2024/2025 Blue Bombers Off-Season Thread

[Bigblue204]

1 hour ago, Yourface said:

Unfortunately, I think more sports teams fall under that category than we would like to think. See Artemi Panarin's recent sexual assault case for example. Superstars seem to be able to get away with that kind of behaviour consistently.

$$$$ will buy you anything 

[Booch]

7 hours ago, Blue In BC said:

I think you covered it in your 1st statement. We're deep at LB with the addition of Jones, Jones, Wilson and Ayers filling the import spots. The Canadian group along with Weitz means Charboneau would only be a ST player at best. IMO Makonzo filled a depth need at SAM now that Griffin moves to safety. In effect we needed Charbonneau's roster spot to add Makonzo.  I wouldn't be surprised if Makonzo sees some work on ST's as well as rotation work on defence. We also added Hagerty who takes a roster spot left by Noah Hallett leaving the team.

There are only so many roster spots and we've shifted where we needed Canadian depth somewhat from WIL to SAM. The other Canadian LB's like Gauthier and Cadwallander will probably only see ST work this season IMO. One of the import LB's will likely be on the AR as a DI. I'm just not sure if J. Jones starts at WIL over Wilson or he is the DI. Ayers might be hard pressed to make the AR since we have 4 import LB's and only 3 spots.

None of this suggests Charbonneau may not turn out to be a good player somewhere but there is no room on the roster.

The big question is at WIL and figuring out which of Wilson, J. Jones and Ayers ends up starting and who is the DI.  I think the fight is between Wilson and J. Jones but Ayers could be a good one.

has it been stated Griffin is going to safety...or just a speculation...been away for a bit so not up to date on goings on

[wbbfan]

6 hours ago, Booch said:

has it been stated Griffin is going to safety...or just a speculation...been away for a bit so not up to date on goings on

Probably have to wait till camp or later. 
 I think it’ll come down to how Kelly and the rookie recruits play. We brought in a fistful of big imp career safeties with nfl experience. 
 

I think griffin either slides over to a starting db spot at half or S. 
 

I expect to see lots of guys in lots of different positions for camp and first pre season game. Gotta see how Parker shakes out and if he’s finally 100% who steps in at S and corner. But we got lots of bodies to fill spots imo. 

Edited Thursday at 04:43 AM by wbbfan

[Booch]

13 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Probably have to wait till camp or later. 
 I think it’ll come down to how Kelly and the rookie recruits play. We brought in a fistful of big imp career safeties with nfl experience. 
 

I think griffin either slides over to a starting db spot at half or S. 
 

I expect to see lots of guys in lots of different positions for camp and first pre season game. Gotta see how Parker shakes out and if he’s finally 100% who steps in at S and corner. But we got lots of bodies to fill spots imo. 

Yeah..we seemed to have brought in a buttload off actual FS types...and from what it looks like Younger is doing/wanting is to actually have a free and strong safety set up

I think Griffen is better served more in the fray and closer to the box..SAM and HB/Hybrid guy...lethal tackler...quick closer and just seems to recognize things fast....

[wbbfan]

4 minutes ago, Booch said:

Yeah..we seemed to have brought in a buttload off actual FS types...and from what it looks like Younger is doing/wanting is to actually have a free and strong safety set up

I think Griffen is better served more in the fray and closer to the box..SAM and HB/Hybrid guy...lethal tackler...quick closer and just seems to recognize things fast....

Yeah, he would be ideal as a sam IMO. It would be a worthy consideration to move Kramdi, but I don't think we would ever entertain that. But having Griffen and Nichols as the halfs would be an incredible luxury.

Holm might really excel at field corner too. They love his quick hips, and he has elite closing speed. He doesn't have the physicality, but he also doesn't sell out for hits he knows his limitations and wraps up. 

[GCn20]

40 minutes ago, Booch said:

Yeah..we seemed to have brought in a buttload off actual FS types...and from what it looks like Younger is doing/wanting is to actually have a free and strong safety set up

I think Griffen is better served more in the fray and closer to the box..SAM and HB/Hybrid guy...lethal tackler...quick closer and just seems to recognize things fast....

Probably the least of my concerns is the secondary, I think we will be really strong there again. I don't see Griffen as a prototypical CFL safety though. I will freely admit I don't know enough about his abilities to qualify my opinion as anything more than a hunch though. I, too like what he might bring closer to the LOS though. 

Edited Thursday at 03:00 PM by GCn20

[wbbfan]

1 minute ago, GCn20 said:

Probably the least of my concerns is the secondary, I think we will be really strong there again. I don't see Griffen as a prototypical CFL safety though. I will freely admit I don't know enough about his abilities to qualify my opinion as anything more than a hunch though. I, too like what he might bring closer to the LOS though. 

Im not at all worried about our DBs, Lbers, or Rbs. Maybe we make some bad decisions at Lber but I kind of doubt it. Everything else is up in the air. 

[GCn20]

3 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Im not at all worried about our DBs, Lbers, or Rbs. Maybe we make some bad decisions at Lber but I kind of doubt it. Everything else is up in the air. 

My only real point of concern this year is OL, really. Everything else I feel ranges from good to really good. Roster usage is going to be what it is, but I trust that we have the horses. Home GC so we will either be winning and roster usage becomes a non issue, or it costs us a game or two and the heat gets turned up on it. It's GC or bust this year, gotta be.

[wbbfan]

2 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

My only real point of concern this year is OL, really. Everything else I feel ranges from good to really good. Roster usage is going to be what it is, but I trust that we have the horses. Home GC so we will either be winning and roster usage becomes a non issue, or it costs us a game or two and the heat gets turned up on it. It's GC or bust this year, gotta be.

Ol and Dl for me. Ol will be better than last year based on improved health alone.  I am optimistic about the DL having Lawson back and adding Vaughters. If we could get a good Canadian who can play a 3-tech and end in limited reps out of the draft, that'd be excellent. The worry is, of course, that Jake is still here and might get the most reps. I don't want to see us give up on Adams, or Woods, or even Samson, because Jake gets the most reps again. I'm worried about QB, too. 

 I think we have the assets in the draft and on the roster to make up for all our weaknesses. Though it will all come down to how the offence is run, and qbing. I like the direction in the coaching staff, and I believe in the talent of zach and Strevy. Their health and fit/usage is another thing, though.

If Jake and Kola were off the roster tomorrow, my confidence in our roster would go up a lot. 

[Blue In BC]

47 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Yeah, he would be ideal as a sam IMO. It would be a worthy consideration to move Kramdi, but I don't think we would ever entertain that. But having Griffen and Nichols as the halfs would be an incredible luxury.

Holm might really excel at field corner too. They love his quick hips, and he has elite closing speed. He doesn't have the physicality, but he also doesn't sell out for hits he knows his limitations and wraps up. 

Griffin is a very good player and IMO we see him in different defensive formations though out a given game. We saw in 2024 that Kelly also saw the field quite a bit. So we have lots of talent from last year and there will be rookies looking to land on the AR. The early depth chart showed Griffin at safety but obviously things are TBD. I don't think we move Nichols or Holm but Kramdi might be given a different role.

For the moment I'll stick with expecting Griffin to be the starting safety but a current alternative is less clear. Some rookies have be fighting for that spot which in theory would make Griffin a DI. That's not the worst outcome as long as he's on the roster. I don't know I'd like to see 2 changes in the secondary if someone beats out Parker at CB. I'm also assuming he starts the season at CB.

I guess that's what makes TC interesting.

 

[Booch]

59 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Yeah, he would be ideal as a sam IMO. It would be a worthy consideration to move Kramdi, but I don't think we would ever entertain that. But having Griffen and Nichols as the halfs would be an incredible luxury.

Holm might really excel at field corner too. They love his quick hips, and he has elite closing speed. He doesn't have the physicality, but he also doesn't sell out for hits he knows his limitations and wraps up. 

I'd love to see Holm out at Ford's spot...and a more physical guy like Parker or Griffin at half...Holm out at that corner spot may just get him an actual all-star consideration....he could be perfectly suited to bait and steal outside

29 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Probably the least of my concerns is the secondary, I think we will be really strong there again. I don't see Griffen as a prototypical CFL safety though. I will freely admit I don't know enough about his abilities to qualify my opinion as anything more than a hunch though. I, too like what he might bring closer to the LOS though. 

Yeah...he couls play it...but way more valuable up close to the action...He's be a lights out SAM....he just has that sense about him to be like a magnet to the play....great recognition and only expect him to be even better this yr....Him and Parker are our best DB's in terms of closing explosion and tackling.....we need them both on roster for sure....and I agree...secondary  is a non issue...we solid...and deep...and are bringing in some legit prospects

13 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Ol and Dl for me. Ol will be better than last year based on improved health alone.  I am optimistic about the DL having Lawson back and adding Vaughters. If we could get a good Canadian who can play a 3-tech and end in limited reps out of the draft, that'd be excellent. The worry is, of course, that Jake is still here and might get the most reps. I don't want to see us give up on Adams, or Woods, or even Samson, because Jake gets the most reps again. I'm worried about QB, too. 

 I think we have the assets in the draft and on the roster to make up for all our weaknesses. Though it will all come down to how the offence is run, and qbing. I like the direction in the coaching staff, and I believe in the talent of zach and Strevy. Their health and fit/usage is another thing, though.

If Jake and Kola were off the roster tomorrow, my confidence in our roster would go up a lot. 

yeah...Oline...if Neuf is 100 percent outta the gate...and Stan just keeps being stan....and how Lofton actually came around I not too concerned there....Wallace and Eli are solid and likely battling for guard cause we know Osh has a boner for kolo....worst in league at his position and hate to wish injury...but get him knicked and insert Eli and then dont give it back...as the play/production will show the fact we were going with an inferior center

Dline is my concern....moreso tho with who osh goes with....With Lawson back healthy...and up and comer in Samson and or a possible draft pick....there is no need for Thomas...who is at this point pointless and worthless and Schmeck  whohas really not taken the next step....convert him to oline...We likley roster that kid we got from Mtl as well so cut bait with your bottom 2...3 Nationals as they also serve minimal purpose on ST's

Adams and Woods need to play...get major reps and show/prove they belong....and are legit....or we need to find others....non-playing and shared reps with inferior Canadians does nothing for their development and also just pro-longs the search for a legit pair of interior guys if they not it...and we start from scratch again....we have done a piss poor job managing the dline and it shows big time...our strength has become our achilles heal...and should have never happened 

 

[Fatty Liver]

On 2025-04-23 at 8:57 AM, bigg jay said:

Yeah I don't think anyone was expecting Charbonneau to be anything other than an ST'er but those guys are needed and guys like Gauthier can't play forever.  Just found it odd that they released him with a little over 2 weeks until camp starts - could always use him as TCF, even if they don't see him making the club.

The timing suggests Charbonneau may have made the decision himself, choosing to stick with his career or partner back East rather than report to TC.  If they were not impressed with his progression they could have parted ways at the end of last season instead of protecting him over Owen Hubert who still wants to play.

[bigg jay]

14 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

The timing suggests Charbonneau may have made the decision himself, choosing to stick with his career or partner back East rather than report to TC.  If they were not impressed with his progression they could have parted ways at the end of last season instead of protecting him over Owen Hubert who still wants to play.

He apparently has moved on from football based on an IG post he made but it's odd they wouldn't have just moved him to the retired list.  His post said: “You shaped the boy and tested the man. Thanks for a lifetime in moments.”

[wbbfan]

4 hours ago, Fatty Liver said:

The timing suggests Charbonneau may have made the decision himself, choosing to stick with his career or partner back East rather than report to TC.  If they were not impressed with his progression they could have parted ways at the end of last season instead of protecting him over Owen Hubert who still wants to play.

 

3 hours ago, bigg jay said:

He apparently has moved on from football based on an IG post he made but it's odd they wouldn't have just moved him to the retired list.  His post said: “You shaped the boy and tested the man. Thanks for a lifetime in moments.”

That makes a lot of sense. TC is a hard time, aside from the declawed nature of the actual work, separating from family and settling into that intense work schedule is a lot mentally. 

Wish him well, Im sure it is a hard call. Probably no benefit for him in going onto the retired list. I feel like a lot of young guys who do this don't officially retire.