2024/2025 Blue Bombers Off-Season Thread

[Colin Unger]

As much as some of us don't agree with the decision on Woli...  I feel like he was a guy who Oshea connected with well.  I think its a decent enough sign that Oshea had it in him to let go a few of his warriors even a guy like Woli who still has more to give on the field. He should have been able to let go some other warriors before they had nothing left to give. I hope this is a sign that he's learning.

[bigg jay]

2 minutes ago, Colin Unger said:

As much as some of us don't agree with the decision on Woli...  I feel like he was a guy who Oshea connected with well.  I think its a decent enough sign that Oshea had it in him to let go a few of his warriors even a guy like Woli who still has more to give on the field. He should have been able to let go some other warriors before they had nothing left to give. I hope this is a sign that he's learning.

You're assuming it was MOS who made that call.  

[Colin Unger]

Just now, bigg jay said:

You're assuming it was MOS who made that call.  

I do believe that he had to sign off on it yes. Ultimately the way Oshea's contract was prioritized over Walters.. Yes i think O'Shea would have to be in agreement on those type of decisions. 

[MOBomberFan]

3 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

You're assuming it was MOS who made that call.  

Considering he made the phone call to release Woli, I'd call it taking ownership of the decision regardless

[GCn20]

Anyone suggesting that MOS is a poor coach overall is crazy. He is a fantastic coach with a few flaws. 

[Colin Unger]

Not sure why you're confused.  When Wade Miller shows that much more respect for O'Shea and then Walters do you really think in that type of working environment that Kyle is dictating all kinds of things to Oshea?  I think they very much work together and come to group decisions. 

[bigg jay]

4 minutes ago, Colin Unger said:

I do believe that he had to sign off on it yes. Ultimately the way Oshea's contract was prioritized over Walters.. Yes i think O'Shea would have to be in agreement on those type of decisions. 

How do you figure his contract gave him GM powers?  HC is always under the GM in the power structure.  

I'm sure MOS had his opinion on it but at the end of the day that's the role of the GM, the same way signing new players is.  Nobody is saying why didn't MOS sign **insert player here**, it's all about what Walters is doing and this is no different.

[GCn20]

Just now, Colin Unger said:

Not sure why you're confused.  When Wade Miller shows that much more respect for O'Shea and then Walters do you really think in that type of working environment that Kyle is dictating all kinds of things to Oshea?  I think they very much work together and come to group decisions. 

I think Kyle and Osh work extremely closely together on the roster, and that Miller is very much in the loop.

[MOBomberFan]

...and yet, the Seal was exclusively an Oshea thing, it can't go both ways

[Colin Unger]

You guys can't have it both ways though.  The sentiment i get is that Oshea gets most if not all the blame for guys like Biggie playing as long as they did. But when it comes to letting guys go then its all Walters?

[bigg jay]

2 minutes ago, MOBomberFan said:

Considering he made the phone call to release Woli, I'd call it taking ownership of the decision regardless

Agreed.  Whether or not MOS was in agreement with the decision, it could have been simply that he had a good bond with Woli & wanted to be the one to break it to him.

[GCn20]

4 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

How do you figure his contract gave him GM powers?  HC is always under the GM in the power structure.  

I'm sure MOS had his opinion on it but at the end of the day that's the role of the GM, the same way signing new players is.  Nobody is saying why didn't MOS sign **insert player here**, it's all about what Walters is doing and this is no different.

Walters and Osh likely have long conversations about preferred roster, and then Kyle does the best he can after within the SMS. I am sure that if say a Kenny Lawler becomes too expensive that Walters circles back to Osh and lets him know what options are on the table. We can keep Lawler but have to let X other player walk, or we let Kenny go and I try pivot this way....etc.

2 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

Agreed.  Whether or not MOS was in agreement with the decision, it could have been simply that he had a good bond with Woli & wanted to be the one to break it to him.

Football is a business, and I am sure that MOS would love every player to be back plus 10 more....however, Walters is responsible for slicing the pie and he tells MOS who he can have off his wishlist. I am sure there are some lively conversations that go back and forth but at the end of the day we live in a SMS world.

Edited 13 hours ago by GCn20

[bigg jay]

20 minutes ago, Colin Unger said:

You guys can't have it both ways though.  The sentiment i get is that Oshea gets most if not all the blame for guys like Biggie playing as long as they did. But when it comes to letting guys go then its all Walters?

2 separate issues.  MOS (imo) gets the lion's share of the blame (or credit) when it comes down to the game day roster and how it's used.  Walters is the one who is responsible for how it's built.  I have no doubt that they work together or have input on the make-up of the roster but who sees the field and when is a HC duty, not a GM.

Using the Biggie example - we hoped that Walters would move on from him (contract issue) but we wondered why MOS had him on the field sometimes like in GC 2023 (playtime issue).  MOS deservedly got the blame for the playtime issue but if Walters had resigned him for 2025, we would have s**t all over him for that.

Edited 12 hours ago by bigg jay

[bigg jay]

11 minutes ago, MOBomberFan said:

...and yet, the Seal was exclusively an Oshea thing, it can't go both ways

That's also an active roster decision.  MOS does get the blame for him being on the AR when he clearly had no business being on the field but Walters was the one who signed him in the first place so he's not totally blameless.  They didn't bring him back for year two at least so we can give them some credit for cutting their losses. 

[Colin Unger]

 

I wonder if we will get back in on some of these players.  Nothing is official until actual free agency starts. 
 

[Bigblue204]

5 minutes ago, Colin Unger said:

 

I wonder if we will get back in on some of these players.  Nothing is official until actual free agency starts. 
 

I would find it hard to believe teams found out about this today like we are. I'm guessing this has been in the works for at least a few weeks.

[Colin Unger]

21 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

That's also an active roster decision.  MOS does get the blame for him being on the AR when he clearly had no business being on the field but Walters was the one who signed him in the first place so he's not totally blameless.  They didn't bring him back for year two at least so we can give them some credit for cutting their losses. 

By your logic though Biggy playing with us from as many seasons as he did he 100% a Walters thing. You can't only blame O'Shea for giving him too large of a role in the defense. 

[sweep the leg]

10 minutes ago, Colin Unger said:

 

I wonder if we will get back in on some of these players.  Nothing is official until actual free agency starts. 
 

I can’t imagine the teams are only finding out about this today.

[Mike]

1 minute ago, sweep the leg said:

I can’t imagine the teams are only finding out about this today.

Yeah, that Friesen tweet is ridiculous on so many levels.

The optics of announcing it now for the CFL are truly bad though  

[Goalie]

Teams knew about this a while ago. They not gonna be like oh hey guys caps going up eventho the free agency window opened a few days ago but a sign that perhaps the cfl is running on fumes cuz again odd timing. Why not a week ago.  As for O’Shea and Walters and their relationship, it seems some ppl take the opinion of others as fact when it’s just some fans opinion. It would appear Kyle does gm things. And Osh does coach things. What? Who knows really. None of our business really. But not sure why ppl take fans opinions as fact. You know the other day a guy said he was told Kenny would be back here. Just saying. 
 

but bringing it all back to the original thought, CFL been doing lots of kind of weird time things this off season. The schedule took forever to release also. Who knows there. 
 

any word on who the new commissioner is gonna be? 

Edited 12 hours ago by Goalie

[bigg jay]

1 minute ago, Colin Unger said:

By your logic though Biggy playing with us from as many seasons as he did he 100% a Walters thing. You can't only blame O'Shea for giving him too large of a role in the defense. 

His tenure with the team is absolutely on Walters - it's not 100% because MOS has his input but at the end of the day, the buck stops at Walters for that.

I don't even think keeping him around this long was the problem though, it's how he was used which is squarely on MOS or unless you think Walters meddles in the active roster.  If they had kept him around in a lesser role or even just not played him when he was clearly injured, I don't think him being here this long would be an issue.  We're hoping they do the same with Jake Thomas - clearly not a starter at this point in his career (and hasn't been for a while) but he can still fill a role if used properly.

[Goalie]

Part of bighill playing when hurt is on Walters tho cuz he never brought anyone in to replace him. Part of that is on MOS and let’s not pretend bighill wasn’t telling the ppl he wasn’t healthy either. Oshs biggest issue might be he believes his players and takes them at their word. Cuz I played sports and you know what. You had to drag me off the ice or field. I’d never voluntarily say I couldn’t play. Ever. Bighill wouldn’t have played if he was honest and said he couldn’t. Zach wouldn’t have went back in if he said he couldn’t. It’s on all of them but absolving the player is kinda crazy. It’s like constantly blaming coaches when the team loses. Yeah blame the coach but he’s not the one throwing picks or missing tackles. 

Edited 12 hours ago by Goalie

[Noeller]

I think too many assumptions here about what goes on between The Trinity. We know that Osh and Walters have been close friends for many many years and we know that Wade is often in on personnel conversations, but the extent of each piece of that puzzle... We really don't know. 

[Goalie]

Maybe I watched different games last year but I thought the O was pretty lacklustre and disappointing for the amount of money they allocated to the O. Lots of games couldn’t put up 20 points so to see change on the O side of things (woli lawler Dobson) isn’t that surprising. I actually expected it. You can’t bring the same guys back who stunk it up most games last year. I mean believe Calgary was the only team who put up less points on O than we did. Change was inevitable. D was good. It’s just not your regular cfl D ppl are used to but our D was strong last year. We allowed the least amount of points. So all of these changes. They make sense.  Lawler been chasing the $$$ his whole career. 275k is a significant overpay.  I liked the guy but man he’s like OBJ right now. Reputation built on a couple ridiculous catches but take those away and he’s just average or even less than average honestly. 

Edited 11 hours ago by Goalie

[Booch]

1 hour ago, Colin Unger said:

I do believe that he had to sign off on it yes. Ultimately the way Oshea's contract was prioritized over Walters.. Yes i think O'Shea would have to be in agreement on those type of decisions. 

G.M's run the team and the sms...Sure a coach will say what he would like...etc....but the finality is always on the G.M...Any other way and you get severe dysfunction and tire fires

 

1 hour ago, MOBomberFan said:

Considering he made the phone call to release Woli, I'd call it taking ownership of the decision regardless

A good players coach...and no dispute in Osh being exactly that and a great mentor as a person and pro.... They would want to male that call as they would have more connection and interaction with said player(s)

1 hour ago, GCn20 said:

Anyone suggesting that MOS is a poor coach overall is crazy. He is a fantastic coach with a few flaws. 

yup he is a good coach...better yet a real leader of men for sure...but he has a few almost fatal flaws...can he over come them?

1 hour ago, Colin Unger said:

Not sure why you're confused.  When Wade Miller shows that much more respect for O'Shea and then Walters do you really think in that type of working environment that Kyle is dictating all kinds of things to Oshea?  I think they very much work together and come to group decisions. 

You obviously dont know the structure and how the dynamics work...certainly they work together but a G.M will always overule and have final say on the overall picture...or should.....and a Prez will for most part run things in the back ground and let his leaders lead...until things go batshit crazy off the rails due to supreme incompatence

1 hour ago, bigg jay said:

How do you figure his contract gave him GM powers?  HC is always under the GM in the power structure.  

I'm sure MOS had his opinion on it but at the end of the day that's the role of the GM, the same way signing new players is.  Nobody is saying why didn't MOS sign **insert player here**, it's all about what Walters is doing and this is no different.

correct

50 minutes ago, Colin Unger said:

 

I wonder if we will get back in on some of these players.  Nothing is official until actual free agency starts. 
 

GM's knew the increase back in December...

as for the roster..who and why played...the roster is totally on the HC game in and game out...he decides who plays...and playing less than the best players...or injured ones falls directly onhim

The 2 inferior DT's we rolled out adnauseum took reps away from better guys on the roster...or relagated them to the PR

Walters also brought in linebacker talent...and the HC cut them, or didnt feel the need to have one...2 on the PR to develop and or be there as depth...Our PR in general the last 3 yrs has been horrid...again...thats on the coach...The G.M may ask a few questions and maybe be displeased but in a well functioning team he will not step in and over ride the HC's roster decisions....tho at time he should have...but thats a slippery slope