2024/2025 Blue Bombers Off-Season Thread

[wbbfan]

2 hours ago, Blue28 said:

Hey folks,

Just read the latest mock draft: https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/02/mock-draft-1-0-who-will-calgary-take-first-overall/

Am I crazy to think that there is no way we take a QB in the first two rounds.

We need to take an OL  in the first, LB or DB (if one of the top guys are available) in the second along with another OL as the extra pick, - and next area of need be best player of (in order of importance to replace or add depth):

REC (or the TE) - DB/LB -  DE/RB - RB/DE - maybe Tachinski (MB QB) in the final as a local/futures pick up for receiver.

 

My point is - I don't think we can afford to take a QB as a high draft pick.

Thoughts?

I think we could potentially look at one of the two who have been in camp with us and are candidates to switch to wr, late late in the draft. A wr who can be a short yardage guy, holder potentially, maybe run option pack etc and be an extra qb as a Canadian offers a lot. 6th round type thing. 
 

 I see no chance we take a qb that high. 
 

1 hour ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

No chance.  There's way too many good players in this draft.  And we have such a lack of depth at Canadian receiver, OL and DL on top of counting on some senior players in football years to carry a heavy load.  Like one day Demski will just be done, Neufeld

There's still no real upside to rostering a Canadian QB.  K Rourke will probably be 28-29 by the time he's even thinking of coming to play in the CFL.  And might be physically cooked by then/made enough money that he doesn't really care to come here and try to compete to lead a team.

5th round or below I could see it.  But I bet Calgary uses one of their freebie picks on Rourke.

Elgersma and Senecal are legit candidates to make a CFL roster as a QB too.

We are really well poised to get some depth guys with lots of upside in the exact spots we can use them. Makes no sense to go after a qb, even if we thought rourke was the guy and would be here soon. Which he certainly won’t be here any time soon, and I’m not sold on him. 

[bigg jay]

3 hours ago, Blue28 said:

Am I crazy to think that there is no way we take a QB in the first two rounds.

No, you're not crazy for thinking that.

I don't think anyone puts out mock drafts worse than Ferguson's.  In the past, he's had versions that did not end up with a single correct pick. It gets people talking though so I guess that's the point.

[SpeedFlex27]

10 hours ago, Booch said:

I personally judge on talent...conversation I have with people involved (before and after arriving here) ...skill set...football acumen and roster usefulness....not personal bias.....also look at potential upside and or ability to evolve.....

I go to camp...a lot....and practices during the yr when I in WPg.....I dont go off "media" reports and "soundbites" people run with from a coaches comment....as a lot of times those comments are more personal bias based and likes....than actual talent or best roster option. Don't get me wrong I obviously have some favorites as well...who doesn't...but I would never put a favorite in front of a better player. I also don't care nationality....but I would build the team with best players per position and then work the ratio...not pidgeon hole positions

You hit nail on head tho...some coaches do tend to lean toward their favorites...and for all Osh's good qualities/traits....he is really bad with this to the detriment of the overall roster...and is stubborn in his bias's ....right from get go....Kuale...Hurl...Willy....Kolo...The Marine...Thomas...Scmeck....BIGGIE and BA later in their tenure...The Hallett's...just off top of my head but it's consistent with him if anything....even some of the bottom end guys we retained for yrs.....wasted roster spots as they would never evolve to anything....a really good football player can play teams before pushing a starter off the starter spot....a good teams player can't necessarily become a really good football player to push anyone...and that has hindered us

hopefully we allow the battles and dont do what we have done the past 2..3 yrs....gifted spots...and had too many guys not even participate to show they even deserved that gift

Patrick Neufeld better not be given a month long break only to be given back his starting Guard position the first regular season game. I think a lot of these long term training camp & pre season injuries would be a lot shorter or magically disappear if the veterans who take advantage of this know their jobs are on the line.

I remember watching a documentary on Jimmy Johnson his first year as Head Coach in Dallas with the Cowboys. He wanted to change the culture of the team coming off of a couple of dismal losing seasons in Tom Landry's final years as Head Coach there. He noticed a running back struggling on the field. He went over & asked him what was wrong. He told Johnson that he had asthma. He told the running back that the "asthma field" was over there pointing to an empty practice field. He sent the player to the field to stand alone by himself. He cut him after practice.

Johnson also cut veteran All Pro Henry Jordan after he complained training camp was too hard for him & that he needed to be a little more laid back. Cruel, perhaps? However, is a running back who can't get thru practice with asthma going to help the Cowboys win? Is a veteran who isn't all in at training camp going to be all in during a game? After all, at the pro level, it's all about winning & then maintaining that winning culture

I'd like to see Osh be a lot harder on some of his veterans who may feel that they have it made in the shade. In particular, NG & Center. That includes giving positions to favourites without competition. 

Edited April 3 by SpeedFlex27

[wbbfan]

3 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Patrick Neufeld better not be given a month long break only to be given back his starting Guard position the first regular season game. I think a lot of these long term training camp & pre season injuries would be a lot shorter or magically disappear if the veterans who take advantage of this know their jobs are on the line.

I remember watching a documentary on Jimmy Johnson his first year as Head Coach in Dallas with the Cowboys. He wanted to change the culture of the team coming off of a couple of dismal losing seasons in Tom Landry's final years as Head Coach there. He noticed a running back struggling on the field. He went over & asked him what was wrong. He told Johnson that he had asthma. He told the running back that the "asthma field" was over there pointing to an empty practice field. He sent the player to the field to stand alone by himself. He cut him after practice.

Johnson also cut veteran All Pro Henry Jordan after he complained training camp was too hard for him & that he needed to be a little more laid back. Cruel, perhaps? However, is a running back who can't get thru practice with asthma going to help the Cowboys win? Is a veteran who isn't all in at training camp going to be all in during a game? After all, at the pro level, it's all about winning & then maintaining that winning culture

I'd like to see Osh be a lot harder on some of his veterans who may feel that they have it made in the shade. In particular, NG & Center. That includes giving positions to favourites without competition. 

All the vets need to play half a game in the last pre season game. 

[SpeedFlex27]

6 hours ago, wbbfan said:

All the vets need to play half a game in the last pre season game. 

Pretty gruelling for those poor old guys.

[GCn20]

3 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Pretty gruelling for those poor old guys.

TC is a slog even for the young guys. Guys like Paddy, you are just inviting injury by working them hard in camp. They have nothing to prove and do not need the reps. I agree, that they should be out there and getting some reps and a bit of game time but they don't need a lot, especially the hogs.

[wbbfan]

49 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

TC is a slog even for the young guys. Guys like Paddy, you are just inviting injury by working them hard in camp. They have nothing to prove and do not need the reps. I agree, that they should be out there and getting some reps and a bit of game time but they don't need a lot, especially the hogs.

Honestly, camp isn't nearly what it used to be. The limitations on impact, banning of junk like Oklahoma drill, length, etc, have de-toothed it significantly. It isn't like the old days where the 2 a days had guys re-tapping raw skin and doing 2 full run-throughs of full contact and high exertion. The off season for players is also far more active, and you don't need to do nearly as much reconditioning. 

Now that said you still have to be smart, not like chris jones blowing out a half dozen guys ACLs per day for the first few days. 

 

 Frankly, I don't care if the vets sit half the day or every other day or what ever they need to. As long as they can be ready to play 1q of the first preseason game, 1 half of the 2nd, and be at full pop for the first regular season week. Aside from injuries in camp and guys coming back from injuries, if a vet can't consistently do that, they are probably done anyway. 

[GCn20]

28 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Honestly, camp isn't nearly what it used to be. The limitations on impact, banning of junk like Oklahoma drill, length, etc, have de-toothed it significantly. It isn't like the old days where the 2 a days had guys re-tapping raw skin and doing 2 full run-throughs of full contact and high exertion. The off season for players is also far more active, and you don't need to do nearly as much reconditioning. 

Now that said you still have to be smart, not like chris jones blowing out a half dozen guys ACLs per day for the first few days. 

 

 Frankly, I don't care if the vets sit half the day or every other day or what ever they need to. As long as they can be ready to play 1q of the first preseason game, 1 half of the 2nd, and be at full pop for the first regular season week. Aside from injuries in camp and guys coming back from injuries, if a vet can't consistently do that, they are probably done anyway. 

Yea,,,I agree. I will caveat that hoggies are a bit of a different breed when it comes to how you prep them though. They need enough wind to play but the veteran big guys just need enough to get the chemistry back. Nothing more really.f

[Fatty Liver]

3 hours ago, GCn20 said:

TC is a slog even for the young guys. Guys like Paddy, you are just inviting injury by working them hard in camp. They have nothing to prove and do not need the reps. I agree, that they should be out there and getting some reps and a bit of game time but they don't need a lot, especially the hogs.

Pretty sure Neufeld was injured going into TC last year and he wasn't just coasting, caught up to him later in the season when he had to take a few games off to recover.

[wbbfan]

2 hours ago, GCn20 said:

Yea,,,I agree. I will caveat that hoggies are a bit of a different breed when it comes to how you prep them though. They need enough wind to play but the veteran big guys just need enough to get the chemistry back. Nothing more really.f

That’s a good point. The ol is for sure an entity all its own. They Maybe the greatest anachronism in all of sports. Especially the Canadian ol up here. May as well still be the 70s with them in many ways. 
 It’s kind of funny too actually, ol are more athletic and trim now like they were back then. Still gigantic human beings these days, but the middle of the late 80s through early 2ks we saw a ton of heavy none athletic guys. 

 

12 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

Pretty sure Neufeld was injured going into TC last year and he wasn't just coasting, caught up to him later in the season when he had to take a few games off to recover.

Think he was banged up to end the previous year too. Being a tall guard who turns 37 this year and has played some 140 games mostly starts will make it hard to stay healthy. And slow down recovery 

[rebusrankin]

That mock by Marshall Ferguson doesn't make a lot of sense. II get the OL pick in round one but Rourke at #15 instead of a WR (Ethan Jordan) or a DL or LB? It makes no sense. As @JuranBoldenRules stated Rourke is already beat up physically, likely tries the NFL and may never come here. Terrible option at 15.

[WinnipegGordo]

Receiver the Bombers signed today, went to Jets and Giants mini camps last year and tried out out for some UFL teams.

[WinnipegGordo]

Olineman that was signed, went to Colts mini-camp last year.

 

[SpeedFlex27]

11 hours ago, GCn20 said:

TC is a slog even for the young guys. Guys like Paddy, you are just inviting injury by working them hard in camp. They have nothing to prove and do not need the reps. I agree, that they should be out there and getting some reps and a bit of game time but they don't need a lot, especially the hogs.

I get what you say but my response would be... Then retire. We have younger guys who are hungry but are blocked from developing into starters..

Edited April 4 by SpeedFlex27

[wbbfan]

2 hours ago, WinnipegGordo said:

Receiver the Bombers signed today, went to Jets and Giants mini camps last year and tried out out for some UFL teams.

Was a teammate of big Kev. Didn’t get a ton of catches or yards at uconn either. But he’s got a good release, smooth fast runner more than an explosive quick guy. 

[wbbfan]

2 hours ago, WinnipegGordo said:

Olineman that was signed, went to Colts mini-camp last year.

 

Good athlete, big modern athletic build, he’s more of a project not a lot of experience. 

[Booch]

On 2025-04-02 at 6:47 PM, SpeedFlex27 said:

Patrick Neufeld better not be given a month long break only to be given back his starting Guard position the first regular season game. I think a lot of these long term training camp & pre season injuries would be a lot shorter or magically disappear if the veterans who take advantage of this know their jobs are on the line.

I remember watching a documentary on Jimmy Johnson his first year as Head Coach in Dallas with the Cowboys. He wanted to change the culture of the team coming off of a couple of dismal losing seasons in Tom Landry's final years as Head Coach there. He noticed a running back struggling on the field. He went over & asked him what was wrong. He told Johnson that he had asthma. He told the running back that the "asthma field" was over there pointing to an empty practice field. He sent the player to the field to stand alone by himself. He cut him after practice.

Johnson also cut veteran All Pro Henry Jordan after he complained training camp was too hard for him & that he needed to be a little more laid back. Cruel, perhaps? However, is a running back who can't get thru practice with asthma going to help the Cowboys win? Is a veteran who isn't all in at training camp going to be all in during a game? After all, at the pro level, it's all about winning & then maintaining that winning culture

I'd like to see Osh be a lot harder on some of his veterans who may feel that they have it made in the shade. In particular, NG & Center. That includes giving positions to favourites without competition. 

Now that's a training camp....or how it should be...

 

On 2025-04-02 at 10:07 PM, wbbfan said:

All the vets need to play half a game in the last pre season game. 

They need to get snaps in both

 

On 2025-04-03 at 8:05 AM, GCn20 said:

TC is a slog even for the young guys. Guys like Paddy, you are just inviting injury by working them hard in camp. They have nothing to prove and do not need the reps. I agree, that they should be out there and getting some reps and a bit of game time but they don't need a lot, especially the hogs.

You also inviting injury to them...or to someone really valuable as collateral damage from coddling them to...in game condition isn't just about aerobic condition and seeing things...it's the bodies re-acclimation to being hit...getting first hits in a regular season game is just asking for yr long issues...funny thing..we've seen that...alot here for the last 3..4 yrs...hmmmm imagine

On 2025-04-03 at 9:01 AM, wbbfan said:

Honestly, camp isn't nearly what it used to be. The limitations on impact, banning of junk like Oklahoma drill, length, etc, have de-toothed it significantly. It isn't like the old days where the 2 a days had guys re-tapping raw skin and doing 2 full run-throughs of full contact and high exertion. The off season for players is also far more active, and you don't need to do nearly as much reconditioning. 

Now that said you still have to be smart, not like chris jones blowing out a half dozen guys ACLs per day for the first few days. 

 

 Frankly, I don't care if the vets sit half the day or every other day or what ever they need to. As long as they can be ready to play 1q of the first preseason game, 1 half of the 2nd, and be at full pop for the first regular season week. Aside from injuries in camp and guys coming back from injuries, if a vet can't consistently do that, they are probably done anyway. 

Camp is a joke now...practices in season even worse...80 percent of guys now couldn't handle how it was..

 

23 hours ago, WinnipegGordo said:

Olineman that was signed, went to Colts mini-camp last year.

 

Like him

[SpeedFlex27]

The one thing I've always wondered about... Booch & wbbfan are right. Training camps aren't what they were back in the day. Two-3 weeks of two a days hitting every practice with full pads. Guys running till they puke or pass out. Head Coaches pushing their players to the breaking point just to see who really wants to play as guys who couldn't hack it would sneak out in the middle of the night. Jim Spavital's camps were especially gruelling. Spavital was an ex Marine ran his camps like they were boot camp at Paris Island.

Nothing like that anymore. Now teams do one 4 hour practice instead of two, 2 hour practices with just shoulder pads, helmets & shorts. Occasional hitting in full pads but maybe once a week. Yet, what do we see? More players in the infirmary by Day 4 of TC than there ever were back in the day with full hitting. How can guys get hurt so much when things are so relaxed than they were in the 60's?

Then someone like Neufeld mysteriously gets an injury where's he's out day to day for weeks & the media is never told how long he'll be gone. I'm sure that's already in the works for the guy again this year.

[wbbfan]

51 minutes ago, Booch said:

Now that's a training camp....or how it should be...

 

They need to get snaps in both

 

You also inviting injury to them...or to someone really valuable as collateral damage from coddling them to...in game condition isn't just about aerobic condition and seeing things...it's the bodies re-acclimation to being hit...getting first hits in a regular season game is just asking for yr long issues...funny thing..we've seen that...alot here for the last 3..4 yrs...hmmmm imagine

Camp is a joke now...practices in season even worse...80 percent of guys now couldn't handle how it was..

 

Like him

They do. 1 quarter and 1 half in the two games is standard and should be pretty close to it plus or minus a bit. 
 

honestly, with the failure to execute in the pivotal game the last few years, I’d consider running them out longer. It used to be a hand shake agreement with the hcs when you’d switch to rookies and how long vets would stay out. That doesn’t seem to be it any more.  
 I might split up quarters of the first game, then let the best players of the first game play 3/4 together. Send a strong message to the locker room, every game is important and no one is taking a month off this year. Be ready be sharp or be replaced. 

[wbbfan]

36 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

The one thing I've always wondered about... Booch & wbbfan are right. Training camps aren't what they were back in the day. Two-3 weeks of two a days hitting every practice with full pads. Guys running till they puke or pass out. Head Coaches pushing their players to the breaking point just to see who really wants to play as guys who couldn't hack it would sneak out in the middle of the night. Jim Spavital's camps were especially gruelling. Spavital was an ex Marine ran his camps like they were boot camp at Paris Island.

Nothing like that anymore. Now teams do one 4 hour practice instead of two, 2 hour practices with just shoulder pads, helmets & shorts. Occasional hitting in full pads but maybe once a week. Yet, what do we see? More players in the infirmary by Day 4 of TC than there ever were back in the day with full hitting. How can guys get hurt so much when things are so relaxed than they were in the 60's?

Then someone like Neufeld mysteriously gets an injury where's he's out day to day for weeks & the media is never told how long he'll be gone. I'm sure that's already in the works for the guy again this year.

To an extent, it’s a good thing. The idiocy of denying water, hard ass two a days ending with wind sprints till you puke then forced ice bathes was awful. 
 That said the pendulum has swung too far imo. 
 I’d rather see an extra week, with 3 days 1 apart where teams do a full pads two day practice of about 3 hours each including one scrimmage. No stupid drills, but reasonable approximation of football game play. 

Stick the extra week before/in the middle of the pre season depending on the year for teams. 

[Fatty Liver]

2 hours ago, wbbfan said:

To an extent, it’s a good thing. The idiocy of denying water, hard ass two a days ending with wind sprints till you puke then forced ice bathes was awful. 
 That said the pendulum has swung too far imo. 
 I’d rather see an extra week, with 3 days 1 apart where teams do a full pads two day practice of about 3 hours each including one scrimmage. No stupid drills, but reasonable approximation of football game play. 

Stick the extra week before/in the middle of the pre season depending on the year for teams. 

It all began with sucky orange slices.

[Goalie]

On 2025-04-04 at 8:52 PM, Fatty Liver said:

It all began with sucky orange slices.

Hey man. When I played soccer those orange slices were for half time. And damn it if we didn’t finish off about 50 of them oranges which were much better and less produced in labs than today’s oranges. Now if I want a good fruit I have to pay extra for organic eventho it’s worth it as the taste is so much better organically. We had nothing to wash our hands but our hair sweat. All dipped in and fingered every orange and grabbed one that 10 friends touched and ate it. Mom would send us to our new friends house to play cuz he had chicken pox. Good times.  You triggered childhood memories. What’s next. Is someone gonna yell CAAAARRR and I’m gonna go move my hockey net. To keep this Blue Bombers related tho, organic Blueberries are much better also.  

Edited April 7 by Goalie

[wbbfan]

5 hours ago, Goalie said:

Hey man. When I played soccer those orange slices were for half time. And damn it if we didn’t finish off about 50 of them oranges which were much better and less produced in labs than today’s oranges. Now if I want a good fruit I have to pay extra for organic eventho it’s worth it as the taste is so much better organically. We had nothing to wash our hands but our hair sweat. All dipped in and fingered every orange and grabbed one that 10 friends touched and ate it. Mom would send us to our new friends house to play cuz he had chicken pox. Good times.  You triggered childhood memories. What’s next. Is someone gonna yell CAAAARRR and I’m gonna go move my hockey net. To keep this Blue Bombers related tho, organic Blueberries are much better also.  

 

core memory unlocked! 

How many oranges do you want to eat? Maybe 1? What if it’s sliced into wedges and stuffed into a giant plastic bag? Bout 4 bags maybe 5. 
 

 

[WinnipegGordo]

 

 

[17to85]

2 hours ago, wbbfan said:

 

core memory unlocked! 

How many oranges do you want to eat? Maybe 1? What if it’s sliced into wedges and stuffed into a giant plastic bag? Bout 4 bags maybe 5. 
 

 

They were always in multiple 4L plastic ice cream pails when I was a lad.