2024/2025 Blue Bombers Off-Season Thread

[Fatty Liver]

22 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

If I'm remembering correctly, back in the day your punter and placekicker needed to be CDN to help with the ratio. Now, nope, it would be nice, but nope doesn't have to be. Same with dtackle, doesn't have to be CDN, can be, but doesn't have to be.

 

19 minutes ago, Jets said:

might be true, but between our 3 interior OL, Oliveira, Demski, Wolitarski and even Clercius, we should have at most 1 Canadian on D (Lawson) most of the snaps.  

 

I think it's been proven maintaining a solid Natl. talent base is one of the keys to winning long-term in the CFL.  Good Canadian players are harder to find than good Imports, so teams tend to stockpile and hold onto them as long as they can.  Keeping the bare min. around could risk having to start a seriously inferior football player if a couple of the better Natls. go down with injury.

[Tracker]

5 hours ago, bustamente said:

 

Words fail me, and I am a published author. 

[bigg jay]

4 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

 

I think it's been proven maintaining a solid Natl. talent base is one of the keys to winning long-term in the CFL.  Good Canadian players are harder to find than good Imports, so teams tend to stockpile and hold onto them as long as they can.  Keeping the bare min. around could risk having to start a seriously inferior football player if a couple of the better Natls. go down with injury.

That's already happening, stockpile or not.

[Tracker]

4 hours ago, HardCoreBlue said:

We're literally at the point where he's taking a job away from a more suited candidate.

Sends mixed messages in the locker room. 

That is, with all due respect, no freaking mixed message. It is a large, economy-sized FU to the team from, I believe, O'Shea.

3 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Waddle back 

Boy if we soft foot the starters through camp that first 1/3rd is gonna be worse than last year. 

Only the first third? You are being wildly optimistic.

[HardCoreBlue]

Just now, Tracker said:

That is, with all due respect, no freaking mixed message. It is a large, economy-sized FU to the team from, I believe, O'Shea.

By mixed messaging I mean work hard earn your spot only applies to some not all.

[Booch]

7 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

 

I think it's been proven maintaining a solid Natl. talent base is one of the keys to winning long-term in the CFL.  Good Canadian players are harder to find than good Imports, so teams tend to stockpile and hold onto them as long as they can.  Keeping the bare min. around could risk having to start a seriously inferior football player if a couple of the better Natls. go down with injury.

we do this with no injury...and no ratio requirement

We have Lawson..Schmeckle...Smason....and likely draft an interior dline....so Thomas signed is required why??...Leadershi...we have tons....Passport...aformentioned likely 4 guys.....Ratio need...nope......wasted roater spot....SMS allocation....blocking development of young guys with upside...yes..yes...yes.

Further to that....is he the future for 2026 and onward....hell no...are the other mentioned....most definately based on how Osh makes his roster...Tenure with said team over talent

2 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

By mixed messaging I mean work hard earn your spot only applies to some not all.

trust me...there were already those isues and feelings from 2023 already...

[Tracker]

2 hours ago, rebusrankin said:

He's already hired Booch?

We could start a GoFundMe...

[rebusrankin]

We likely go 6 Canadians on offense with Brady. Demski, Woli, Neufeld, Kolo and Wallace or Dobson. Likely 2 on D with Kramdi and Lawson. In a pinch, Kelly can take reps on D. Ford may be back. No need to bring back Jake whose best before date was 2022.

[Booch]

3 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

By mixed messaging I mean work hard earn your spot only applies to some not all.

earn your spot....and then do enough to maintain does not apply here for some.....Then a guy like Smith...who had huge upside...did nothing wrong...had our only return T.D all yr albeit in T.C but still a nice return...was benched...never to be heard from again as we scuffled and sucked all yr after....hmmmmmm

[Tracker]

1 minute ago, Booch said:

earn your spot....and then do enough to maintain does not apply here for some.....Then a guy like Smith...who had huge upside...did nothing wrong...had our only return T.D all yr albeit in T.C but still a nice return...was benched...never to be heard from again as we scuffled and sucked all yr after....hmmmmmm

'Tis a mystery, to be sure.

[Mike]

3 hours ago, rebusrankin said:

So Biggie tomorrow?

THAT one will piss me off to no end. Thomas wasn’t one of the must not come backs for me, that was reserved for Biggie and Alexander

 

 

[Booch]

I'm ok with vets Bryant and Neuf back...they have a lot of value yet and were effective when healthy....

Dont know what money Jake got, but whatever it was plus a lil more would allow us to easily keep Dobson...and that oline continuity, but if we say 50...60k waya from keeping Dobson cause we signed Jake....is that smart allocating of money, especially when I am quite sure that once free agency was open there would be no mad rush to sign him for big bucks...sign priority guys...and possible free agent upgrades...then when you see what you have left offer him something and if it's not to his liking.....move on...he is not a need let alone a priority signing

whatever his salary is, could been put to one of Dobson...Lawler...Schoen...Cole...I'd have signed Nick Taylor even before Jake as he has value in multiple positions....as well as teams...can even return in a pinch and athleticism...

1 minute ago, Mike said:

THAT one will piss me off to no end. Thomas wasn’t one of the must not come backs for me, that was reserved for Biggie and Alexander

 

 

Alexander would actually have value as the extra guy.....and as a back up safety

[Mike]

If Thomas is used appropriately, I can at least get on board with him being some kind of end-of-the-bench spot duty player who sets the tone in the locker room by being a leader. The dude has 200+ games in the uniform, it’s not about him for me it’s just about his usage. I get wanting that guy as the 45th guy in uniform especially in a Grey Cup year.

Americans though? Nah.

[Goalie]

Biggie Thomas Wilson BA. 
 

they have signed 2. 
 

hopefully that’s it. 

[Fatty Liver]

2 minutes ago, Tracker said:

'Tis a mystery, to be sure.

I figure a roomful of pro football staff who's livelihoods depend on the decisions they make know more about Jake's value to the team than the entire Internet combined. The Bomber organization has earned the respect and the record to field the team they choose to, keeping in mind, it's hard to be perfect.

[Booch]

Just now, Mike said:

If Thomas is used appropriately, I can at least get on board with him being some kind of end-of-the-bench spot duty player who sets the tone in the locker room by being a leader. The dude has 200+ games in the uniform, it’s not about him for me it’s just about his usage. I get wanting that guy as the 45th guy in uniform especially in a Grey Cup year.

Americans though? Nah.

at this stage...appropriate use would be 6 gamed ala Mike Miller all yr and pulled off if we get a huge rash of dline injuries...we have enough tone setters in dressing room too....I sure WJ...Nichols..Holmie...Wilson...Kramdi..can handle that aspect jutst fine

1 minute ago, Fatty Liver said:

I figure a roomful of pro football staff who's livelihoods depend on the decisions they make know more about Jake's value to the team than the entire Internet combined. The Bomber organization has earned the respect and the record to field the team they choose to, keeping in mind, it's hard to be perfect.

u obviously havnt watched the last 3 grey cups....making a decison isnt necessarily the right one...and who's to say it's the whole staff?...HC makes the final call...

[rebusrankin]

16 minutes ago, Mike said:

THAT one will piss me off to no end. Thomas wasn’t one of the must not come backs for me, that was reserved for Biggie and Alexander

 

 

Biggie, Jake, Alexander and Wilson for me.

15 minutes ago, Mike said:

If Thomas is used appropriately, I can at least get on board with him being some kind of end-of-the-bench spot duty player who sets the tone in the locker room by being a leader. The dude has 200+ games in the uniform, it’s not about him for me it’s just about his usage. I get wanting that guy as the 45th guy in uniform especially in a Grey Cup year.

Americans though? Nah.

What kind of leadership does he provide? Coming to camp and sitting on his fat ass doing nothing, while other players have to compete, only to see Jake get handed a starters spot?

15 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

I figure a roomful of pro football staff who's livelihoods depend on the decisions they make know more about Jake's value to the team than the entire Internet combined. The Bomber organization has earned the respect and the record to field the team they choose to, keeping in mind, it's hard to be perfect.

Declining win totals and losses in each of the last three Grey Cups indicates that they may need to revise their methods.

[HardCoreBlue]

11 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

I figure a roomful of pro football staff who's livelihoods depend on the decisions they make know more about Jake's value to the team than the entire Internet combined. The Bomber organization has earned the respect and the record to field the team they choose to, keeping in mind, it's hard to be perfect.

To quote Charlie Brown, good grief. Whether you're intending to or not, posts like this come across to some as over the top, patronizing and condescending to people who are just trying to have some fun with each other on a sport issue that is a far second to the real priorities in life.

You could take what you've written here and use it every time to respond to someone questioning something (small, medium, big) about our beloved WBB organization.

Just shut this site down, no more discussion needed. Be off with you, you internet trolls. 

 

[greenrider55]

Shocked yet not shocked they brought back Thomas for another year… one of MOS’ guys to his very core.

[Arnold_Palmer]

I’m hoping Thomas is just insurance for Lawson this year. We need three Americans on the DLine and if Thomas is getting limited reps and his salary reflects that I can get behind it, otherwise man oh man…

[Mike]

As far as leadership goes, there’s probably something to be said for a guy who is coming back for his 13th year after being an uncoveted late round draft pick who was on the verge of being out of pro football four years ago. He’s obviously done something right.

Thomas isn’t one of those guys that makes me mad to see out on the field. There’s a place for him. My problem is with his usage. He’s gotta be limited. 

[Rex_Banner]

Can’t wait for the Sheahan extension that I’m sure is coming anytime now too!

[Booch]

18 minutes ago, Mike said:

As far as leadership goes, there’s probably something to be said for a guy who is coming back for his 13th year after being an uncoveted late round draft pick who was on the verge of being out of pro football four years ago. He’s obviously done something right.

Thomas isn’t one of those guys that makes me mad to see out on the field. There’s a place for him. My problem is with his usage. He’s gotta be limited. 

he was 29th over all....not really late.....and when you think about it....was prob available quite later..

8 minutes ago, Rex_Banner said:

Can’t wait for the Sheahan extension that I’m sure is coming anytime now too!

oh geez forgot about punter guy

[Pete]

Certainly we dont need/want Thomas to take 85% of reps, Hopefully Lawton proves to be an option. However our starting cdn depth could be tested esp if ford doesn't return or we decide we need to go import at guard on OLIne.

Some who say Smeckel is a better option must be watching different games.

Samson I would like to see get a chance. but who knows if hes a viable candidate

I hope we do have a strong option at the draft for a starting cdn, If we can get a cdn safety then the need for a cdn dlineman is reduced as well

Signing thomas gives us options hopefully we are able to upgrade but it all depends on whos available.

 

 

 

[17to85]

Thomas in limited reps is fine. That's the key. Don't play him like he's Doug brown in his prime.