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

[Booch]

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

useage will be important, as much for opening up other opportunities in the scheme. Brady isn't the threat out side logan is, so the classic fb dive hb toss type thing we have seen maybe 2-3 times in the past is a good basis. As well as subbing logan for the jet sweep that demski stopped running last year. 

I think Logan likely subs in for the last imp wr in sets where we have both backs in play. Logan can still run some routes and is a big catch+run threat any way. 

I don't think MCI will get as many reps or the ball. I think his offensive reps will laregely be blocking in heavy set unless we lose a string of ni pass catchers. Or unless MCI takes some massive leap forward as a ball carrier. How he looks in camp running the ball is one of the biggest things I'm waiting to see. Won't see too much of the scheme on open days. So it's mostly how MCI runs, if kev/gabe took a stepforward, if zach can throw with out a finger falling off, if strevy is being decisive and throwing with authority or allowed to do those things, who moves around in the secondary, and who steps up in the front 6.  

I hope we dont basically waste MCI by just making him another Feltmate...as thats what I see occuring

The fact that you can bring a big bodied guy in that has ultra athleticism you gotta find ways to disguise his use from just crashing down off the edge...every play.....you could in all practicality use any player for soley just that role....my as well find a Canadian Armed forces guy to do it instead of burning a valuable DI spot on and American one all yr like we did...lol...I kidding here but u know what I mean...If your "end" is a threat to take a pass...toss....it helps that jumbo short yardage package even more as he needs to be accounted for

We used to be unique...use sneaky plays...obscure rules....took chances...what happened to that...since we have become pedestrian vanilla/predictable in a lot of in game situations...we have gone 0-3 in GreyCups....

[wbbfan]

23 minutes ago, Booch said:

yeah wasnt attacking u by any means...was adding to what u said...and agree....prob will get limited....hope he doesnt....he shouldn't

as  @wbbfan brought up...how we structure our roster we have limited DI options...tho maybe with a solid draft and a switch with not being so concrete in what we do position wise we can better use our DI's

Also a more liberal use of our Nationalized Americans we can off-set our limited roster flexibility

As much as I like what Castillo can do...I hate burning a DI in that spot...we should be doing whatever it takes to nationalize that spot....Punter too....I have no issue with a Global there and not better using one as a quality rotational piece if said Punter was head and shoulders one the best in the league.....and he far from that

yeah its really hard to burn a DI on a k, plus a global on a P. We should work on developing a K again that is G or Ni and who can do all the jobs. In the mean time we should also give the P job to sergio too.

19 minutes ago, Booch said:

I hope we dont basically waste MCI by just making him another Feltmate...as thats what I see occuring

The fact that you can bring a big bodied guy in that has ultra athleticism you gotta find ways to disguise his use from just crashing down off the edge...every play.....you could in all practicality use any player for soley just that role....my as well find a Canadian Armed forces guy to do it instead of burning a valuable DI spot on and American one all yr like we did...lol...I kidding here but u know what I mean...If your "end" is a threat to take a pass...toss....it helps that jumbo short yardage package even more as he needs to be accounted for

We used to be unique...use sneaky plays...obscure rules....took chances...what happened to that...since we have become pedestrian vanilla/predictable in a lot of in game situations...we have gone 0-3 in GreyCups....

I like that he has a high floor, but I hope we don't give up on his high ceiling as well. I hope he was working his butt off in the off season on running and catching drills. 

I hope we see a heavy dose of him carrying the rock in camp and PS this year. 

[Booch]

25 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

yeah its really hard to burn a DI on a k, plus a global on a P. We should work on developing a K again that is G or Ni and who can do all the jobs. In the mean time we should also give the P job to sergio too.

I like that he has a high floor, but I hope we don't give up on his high ceiling as well. I hope he was working his butt off in the off season on running and catching drills. 

I hope we see a heavy dose of him carrying the rock in camp and PS this year. 

yup...agreed....from lack of reps at the collegiate level as a ball carrier he got too upright and needs to rediscover his pad levels again....I think he can do it

I don't project him as a bell cow by any means...his body type...ala Dickerson...among others are just not 3 down ball carriers anymore...Unless you could create a Marcus Dupree again in a lab

His athleticism and strength...and his speed there no reason he cant be a 400 yard on the ground and 300 to 400 in passing in a type of hybrid role tho....as well as key in the Jumbo packages and play teams

[Mark H.]

32 minutes ago, Booch said:

His athleticism and strength...and his speed there no reason he cant be a 400 yard on the ground and 300 to 400 in passing in a type of hybrid role tho....as well as key in the Jumbo packages and play teams

I'd love to see a Durie type on the Bombers 

[Fatty Liver]

33 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

I'd love to see a Durie type on the Bombers 

Durie was a 5'8" 180 lb slotback that ran the ball quite well, more like a Demski/Dressler cross, don't think MCI could ever fit in the same category, he runs like he has heavy feet.  

[SpeedFlex27]

2 hours ago, wbbfan said:

yeah its really hard to burn a DI on a k, plus a global on a P. We should work on developing a K again that is G or Ni and who can do all the jobs. In the mean time we should also give the P job to sergio too.

 

The problem with developing a Canadian kicker is the 1 year deals. We have a Canadian on the roster & say we develop him. One day he replaces Castillo. Then the Canadian kicker's contract is up & he goes on the tour of NFL camps for a season or 2. Like Lirim Hajrullahu, he never comes back to the Bombers as he ultimately signs as a CFL FA elsewhere. To get him back, then we overpay. And that goes for virtually every position. It's hard to develop talent when they can & will be poached as free agents. The 1 year deals are a scourge that need to be eliminated. 

Looks like our Aussie punter is coming back. Oh joy. 

Edited Tuesday at 11:31 PM by SpeedFlex27

[wbbfan]

Just now, SpeedFlex27 said:

The problem with developing a Canadian kicker is the 1 year deals. We have a Canadian on the roster & say we develop him. One day he replaces Castillo. Then the Canadian kicker's contract is up & he goes on the tour of NFL camps for a season or 2. Like Lirim Hajrullahu, he never comes back to the Bombers as he ultimately signs as a CFL FA elsewhere. To get him back, then we overpay. And that goes for virtually every position. It's hard to develop talent when they can & will be poached as free agents. The 1 year deals are a scourge that need to be eliminated. 

The talent gap between a top 1/3 cfl p/k and even the bottom tier in the nfl is gigantic now. Legs has been hitting about 90% the last two years with out a sniff. 
 We can and do sign guys to longer. 
 

If any thing, the problem is a lack of talent at the position these days. 
 I’d also settle for a global who can do both jobs, but the leg talent up side is much higher there. 

[SpeedFlex27]

33 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

The talent gap between a top 1/3 cfl p/k and even the bottom tier in the nfl is gigantic now. Legs has been hitting about 90% the last two years with out a sniff. 
 We can and do sign guys to longer. 
 

If any thing, the problem is a lack of talent at the position these days. 
 I’d also settle for a global who can do both jobs, but the leg talent up side is much higher there. 

I think we have to concentrate on the best player at every position within the ratios. If a Kicker is a great one like Castillo, then really have no problem with it. However, if we waste a DI spot on a subpar punter like Sheahan, then yeah, we need to change. I'm hopeful we draft a punter out of U Sport but it looks like we won't. Osh & Walters seem happy with Sheahan. The Bombers, flush full of cash just do not want to spend on an area of need anywhere. They're happy with mediocre at positions like Center, DT & Punter. 

Edited Wednesday at 12:09 AM by SpeedFlex27

[Fatty Liver]

1 hour ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

The problem with developing a Canadian kicker is the 1 year deals. We have a Canadian on the roster & say we develop him. One day he replaces Castillo. Then the Canadian kicker's contract is up & he goes on the tour of NFL camps for a season or 2. Like Lirim Hajrullahu, he never comes back to the Bombers as he ultimately signs as a CFL FA elsewhere. To get him back, then we overpay. And that goes for virtually every position. It's hard to develop talent when they can & will be poached as free agents. The 1 year deals are a scourge that need to be eliminated. 

Looks like our Aussie punter is coming back. Oh joy. 

Lirim left after his second season with the Bombers when they picked up Medlock in FA in 2016.  He was literally booed out of the city for having a few really bad late season games, I'd be surprised if he ever wanted to play in Wpg. again after that.  

[SpeedFlex27]

7 hours ago, Fatty Liver said:

Lirim left after his second season with the Bombers when they picked up Medlock in FA in 2016.  He was literally booed out of the city for having a few really bad late season games, I'd be surprised if he ever wanted to play in Wpg. again after that.  

I wasn't talking about Lirim himself. It was just an example. My point is it's difficult to keep players as it is. If we just developed Canadians for certain positions like a kicker, we may have a difficult time doing so with 1 year contracts. 

[Booch]

16 hours ago, Fatty Liver said:

Durie was a 5'8" 180 lb slotback that ran the ball quite well, more like a Demski/Dressler cross, don't think MCI could ever fit in the same category, he runs like he has heavy feet.  

Drury as in role....multi faceted....not bodywise...MCI is actually faster than Drurie.....not as shifty tho...6 of this half dozen of that....groomd right he could be a nice asset

 

14 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

I think we have to concentrate on the best player at every position within the ratios. If a Kicker is a great one like Castillo, then really have no problem with it. However, if we waste a DI spot on a subpar punter like Sheahan, then yeah, we need to change. I'm hopeful we draft a punter out of U Sport but it looks like we won't. Osh & Walters seem happy with Sheahan. The Bombers, flush full of cash just do not want to spend on an area of need anywhere. They're happy with mediocre at positions like Center, DT & Punter. 

herein is where we have failed...we havnt identified the best players...and then fit it into the roster....we go into camp with this mental picture of what we want ratio/player wise and it's not giving us our best roster...hopefuly we are changing away from this

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 02:57 PM by Booch

[GCn20]

19 hours ago, Booch said:

yeah wasnt attacking u by any means...was adding to what u said...and agree....prob will get limited....hope he doesnt....he shouldn't

as  @wbbfan brought up...how we structure our roster we have limited DI options...tho maybe with a solid draft and a switch with not being so concrete in what we do position wise we can better use our DI's

Also a more liberal use of our Nationalized Americans we can off-set our limited roster flexibility

As much as I like what Castillo can do...I hate burning a DI in that spot...we should be doing whatever it takes to nationalize that spot....Punter too....I have no issue with a Global there and not better using one as a quality rotational piece if said Punter was head and shoulders one the best in the league.....and he far from that

You gotta think that BO is going to get 20+ touches a game. Doesn`t leave much for anyone else in the backfield. I want to see more out of our backfield but we got to spread the rock around with the passing game too. 

19 hours ago, Booch said:

I hope we dont basically waste MCI by just making him another Feltmate...as thats what I see occuring

The fact that you can bring a big bodied guy in that has ultra athleticism you gotta find ways to disguise his use from just crashing down off the edge...every play.....you could in all practicality use any player for soley just that role....my as well find a Canadian Armed forces guy to do it instead of burning a valuable DI spot on and American one all yr like we did...lol...I kidding here but u know what I mean...If your "end" is a threat to take a pass...toss....it helps that jumbo short yardage package even more as he needs to be accounted for

We used to be unique...use sneaky plays...obscure rules....took chances...what happened to that...since we have become pedestrian vanilla/predictable in a lot of in game situations...we have gone 0-3 in GreyCups....

Buck happened. Say what you want about Lapo but he was way more creative than Buck with formations, motion, and progressions. Buck was far more of a risk taker, and that worked for a time but his overall playbook was more vanilla than Lapos....and that`s saying something.

[Booch]

34 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

You gotta think that BO is going to get 20+ touches a game. Doesn`t leave much for anyone else in the backfield. I want to see more out of our backfield but we got to spread the rock around with the passing game too. 

Buck happened. Say what you want about Lapo but he was way more creative than Buck with formations, motion, and progressions. Buck was far more of a risk taker, and that worked for a time but his overall playbook was more vanilla than Lapos....and that`s saying something.

Yeah...I really had or would have had no issues with Lapo if he had a bit bigger plums sometimes...Buck was good at creating a game plan...but was a horrible game day manager of it...especially when things weren't working...smart guy and good concepts...but think he had a hard time thinking on the fly or in the moment if he had to go off script

Logan I can see getting touches with BO on field....with swings and pitches...be an outlet....even sole backfield guy with BO spread out wide...especially with the body transformation...gonna be interesting....More curious to what we do with Demski and if he has a resurgence...he was less than stellar last yr....tho he was also ignored  way too much in our schemes...even as a decoy.....He was knicked a lot last yr but still not a reason to exclude him as much as we did

[Blue In BC]

17 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

I think we have to concentrate on the best player at every position within the ratios. If a Kicker is a great one like Castillo, then really have no problem with it. However, if we waste a DI spot on a subpar punter like Sheahan, then yeah, we need to change. I'm hopeful we draft a punter out of U Sport but it looks like we won't. Osh & Walters seem happy with Sheahan. The Bombers, flush full of cash just do not want to spend on an area of need anywhere. They're happy with mediocre at positions like Center, DT & Punter. 

Our global punter does not use a spot as a DI. The roster rules we must have at least 1 global on the roster while a 2nd is optional at the cost of a Canadian choice. To that end, choosing a global as a punter is a good choice. Very few globals succeed in any other position on CFL rosters.

It's not unusual for a CFL team to have an import K or P as a DI due to the supply demand issue. Most often if tends to be a K while teams roster a global punter.

I think we'd all like to see a Canadian K in particular or a K do all 3 jobs but obviously that's easier said than done.

 

[wbbfan]

https://3downnation.com/2025/04/16/veteran-qb-dominique-davis-retires-from-cfl/

The davis era is finally over. 

[wbbfan]

1 minute ago, Blue In BC said:

Our global punter does not use a spot as a DI. The roster rules we must have at least 1 global on the roster while a 2nd is optional at the cost of a Canadian choice. To that end, choosing a global as a punter is a good choice. Very few globals succeed in any other position on CFL rosters.

It's not unusual for a CFL team to have an import K or P as a DI due to the supply demand issue. Most often if tends to be a K while teams roster a global punter.

I think we'd all like to see a Canadian K in particular or a K do all 3 jobs but obviously that's easier said than done.

 

We've seen more globals coming in that are actual players in the last maybe 2 years. And that trend will only continue. We seeing more of the big athletes from rugby and of Samoan descent move into the global draft. And that well of talent is very deep.  

For us, we haven't had much global talent since we let Hansen go. 

A global guy who does all 3 jobs, or a combination that doesn't involve a DI, is a big win. A Canadian 3-job guy is certainly rare these days. I don't think a global 3 role kicker is a stretch, though. 

 Honestly, Sergio is a very solid punter as well. He should be doing all 3 roles again. 

The difference between having a DI American position player and a global rotational/teams guy with an NI 3 job kicker and having a DI K and global P is big. We don't get a ton of roster flexibility in terms of depth; that type of addition would be huge for us. 

 

I'm not saying we will hit on a 3 role global or DI overnight, but I am saying we should actively be using a PR spot to work on one. 

[17to85]

1 hour ago, Booch said:

Yeah...I really had or would have had no issues with Lapo if he had a bit bigger plums sometimes...Buck was good at creating a game plan...but was a horrible game day manager of it...especially when things weren't working...smart guy and good concepts...but think he had a hard time thinking on the fly or in the moment if he had to go off script

That is the only issue with lapo. He lacked an ability to sense those few moments in a game where taking a chance was worth it. 

Down 2 scores with little time left the guy was the best play caller going. Up 2 scores with half a game left the worst.

[Blue In BC]

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

We've seen more globals coming in that are actual players in the last maybe 2 years. And that trend will only continue. We seeing more of the big athletes from rugby and of Samoan descent move into the global draft. And that well of talent is very deep.  

For us, we haven't had much global talent since we let Hansen go. 

A global guy who does all 3 jobs, or a combination that doesn't involve a DI, is a big win. A Canadian 3-job guy is certainly rare these days. I don't think a global 3 role kicker is a stretch, though. 

 Honestly, Sergio is a very solid punter as well. He should be doing all 3 roles again. 

The difference between having a DI American position player and a global rotational/teams guy with an NI 3 job kicker and having a DI K and global P is big. We don't get a ton of roster flexibility in terms of depth; that type of addition would be huge for us. 

 

I'm not saying we will hit on a 3 role global or DI overnight, but I am saying we should actively be using a PR spot to work on one. 

I'd disagree that we're seeing more global players actually contribute in other positions. I did a search of all the current players on rosters and found squat besides those doing kicking duties.  I've in favour of converting global designations to the normal import spot. Add 2 import spots to the roster instead of global players. That would allow global players on rosters to continue if they win a spot.

At the moment the Bombers have 3 global players including Sheehan. We'll draft 2 more this draft.  I'm not expecting to see a 2nd global player on our 2025 AR roster. Two will win spots on the PR essentially by default. I

[Stickem]

2 hours ago, wbbfan said:

https://3downnation.com/2025/04/16/veteran-qb-dominique-davis-retires-from-cfl/

The davis era is finally over. 

Put himself out of his misery....Classic example of 'just not good enough'....Looked like a winner at the start but in the end couldn't deliver

[wbbfan]

52 minutes ago, Blue In BC said:

I'd disagree that we're seeing more global players actually contribute in other positions. I did a search of all the current players on rosters and found squat besides those doing kicking duties.  I've in favour of converting global designations to the normal import spot. Add 2 import spots to the roster instead of global players. That would allow global players on rosters to continue if they win a spot.

At the moment the Bombers have 3 global players including Sheehan. We'll draft 2 more this draft.  I'm not expecting to see a 2nd global player on our 2025 AR roster. Two will win spots on the PR essentially by default. I

We are, they just aren't getting premium time yet. check the top few guys on teams tackles, I think 3 ended up top 10 ish (its a long list.) and more teams rotated G DL last year.

I would bet we do roster a 2nd global this year. We have basically every year since globals came in. I wouldn't be stunned to see karamoko brought back again either. We will probably continue to draft the exact same kinds of guys in the global draft we always do. Athletic enough tweeners with out any polish. 

18 minutes ago, Stickem said:

Put himself out of his misery....Classic example of 'just not good enough'....Looked like a winner at the start but in the end couldn't deliver

yeah pretty much. Good on him for making him self a useful piece though. Guy must've made a good bit of money from pro football with out major injuries. Or talent. That isnt easy.

[Blue In BC]

2 hours ago, wbbfan said:

We are, they just aren't getting premium time yet. check the top few guys on teams tackles, I think 3 ended up top 10 ish (its a long list.) and more teams rotated G DL last year.

I would bet we do roster a 2nd global this year. We have basically every year since globals came in. I wouldn't be stunned to see karamoko brought back again either. We will probably continue to draft the exact same kinds of guys in the global draft we always do. Athletic enough tweeners with out any polish. 

yeah pretty much. Good on him for making him self a useful piece though. Guy must've made a good bit of money from pro football with out major injuries. Or talent. That isnt easy.

Last year the Bombers only used a 2nd global player when the injuries mounted up with our Canadian depth.  The teams 1st choice seemed to be to not bump the extra Canadian player off the AR.  Neither of the 2 non kickers on our roster recorded a stat. We didn't even retain Karamoko and no other team has signed him.

Players don't get premium time unless they earn it. Global players idea started in 2019 so 2024 was year 6th.

Edited Wednesday at 10:06 PM by Blue In BC

[wbbfan]

7 minutes ago, Blue In BC said:

Last year the Bombers only used a 2nd global player when the injuries mounted up with our Canadian depth.  The teams 1st choice seemed to be to not bump the extra Canadian player off the AR.  Neither of the 2 non kickers on our roster recorded a sack.

Not true, we started out with karamoko playing and saw heavy rotation for the first 1/3rd of the year. 
Lucky rostered once, weitz 8 times including the gc. 
 I think our lack of depth contributed to this down the road though. And I think we will be better poised not to have to go two globals if we don’t want to. 

Edited Wednesday at 10:07 PM by wbbfan

[Blue In BC]

5 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Not true, we started out with karamoko playing and saw heavy rotation for the first 1/3rd of the year. 

3 seasons, 7 games and 3 ST stats total. No DT's recorded. You really want to hang your hat on that and the fact we didn't re-sign him?

[wbbfan]

52 minutes ago, Blue In BC said:

3 seasons, 7 games and 3 ST stats total. No DT's recorded. You really want to hang your hat on that and the fact we didn't re-sign him?

You’re moving the goal posts. You said “we only used 2 globals when injuries mounted up with our Canadians.” Fact is, we broke camp with 2 globals including karamoko in the dime role and went with that almost the whole season including grey cup with 2. That was always the plan. 
 
I didn’t say we brought in quality globals, I’ve clearly stated many times we have been random with global draft since 22/23. 
 

ample teams and rotational/package global talent is available. 

[Fatty Liver]

5 hours ago, Blue In BC said:

Last year the Bombers only used a 2nd global player when the injuries mounted up with our Canadian depth.  The teams 1st choice seemed to be to not bump the extra Canadian player off the AR.  Neither of the 2 non kickers on our roster recorded a stat. We didn't even retain Karamoko and no other team has signed him.

Players don't get premium time unless they earn it. Global players idea started in 2019 so 2024 was year 6th.

New commissioner's first announcement:

"Randy Ambrosie has left the building.....can all global players please form a single line and move towards the nearest exit, you're services are no longer required."