think the hire will be disappointing in the off season. 
 

With a gap open at wr coach, I wonder if Bailey comes back. Darvin adams is doing flooring which isn’t easy on the body or knees might be open to it.  
 Terrence Edward’s has a very good te/wr clinic. Robert Gordon was doing well in mtl for our hay day and is available I believe. 

[SpeedFlex27]

4 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Over rated and under whelming? lol. Idk how to feel about the idea of lapo. On one hand he’s never had a set of weapons like he could here. On the other I don’t think he excels with a qb who improvs a lot. I’m not sure if lapo helps reign in buck or if they clash badly.  He learns from each failing and is a great player coach / football mind. 
 

Im hoping for new blood. And I hope Marty gets to grow in his role. I don’t think the hire will be disappointing in the off season. 
 

With a gap open at wr coach, I wonder if Bailey comes back. Darvin adams is doing flooring which isn’t easy on the body or knees might be open to it.  
 Terrence Edward’s has a very good te/wr clinic. Robert Gordon was doing well in mtl for our hay day and is available I believe. 

One thing the CFL has to do is bring in some new coaches. But guys who are innovative & have fresh ideas. Not the same old, same old. Every CFL offense looks the same. It's the NFL that's innovative & not the CFL. 

[SpeedFlex27]

1 hour ago, Fatty Liver said:

O'Shea may have to flip way back through his rolodex till he stumbles upon this smiling face.

 

Jason Hogan might be a cheap in house dark horse candidate, here's his background.

A Montréal product, Hogan brings a wealth of experience to the Blue Bombers coaching staff, having most recently served as the assistant offensive coordinator, running backs and wide receiver coach with the Université de Montréal Carabins after originally joining the staff in 2018 as quarterbacks coach.

Previous to his days with the Carabins, Hogan spent two years with the Montréal Alouettes, beginning as an offensive quality control coach and then serving as defensive assistant/receivers coach.

Hogan was also the program coordinator of the junior varsity and varsity teams at École secondaire Curé-Antoine-Labelle Loups as well as offensive coordinator for the varsity team.

Hogan also previously worked for the Alouettes as a youth football program coordinator, where he helped organize the Anthony Calvillo Leadership Academy for Quarterbacks as well as serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at College André-Grasset.

Hogan was a member of the Université de Laval Rouge et Or’s Vanier Cup win in 2006.

 

That was well over 10 years ago. You know, Dave Smith or Jim Erkenbeck might be interested in coming back here. Oh wait, they died almost 15 years ago. 

[wbbfan]

9 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

One thing the CFL has to do is bring in some new coaches. But guys who are innovative & have fresh ideas. Not the same old, same old. Every CFL offense looks the same. It's the NFL that's innovative & not the CFL. 

The greatest need in the cfl is fresh blood and innovation. We are far behind the ncaa, nfl and top tier hs offences now in innovation. 

[SpeedFlex27]

31 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

The greatest need in the cfl is fresh blood and innovation. We are far behind the ncaa, nfl and top tier hs offences now in innovation. 

There aren't enough quality Canadian assistants being brought up to the CFL from U Sports to have the innovation needed to help make our game more exciting. They lack the experience & knowledge of the rules of the game. Canadian coaches for the most part even if they become OC's, DC's or STC's just follow what they know which is the status quo.

We need more NCAA coaches up here like we had years ago but they're not coming anymore like they used to. They seemed to be able to look at our game & find ways to move the ball with trick plays or innovative offenses which came down to their knowldge of fiootball in general.

Eliminating the TE & using another slot was Ray Jauch's idea in 1979 while coaching the Bombers. John Hufnagel started using four receivers flooded to one side to create match up issues when he was OC with the Stamps with Flutie.

Trouble is, these were over 30 years ago. The problem for CFL teams is the coaches-admin cap which has to go, the low Canadian dollar as American coaches are paid in Canadian money, low pay & lack of benefits the coaches get putting in long hours on a CFL's team's staff. No one from the US really wants to coach up here anymore. Today's game at times just seems stagnant. Recycling old coaches with the same ideas they had on other teams certainly doesn't help. 

Edited Thursday at 11:39 PM by SpeedFlex27