2024/2025 Blue Bombers Off-Season Thread

[Mark H.]

I'm still hoping for an American road grader at guard.

[SpeedFlex27]

11 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

I'm still hoping for an American road grader at guard.

Tariff? 

[Mark H.]

10 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Tariff? 

Tariff the Great

[rebusrankin]

12 hours ago, Mark H. said:

I'm still hoping for an American road grader at guard.

I like the Massey Ferguson Road Grader. It costs a little more but its made in Ontario.

[Stickem]

'Road Grader'.....hmmm ...isn't that what we called Dobson ....He started out great for us but ended up being a 'second grader' until he left....I sure liked this kid Wallace at guard...who is better than a road grader in my opinion....versatile as hell and plays like a mad bull on the loose

[Mark H.]

Ok fine, a mad bull from Alberta then

#albertabeef

[wbbfan]

2 hours ago, Stickem said:

'Road Grader'.....hmmm ...isn't that what we called Dobson ....He started out great for us but ended up being a 'second grader' until he left....I sure liked this kid Wallace at guard...who is better than a road grader in my opinion....versatile as hell and plays like a mad bull on the loose

Road grader potential. And he finished playing his best football. That’s why he got a big deal in Hamilton. 
 

 

[SpeedFlex27]

3 hours ago, Stickem said:

'Road Grader'.....hmmm ...isn't that what we called Dobson ....He started out great for us but ended up being a 'second grader' until he left....I sure liked this kid Wallace at guard...who is better than a road grader in my opinion....versatile as hell and plays like a mad bull on the loose

So, say Wallace has a great year & then his contract ends. He wants more $$$ like other teams are offering him. Walters lets him walk saying it's not in the budget. That they have a salary grid for each position & he wants too much. Therefore, Wallace's expendable, interchangeable & suddenly it's the same old song & dance. We end up drafting for other teams.

[rebusrankin]

4 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

So, say Wallace has a great year & then his contract ends. He wants more $$$ like other teams are offering him. Walters lets him walk saying it's not in the budget. That they have a salary grid for each position & he wants too much. Therefore, Wallace's expendable, interchangeable & suddenly it's the same old song & dance. We end up drafting for other teams.

Rookies sign 3 year deals.

[17to85]

4 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

So, say Wallace has a great year & then his contract ends. He wants more $$$ like other teams are offering him. Walters lets him walk saying it's not in the budget. That they have a salary grid for each position & he wants too much. Therefore, Wallace's expendable, interchangeable & suddenly it's the same old song & dance. We end up drafting for other teams.

I feel like a lot of this stems from Dobson... walters was pretty clear about that,  he flat out said despite Dobson being an Allstars they didn't feel he had that great a season. Sense i get is that the team is way way higher on Wallace. 

The guy to lament losing is desjarlais when he returned from the NFL. The rest of them it's nothing that can't be handled.

[SpeedFlex27]

6 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

Rookies sign 3 year deals.

Thanks. Just making a point about how we need to hang onto (especially) our Offensive Linemen. The same "Next Man Up" philosophy got the Calgary Stampeders where they are now. Eventually, there are no next men up. 

2 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

I feel like a lot of this stems from Dobson... walters was pretty clear about that,  he flat out said despite Dobson being an Allstars they didn't feel he had that great a season. Sense i get is that the team is way way higher on Wallace. 

The guy to lament losing is desjarlais when he returned from the NFL. The rest of them it's nothing that can't be handled.

Eventually though, the next man up isn't there anymore. How can Walters justify paying Kolankowski to continue to be the worst starting Center in the CFL while letting a young OL get away with more of a ceiling?

[GCn20]

7 hours ago, 17to85 said:

I feel like a lot of this stems from Dobson... walters was pretty clear about that,  he flat out said despite Dobson being an Allstars they didn't feel he had that great a season. Sense i get is that the team is way way higher on Wallace. 

The guy to lament losing is desjarlais when he returned from the NFL. The rest of them it's nothing that can't be handled.

Dobson was easily the most over rated OG in the league last year, and yes, I was saying this when he was a Bomber still.

[17to85]

10 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Eventually though, the next man up isn't there anymore. How can Walters justify paying Kolankowski to continue to be the worst starting Center in the CFL while letting a young OL get away with more of a ceiling?

I'd they wanted to replace kolankowski they could have done it at any time. 

[Fatty Liver]

5 hours ago, GCn20 said:

Dobson was easily the most over rated OG in the league last year, and yes, I was saying this when he was a Bomber still.

Dobson should have been a cast member.

[wbbfan]

5 hours ago, GCn20 said:

Dobson was easily the most over rated OG in the league last year, and yes, I was saying this when he was a Bomber still.

He wasn’t the most over rated guard on the team last year lmfao, he was our best player at guard by a wide margin. 
 

 

[Mark H.]

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

He wasn’t the most over rated guard on the team last year lmfao, he was our best player at guard by a wide margin. 
 

 

Agreed...except when Randolph was starting at Guard.

[wbbfan]

42 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

Agreed...except when Randolph was starting at Guard.

To be fair to Randolph, who started 3 games at guard, our ol was ravaged with all kinds of injuries in his games and snaps. Our whole ol was at its worst when he played and he didn’t get to play at its best so Dobson had a much better chance to excel. 
 I’m really optimistic about him in general, he’s definitely a tackle and should’ve double switched with Lofton. 

[SpeedFlex27]

4 hours ago, 17to85 said:

I'd they wanted to replace kolankowski they could have done it at any time. 

That's my entire point. They value an older crappy Kolo whose best before was 5 years ago than they do a young Dobson who'll only get better.

[17to85]

13 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

That's my entire point. They value an older crappy Kolo whose best before was 5 years ago than they do a young Dobson who'll only get better.

Kolankowski never had a best before date, he's always been what he is. The point is, if they wanted a change at centre eli is right there... but kolankowski on a cheap contract is not the same situation as Dobson expecting to be paid like a top OL. 

 

Honestly if Wallace steps up like expected I'd be shocked if he isn't retained at whatever the cost to do it is. You're angry about Dobson, fine but you can't ver pay everyone just because.

[SpeedFlex27]

3 hours ago, 17to85 said:

Kolankowski never had a best before date, he's always been what he is. The point is, if they wanted a change at centre eli is right there... but kolankowski on a cheap contract is not the same situation as Dobson expecting to be paid like a top OL. 

 

Honestly if Wallace steps up like expected I'd be shocked if he isn't retained at whatever the cost to do it is. You're angry about Dobson, fine but you can't ver pay everyone just because.

Again, the priorities are screwed up thru loyalties to veteran players by Osh. This has been the complaint here & everywhere in Bomberland for years. You don't have to be the best to be in Osh's inner circle & continue to play at the expense of younger players with potential. Liam Dobson will get his chance to perform in Hamiltonwhile Kolo gets to continue to be overpaid to underperform here. The Bombers will get what they pay for.

3 hours ago, 17to85 said:

Kolankowski never had a best before date, he's always been what he is. The point is, if they wanted a change at centre eli is right there... but kolankowski on a cheap contract is not the same situation as Dobson expecting to be paid like a top OL. 

 

Honestly if Wallace steps up like expected I'd be shocked if he isn't retained at whatever the cost to do it is. You're angry about Dobson, fine but you can't ver pay everyone just because.

Not angry. Disappointed is a better description.

Edited 12 hours ago by SpeedFlex27

[Fatty Liver]

10 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Again, the priorities are screwed up thru loyalties to veteran players by Osh. This has been the complaint here & everywhere in Bomberland for years. You don't have to be the best to be in Osh's inner circle & continue to play at the expense of younger players with potential. Dobson will get his chance to perform in Ottawa while Kolo gets to continue to be overpaid to underperform here. The Bombers will get what they pay for.

Not angry. Disappointed is a better description.

Amazing to witness, you have been functionally brainwashed thru repeated messaging.

[Stickem]

Dobson looked great his initial year here, showing off a lot of his athleticism BUT I think he fell off the next year...He played well but I think we expected 'great'...Desjarlais was certainly a greater loss but it's hard to compete with dollars when a love interest is involved...Like to see a lot more of Randolph in 25'....definitely looks like an up-and-comer...Now if we can do something about Kola we will be a beast of an O Line to contend with...

[SpeedFlex27]

5 minutes ago, Stickem said:

Dobson looked great his initial year here, showing off a lot of his athleticism BUT I think he fell off the next year...He played well but I think we expected 'great'...Desjarlais was certainly a greater loss but it's hard to compete with dollars when a love interest is involved...Like to see a lot more of Randolph in 25'....definitely looks like an up-and-comer...Now if we can do something about Kola we will be a beast of an O Line to contend with...

There's no compete. We choose not to pay. 

2 hours ago, Fatty Liver said:

Amazing to witness, you have been functionally brainwashed thru repeated messaging.

Says the guy who thinks Dobson was our worst O Lineman. Thanks for the comment. 

[wbbfan]

https://3downnation.com/2025/03/16/canadian-born-ol-tiger-shanks-added-to-2025-cfl-draft-sources/

 

RT added to the cfl draft. If he fails he could be moved to rg, but I think he projects extremely well at rt in the cfl. He will be in an nfl camp this year, but I think he’s still gonna be a first or second rounder. 

“All-Mountain West selections, taking home back-to-back honours in 2023 and 2024. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just 11 pressures and one sack over 410 pass-blocking snaps last season.”

“

TIGER SHANKS, UNLV REBELS

 

Total Points Earned: 35.90 (19th)

 

• Points Earned Pass Block: 16.61

• Points Earned Run Block: 19.29

 

All Blown Block RK: 45th

 

• Pass Blown Block %: 2.50%

• Run Blown Block %: 1.90%

 

 

 

Summary Analysis: Tiger Shanks has shown remarkable growth and consistency on UNLV’s offensive line. In 2023, Shanks earned 35.90 total points, with solid performances in both pass blocking (16.61 points) and run blocking (19.29 points), according to PFF. His low blown block percentages, 2.50% in pass protection and 1.90% in run blocking reflect his reliability and effectiveness. Shanks’ strong performance and ability to create holes in the ground game make him a key player for UNLV and a promising NFL prospect.” 

 

 

 

[SpeedFlex27]

23 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

https://3downnation.com/2025/03/16/canadian-born-ol-tiger-shanks-added-to-2025-cfl-draft-sources/

 

RT added to the cfl draft. If he fails he could be moved to rg, but I think he projects extremely well at rt in the cfl. He will be in an nfl camp this year, but I think he’s still gonna be a first or second rounder. 

“All-Mountain West selections, taking home back-to-back honours in 2023 and 2024. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just 11 pressures and one sack over 410 pass-blocking snaps last season.”

“

 

TIGER SHANKS, UNLV REBELS

 

Total Points Earned: 35.90 (19th)

 

• Points Earned Pass Block: 16.61

• Points Earned Run Block: 19.29

 

All Blown Block RK: 45th

 

• Pass Blown Block %: 2.50%

• Run Blown Block %: 1.90%

 

 

 

Summary Analysis: Tiger Shanks has shown remarkable growth and consistency on UNLV’s offensive line. In 2023, Shanks earned 35.90 total points, with solid performances in both pass blocking (16.61 points) and run blocking (19.29 points), according to PFF. His low blown block percentages, 2.50% in pass protection and 1.90% in run blocking reflect his reliability and effectiveness. Shanks’ strong performance and ability to create holes in the ground game make him a key player for UNLV and a promising NFL prospect.” 

 

 

 

Never heard of this guy before so it's an interesting read. Thanks for adding that.