2024/2025 Blue Bombers Off-Season Thread

[wbbfan]

13 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

I can see both Lawler and Schoen being much cheaper this year than last so I am hopeful both return. One is coming off a signficant injury and is unlikely to be ready the first month of the season, and the other had decreased production and a 2nd consecutive year of significant time loss. I can't see how either would be making what they made before. However, the market will dictate I suppose.

Not before Labor Day. Will be a welcome addition back tho.

I think so too. Hope they both come back on reasonable deals. 

[Booch]

Lawler and Schoen will both be back....I like the Mitchell signing as the 3rd option and if his head is on straight and this will be the place to accomplish that  then a score for us

Lawler has had 2 unfortunate season of derailment.....seeing the folks rag on him saying he wasnt what he was is kind of funny...He's a talent that comes thru very rare...18 games with him....Along with Schoen...Demski and now Mitchell....all proven commodities and BO he will light it up

To even assume that we gonna roll into 2025 sans Lawler....with a Schoen who is still a big question mark.... Mitchell....and then a rookie??...or some cheap cast off from elsewhere to go with Demski  is pretty foolish thinking in a Cup hosting yr.

Mitchell likely is on a very team friendly deal in a re-prove himself yr....and if he returns to his form when he first burst on the scene here...lookout...

we have salaries to pare easily....and certain guys who re-upping makes no fiscal sense...

27 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

I can see both Lawler and Schoen being much cheaper this year than last so I am hopeful both return. One is coming off a signficant injury and is unlikely to be ready the first month of the season, and the other had decreased production and a 2nd consecutive year of significant time loss. I can't see how either would be making what they made before. However, the market will dictate I suppose.

Not before Labor Day. Will be a welcome addition back tho.

yup...Schoen wont be getting paid top 5 in the league....and likely he wont even be on the books first 6 games anyway...Lawler isnt gonna hold us over the coals either...he's happy and secure here...found his spot....pay him fair and dont Jeffcoat him

I have a inkling Jackson will be our O.C as well....from what I hear there are 2 guys at the front of the line...him being one.....I do know tho it isnt gonna be an internal hire 

16 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

I think so too. Hope they both come back on reasonable deals. 

Schoen has no choice.....has to show he's still capable and he prob gonna be 6 gamed anyway to start

As mentioned above...Lawler loves it here...it will be worked out...if it hasnt already and just isnt announced

Lawler also has history with Jackson as an O.C and was utilzed nicely by him as the pass game coordinator

 

[Fatty Liver]

Not sure where people are seeing Mitchell as a dynamic returner, I don't recall him being all that great and his stats. are not significantly different than Whitehead's.  Plus he doesn't appear to be a player they use to run the ball on sweeps.

Punt Returns

2024
EDM    18    19    172    9.1    21    0

2024
WPG    10    47    524    11.1    54    0

Kick Returns

2024
EDM    18    23    535    23.3    49    0

2024
WPG    10    22    477    21.7    40    0

 

 

[17to85]

33 minutes ago, Booch said:

Lawler has had 2 unfortunate season of derailment.....seeing the folks rag on him saying he wasnt what he was is kind of funny...

Is it wrong though? Guy hasn't been as consistent as he was when he set the bar... there can be a variety of reasons for that but facts are he hasn't given the level you expect game in and game out since his return. 

Does it mean he's washed up? He'll no, just that at this point he isn't the player he was. He may be again, or he may not be. 

[Noeller]

A thought from an LOLks beat reporter....

 

 

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, Fatty Liver said:

Not sure where people are seeing Mitchell as a dynamic returner, I don't recall him being all that great and his stats. are not significantly different than Whitehead's.  Plus he doesn't appear to be a player they use to run the ball on sweeps.

Punt Returns

2024
EDM    18    19    172    9.1    21    0

2024
WPG    10    47    524    11.1    54    0

Kick Returns

2024
EDM    18    23    535    23.3    49    0

2024
WPG    10    22    477    21.7    40    0

 

 

Avg per return isn’t a good metric for returners team to team. Too many attached variables. Lucky was fairly average in the league but realistically bottom tier. 
 Edmonton had multiple back field carry guys, and most teams don’t carry and run the sweep package. 

[M.O.A.B.]

Mitchell... Could be a sign that Jarious is our OC ?

Edited 17 hours ago by M.O.A.B.

[wbbfan]

3 minutes ago, M.O.A.B. said:

Mitchell... Could be a sign that Jarious is our OC ?

Dare to dream 

[Pete]

1 hour ago, Fatty Liver said:

Not sure where people are seeing Mitchell as a dynamic returner, I don't recall him being all that great and his stats. are not significantly different than Whitehead's.  Plus he doesn't appear to be a player they use to run the ball on sweeps.

Punt Returns

2024
EDM    18    19    172    9.1    21    0

2024
WPG    10    47    524    11.1    54    0

Kick Returns

2024
EDM    18    23    535    23.3    49    0

2024
WPG    10    22    477    21.7    40    0

 

 

your right, I don't see him as our primary returner but  he gives us an adequate back up we can slot in , in case of an injury, something we've lacked in recent years. i.e. whitehead was hurt for the last qtr of season yet we didnt have a strong enough option to replace him.

And I do see him as a number 2 receiver, we likely can't afford both Schoen and Lawler. I know we hope we can afford them but history tells us some team will offer them more than what they are worth. Even last year we overpaid to keep the two of them because of that.

[Noeller]

20 minutes ago, M.O.A.B. said:

Mitchell... Could be a sign that Jarious is our OC ?

Seems more likely just a sign of Sunderland being with us now...

[HardCoreBlue]

5 minutes ago, Noeller said:

Seems more likely just a sign of Sunderland being with us now...

Whoever it is (this includes playoffs as well), customize/adjust your offensive playbook to the talent you have, control the line of scrimmage, establish/maintain the run with BO the best running back in the league , distribute the ball with intermediate passing setting up kill shots as they come. Use your existing QB stable as appropriate. Limit gimmicky plays, I.e, please no decoy plays, use depth when needed, be patient, don’t panic, be flexible when needed, don’t just surround yourself with yes people and don’t be a yes person to others when it can negatively impact the team.

Easy peasy.

[SpeedFlex27]

10 hours ago, 17to85 said:

Is the secondary not part of the D? 

Just one part. of course, The lack of a pass rush on Nick Arbuckle where on just about every play he could have signed his name on very football he threw. No pressure. No adapatation by Younger to what the Argos were doing offensively. (Probably because with the players we had playing on the Front 7 we couldn't). Shmeckel & Thomas just taking up space on the DL while Jefferson was having a great game all by himself.  But that's okay, Blame the usual suspects like everybody does after every loss. The offense. We all know it was all their fault. Defense was stellar. 

[WinnipegGordo]

New additions:

DB Marcus Hillman was in camp with the Bombers last year

WR D'Marcus Adams was on Elks practice roster for 2 weeks in August

OL Antonio Garcia spent time with Riders and Elks

 

 

Edited 15 hours ago by WinnipegGordo

[brett_c_b]

11 hours ago, 17to85 said:

Is the secondary not part of the D? 

Once you're old and crotchety, you only focus on the negatives. Whether it be the D or three head coach or something else. 

 

So the D was bad because we ignore the secondary because we can't complain about it.

[wbbfan]

34 minutes ago, WinnipegGordo said:

New additions:

DB Marcus Hillman was in camp with the Bombers last year

WR D'Marcus Adams was on Elks practice roster for 2 weeks in August

OL Antonio Garcia spent time with Riders and Elks

 

 

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/antonio-garcia/32004741-5205-4848-e617-bf53283cf166
 

Garcia is an interesting pick. 31 year old former 3rd round nfl pick. Had starter at LT potential, but was a guy who played light in the 270s and low 280 range.  Weight was his biggest issue in the nfl. Got blood clots his rookie year and missed a bunch of time which lead to him dropping 40 lbs. after his return being too light the pats cut him. Kicked around a bit made the colts pr but was suspended for 4 games for peds. Sat the year but again didn’t play. 
 Looks like he only played one game up here between the elk and riders. 

 

[rebusrankin]

If Dillon Mitchell was at $150,000 last year and Edmonton cut him, wonder what we got him for? Could be a real value contract for us that pays huge dividends.

[17to85]

1 hour ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Just one part. of course, The lack of a pass rush on Nick Arbuckle where on just about every play he could have signed his name on very football he threw. No pressure. No adapatation by Younger to what the Argos were doing offensively. (Probably because with the players we had playing on the Front 7 we couldn't). Shmeckel & Thomas just taking up space on the DL while Jefferson was having a great game all by himself.  But that's okay, Blame the usual suspects like everybody does after every loss. The offense. We all know it was all their fault. Defense was stellar. 

The only eye roll is for a guy like you to think that the only valid defense is one built around pressure. 

Now full disclosure I prefer that style too... but I'm not so pig heatedly stubborn as to ignore that the way this defense played was different but still highly effective. To suggest it wasn't is pure pants on head ********.

[3rdand1.5]

Does anyone actually know if Schoen will be ready for TC?

 

If he is legit 6 gamed to start it may make it easier for us to get him signed and work with cap space......

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, 3rdand1.5 said:

Does anyone actually know if Schoen will be ready for TC?

 

If he is legit 6 gamed to start it may make it easier for us to get him signed and work with cap space......

Pretty sure that was the expectation, that he would not be ready for tc and likely starts on the 6. 

[SectionKBlackout]

Listening to Oshea talk about Bighill on CJOB today wasn't harsh but didn't sound positive about them wanting to keep him around. Maybe I was hearing what I wanted to hear but it wasn't him gushing about signing him and more about a dialog in the future.

[Brandon]

WTF are people saying getting rid of Lawler?  Dude was our best receiver and made some fantastic catches.     

Cutting top 3 in the league talent is crazy talk... similar to suggesting that we should of moved on from Willie.  Crazy talk.   

Same with someone saying we should move on from Holm.... no.  

How about we cut the punter, the lbers,  the d-line and the guys who never made any big plays at all last season. 

[17to85]

2 hours ago, Brandon said:

WTF are people saying getting rid of Lawler?  Dude was our best receiver and made some fantastic catches.     

Cutting top 3 in the league talent is crazy talk... similar to suggesting that we should of moved on from Willie.  Crazy talk.   

Same with someone saying we should move on from Holm.... no.  

How about we cut the punter, the lbers,  the d-line and the guys who never made any big plays at all last season. 

No one is talking about cutting Lawler, it's a hypothetical discussion about picking between Lawler or Schoen.

[Brandon]

9 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

No one is talking about cutting Lawler, it's a hypothetical discussion about picking between Lawler or Schoen.

Keep both,  if the Lions could afford a plethora of receivers surely we can as well.  

[SpeedFlex27]

5 hours ago, 17to85 said:

The only eye roll is for a guy like you to think that the only valid defense is one built around pressure. 

Now full disclosure I prefer that style too... but I'm not so pig heatedly stubborn as to ignore that the way this defense played was different but still highly effective. To suggest it wasn't is pure pants on head ********.

Glad we agree on something. A lack of pressure & stromg pass rush wlll be be our undoing, I believe. Obviously, the coaching philosophy on defensehas changed. 

[SpeedFlex27]

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

Keep both,  if the Lions could afford a plethora of receivers surely we can as well.  

The Lions have the highest paid qb. The highest paid DL. The highest paid OL in the CFL. Does Doman even give a **** about the salary cap? Doesn't seem so. I'm sure there'll be other profile signings during free agency.