2024/2025 CFL (non-Bomber) Off-Season Thread

[SpeedFlex27]

15 hours ago, Tracker said:

The explanation for Dru Brown's struggles in Ottawa was likely more than just inexperience. The whole team was thin on talent and depth. even in coaching.

They gave Bobby Dyce an extension as well. We'll see how long that lasts. 

On 2025-04-05 at 11:27 AM, Fatty Liver said:

Zach can go one of two ways, he can try to reinvigorate his career and hang on as long as possible as Trevor Harris and BLM are desperately attempting to do by staying in top physical condition and adjusting their games as needed, or he can allow time to take it's toll and pack in his career within the next year or 2 without breaking a sweat.  If he reinvigorated, he might be able to stretch out his career another 3-5 years, eventually ending up as a backup QB on some perpetual bottomfeeder, which hopefully is not the Blue Bombers.

How can someone "reinvigorate" his career? He can either play or he can't. 

On 2025-04-04 at 3:07 PM, Brandon said:

So how long before Chris Jones returns as HC of the Elks?   

Do they have a thing against trying new people out in positions? It feels like it's a constant recycling of has beens with them.   

I doubt if you'll see Chris Jones ever be HC in Edmonton again. He may show up in the CFL after a HC elsewhere is fired. 

[SpeedFlex27]

8 hours ago, Fatty Liver said:

You'll be happy to hear Bob Dyce has been extended again!  Richly rewarded for pushing his team past .500. for the first time evverrrr!

https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/03/redblacks-extend-head-coach-bob-dyce-through-2026/

 

 

 

They were 12-6 in 2015.

[bigg jay]

1 hour ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

They were 12-6 in 2015.

First time over .500 with Hall as HC is probably what he means.

[wbbfan]

10 hours ago, Fatty Liver said:

You'll be happy to hear Bob Dyce has been extended again!  Richly rewarded for pushing his team past .500. for the first time evverrrr!

https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/03/redblacks-extend-head-coach-bob-dyce-through-2026/

 

Rick Campbell is lurking, pretending he cares about kickers and punt returns and trying to look innocuous, but it's difficult for an innocuous personality to pretend he's truly innocuous.

Yeah, I saw that. Surprising but also a sign they are accepting mediocrity for now. I think highly of bobby dyce as a CFL football mind and leader. I haven't seen a glimmer in a long while of him translating any of that into being a good HC. And it's kind of late. I feel like he's best off as a positional/depth coach who can do a bunch behind the scenes. Good guy to help a younger Co or future co develop, QC for a co, help the scout team etc. 

[Goalie]

On 2025-04-03 at 11:02 PM, Mark H. said:

Which is why I want to see how Buck utilizes Rourke.  It'll be a good indicator of how much of the Bombers' offensive decline was his fault.

Do you know if rourke putting in the work means learning to read a CFL D cuz that’s his biggest problem. He can’t do that. 

[Fatty Liver]

5 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

They were 12-6 in 2015.

Don't spoil the parade.

[Mark H.]

1 hour ago, Goalie said:

Do you know if rourke putting in the work means learning to read a CFL D cuz that’s his biggest problem. He can’t do that. 

Obviously I don't know that, but his coach sure should.

[Goalie]

7 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

Obviously I don't know that, but his coach sure should.

Yes will be interesting. Buck will be a first year head coach. An interesting team to watch. CFL could be quite interesting this season and beyond. 

[wbbfan]

I think both rourke and zach will perform better than last years struggles. How much will be personal and how much will be coaching is gonna be a big deal for both teams futures. 

[Booch]

On the fence with ZC.....I think he was failed a bit by coaching last yr...Buck is gone so we will see if that was part of it 

I also think part was his physical ability has eroded ...and came on fast....will it continue this yr, or was it a combination of a few things that amplified it? We will find out shortly

I do believe tho he is a guy who needs familiarity around him now, also a real strong group around him to be even remotely close to the guy he appeared to be in 2019 and 2021.....and pre ACL injury with Hamilton....a guy who can elevate others play around him and take over a situation and almost will the team to victory...those days went bye bye in 2023...sure there may seem to be a moment here....and there...but moments are all they are now, it's not in his makeup anymore

He now needs guys to elevate around him and have them take over games....as I dont think he can do that now....and he's a one trick pony now....if the play isnt there, and or breaks down around him...he has become a turnover machine and a guy who has become prone to fumbling ball, and making bad panicked decisions...I hope we use a lot of packages without him this yr...integrate eithe Strev or Wilson into more game day play and that Osh has the plums...and sense to yank him when he scuffling, it only will benefit us in crunch time...too many season now we have been reluctant to give him the hook...even when he wasnt physically able to be effective cause we never integrated the back-up at all all yr

It's a good thing we had BO last yr to elevate the team and drag us to some W's with his will to win or it woulda been fugly ugly last yr....it was pretty fugly as it was. 

I'd be shocked if he is brought back in 2026 regardless how this seson goes, tho with Osh at the controls...we all know how the shocking and stupid is the norm

[Brandon]

1 hour ago, Booch said:

I'd be shocked if he is brought back in 2026 regardless how this seson goes, tho with Osh at the controls...we all know how the shocking and stupid is the norm

I'm mostly worried that O'Shea will wait until it is painfully obvious that we need to move on from starting QB and that they'll sign him for another season even if he has an incredible mediocre 2025.   We've seen it before.   

I don't think Strev will be the answer since he's damaged goods,   I wonder who will be available and if they use a bridge QB for a year or two. 

[rebusrankin]

So this is Calgary's half time show for their game against us on July 3.

https://www.stampeders.com/2025/04/07/bret-michaels-to-perform-at-stampede-bowl/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJhSnlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHk9IUaDN1xNXM-plkRSMhOjnntzBJFuuNEzCgw4lWeStEiiWqDXn9sgEFqOB_aem_qM8xIiUr02ayKgfrrvB-EQ

[SpeedFlex27]

7 hours ago, Mark H. said:

Obviously I don't know that, but his coach sure should.

You can bet that Buck has been spending time going over the playbook.

[Booch]

25 minutes ago, Brandon said:

I'm mostly worried that O'Shea will wait until it is painfully obvious that we need to move on from starting QB and that they'll sign him for another season even if he has an incredible mediocre 2025.   We've seen it before.   

I don't think Strev will be the answer since he's damaged goods,   I wonder who will be available and if they use a bridge QB for a year or two. 

Coming back from knee reconstruction now...even when it is acl and pcl like he had is a walk in park now..that shouldn't be a concern there

The concern is how the use him...but seeing as he got assurance prior to signing that he wint be used/treated like last 2 seasons here i think we may have eyes opened..he wouldn't have signed here and from what I hear would of landed in cgy

[SpeedFlex27]

13 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

So this is Calgary's half time show for their game against us on July 3.

https://www.stampeders.com/2025/04/07/bret-michaels-to-perform-at-stampede-bowl/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJhSnlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHk9IUaDN1xNXM-plkRSMhOjnntzBJFuuNEzCgw4lWeStEiiWqDXn9sgEFqOB_aem_qM8xIiUr02ayKgfrrvB-EQ

Desperation time. In years previous, the Stamps went on the road for the Stampede because 1.2 million people were whooping it up for 10 days. We'll see if this game draws more than 25000. I guess in today's market that would be a good crowd seeing as we can't even sell out LD anymore. Thursday is also Sneak A Peek at the Stampede where people can get in for half price so they'll be competing with families who'll have to decide to come to the Stampede to save a bit of money or go to the game.

1 minute ago, Booch said:

Coming back from knee reconstruction now...even when it is acl and pcl like he had is a walk in park now..that shouldn't be a concern there

The concern is how the use him...but seeing as he got assurance prio's a problem between tsr to signing that he wint be used/treated like last 2 seasons here i think we may have eyes opened..he wouldn't have signed here and from what I hear would of landed in cgy

Buck really is a **** OC. He may wreck Rourke. If there's a problem between those 2 & Doman intervenes, you know who'll get the boot.

[Fatty Liver]

17 hours ago, Brandon said:

I'm mostly worried that O'Shea will wait until it is painfully obvious that we need to move on from starting QB and that they'll sign him for another season even if he has an incredible mediocre 2025.   We've seen it before.   

I don't think Strev will be the answer since he's damaged goods,   I wonder who will be available and if they use a bridge QB for a year or two. 

Replacing Zach won't be a last minute fix, they'd better be looking miles down the road as they don't have a stellar record of finding or developing their own QB's and the odds Wilson will emerge as an effective starter are probably less than 50%.  Might be the best option to trade for the rights to a promising QB that gets stranded behind a starter on another team before they reach FA, as Ottawa did with Dru Brown, not sure such a QB even exists in the CFL right now. I like Jarret Doege in Edmonton, but so far he hasn't been given a chance to show much.

If it all came to a head at the end of this season, Fajardo or MBT would be the most likely candidates to fill in for a few years, the Bombers could continue to win most games with either.

Edited April 8 by Fatty Liver

[17to85]

31 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

If it all came to a head at the end of this season, Fajardo or MBT would be the most likely candidates to fill in for a few year

Gross. No. Streveler way before that cancer.

[Fatty Liver]

15 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Gross. No. Streveler way before that cancer.

I think Strev's ceiling is winning 50% of the games he starts as long as his health holds out, but after he sustains serious injury they'd be back to square one.  PA Stadium is going to become a miserable place to go if they can't keep the wins rolling after Zach is gone.

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, Fatty Liver said:

I think Strev's ceiling is winning 50% of the games he starts as long as his health holds out, but after he sustains serious injury they'd be back to square one.  PA Stadium is going to become a miserable place to go if they can't keep the wins rolling after Zach is gone.

You think his ceiling is 50% and mbt/fajardo is what you think is the answer? That’s wild lol. 
 

19 hours ago, Brandon said:

I'm mostly worried that O'Shea will wait until it is painfully obvious that we need to move on from starting QB and that they'll sign him for another season even if he has an incredible mediocre 2025.   We've seen it before.   

I don't think Strev will be the answer since he's damaged goods,   I wonder who will be available and if they use a bridge QB for a year or two. 

I don’t think zachs body will hold up that long. I think Zach will play better than his start last year, but I don’t think he finishes the year as the starting qb. Injuries stack up quickly and diminish zachs mental state quickly. We’ve already seen the depths of that. And I don’t think he will be 100% again in his career. Slippery slope out the door for a guy like him. The edge between being very good and not being able to compete is slim. 

[Booch]

1 hour ago, Fatty Liver said:

I think Strev's ceiling is winning 50% of the games he starts as long as his health holds out, but after he sustains serious injury they'd be back to square one.  PA Stadium is going to become a miserable place to go if they can't keep the wins rolling after Zach is gone.

If he wins the right 50% then I am all for it...get us to the dance is all we need...as seen in 2019....I also think you selling Strev wayyyyyy short.....he was a victim of lunacy here....plain and simple...watch him from his first year...to what they tried to make him....night and day...If they would have just developed him as a QB from season 2...and then upon his return he'd be light yrs ahead....and prob not have gotten hurt

The worst thing Strev did was let the league see what he can do with his leg...when it was there...or required and we almost destroyed him with it....His running isnt nearly effective when everyone in the stadium..coaches..fans..players and hot dog vendors know exactly whats coming....the who9le staff should have been canned for that B.S if you ask me...

30 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

You think his ceiling is 50% and mbt/fajardo is what you think is the answer? That’s wild lol. 
 

I don’t think zachs body will hold up that long. I think Zach will play better than his start last year, but I don’t think he finishes the year as the starting qb. Injuries stack up quickly and diminish zachs mental state quickly. We’ve already seen the depths of that. And I don’t think he will be 100% again in his career. Slippery slope out the door for a guy like him. The edge between being very good and not being able to compete is slim. 

yeah pretty obvious the last 2 yrs his body is breaking down...even on some shots he takes where he didnt get a obvious injury you can see it....he not absorbimg them as well and it's affecting his usefulness....I not sold on if he lasts thru the yr this yr either...and hopefully if he not right we dont keep running him out there over and over and neglect the backup getting valuable play time...so as not to be in the situation we been before...with little or no faith...or trust in using said backup

[Bigblue204]

4 hours ago, Fatty Liver said:

Replacing Zach won't be a last minute fix, they'd better be looking miles down the road as they don't have a stellar record of finding or developing their own QB's and the odds Wilson will emerge as an effective starter are probably less than 50%.  Might be the best option to trade for the rights to a promising QB that gets stranded behind a starter on another team before they reach FA, as Ottawa did with Dru Brown, not sure such a QB even exists in the CFL right now. I like Jarret Doege in Edmonton, but so far he hasn't been given a chance to show much.

If it all came to a head at the end of this season, Fajardo or MBT would be the most likely candidates to fill in for a few years, the Bombers could continue to win most games with either.

Not sure how anyone can say they like Doege over Streveler.  And I'm not even in the Streveler is the future camp. I am however, very high on Wilson.

Being worried about winning games and then saying you'd take Fajardo or MBT...is...certainly an interesting take.

[Brandon]

MBT can throw the ball and is durable.  I'd have no issues if they can't find anyone else.  

I'm hoping Strev or Wilson can get some real play time and can show that they can run the O this season.   

[Fatty Liver]

3 hours ago, wbbfan said:

You think his ceiling is 50% and mbt/fajardo is what you think is the answer? That’s wild lol. 
 

They're both proven and have accomplished much more than Strev. has, so far he's not shown he can stay healthy through an entire season due to the physical style he chooses to play the game.  If some people are happy with a .500 record that 's nice, but I don't think it's good enough to earn a playoff berth in an improving West division or compete against the top 2 Eastern teams when the chips are down.  

As far as stats go Fajardo outperformed Zach last season in most categories despite missing many games, his averages were better and he had a much higher efficiency rating, plus he's still an effective ball carrier going into his 9th season.  I personally don't care for him, but objectively that makes no difference in recognizing his experience, motivation and skill set.  

[Booch]

29 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

They're both proven and have accomplished much more than Strev. has, so far he's not shown he can stay healthy through an entire season due to the physical style he chooses to play the game.  If some people are happy with a .500 record that 's nice, but I don't think it's good enough to earn a playoff berth in an improving West division or compete against the top 2 Eastern teams when the chips are down.  

As far as stats go Fajardo outperformed Zach last season in most categories despite missing many games, his averages were better and he had a much higher efficiency rating, plus he's still an effective ball carrier going into his 9th season.  I personally don't care for him, but objectively that makes no difference in recognizing his experience, motivation and skill set.  

Pretty sure that's not the style he chose..or wished to play...he didn't play that way in college...or his nfl opportunities...he played QB...ran if needed...had some designed called runs in college...but not the brain dead crap we made him do

31 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

They're both proven and have accomplished much more than Strev. has, so far he's not shown he can stay healthy through an entire season due to the physical style he chooses to play the game.  If some people are happy with a .500 record that 's nice, but I don't think it's good enough to earn a playoff berth in an improving West division or compete against the top 2 Eastern teams when the chips are down.  

As far as stats go Fajardo outperformed Zach last season in most categories despite missing many games, his averages were better and he had a much higher efficiency rating, plus he's still an effective ball carrier going into his 9th season.  I personally don't care for him, but objectively that makes no difference in recognizing his experience, motivation and skill set.  

Fajardo...Arbuckle...and a loony/pervert combo out performed ZC in 3 straight games when it mattered most...we should all let that absorb...mind you better coaching decisions and in game adjustments we likely win all 3...so that didn't help

[Noeller]

Strev started a regular season game for the Arizona Cardinals... He destroyed during pre season... I have lots of faith in him if he gets a chance to be a QB.