Bauming was on Twitter with the free agency status of all the Bombers. Nevis and Fogg are both free agents. Nevis is pretty decent, but it’s not the end of the world if he’s gone. I don’t want Fogg starting and he wasn’t great returning this year, so he can go too. Alexander is a free agent too, hopefully they can get someone better than him. Unfortunately, Randle will be back next year, hopefully they find someone else who can actually cover. Loffler is a free agent, I feel they’ll re-sign him though. Leggett needs to retire for his health’s safety, and even if he comes back, I’m not sure he’ll be great anymore. Wild will probably retire too.
Offensively, I agree the team will probably be about the same. LaFrance and Flanders will be gone, so I’d say after Harris, Augustine is the new backup. Dressler wants to come back. Receivers should be Adams, Dressler, Wolitarsky, Demski, Petermann and Simonise. Hopefully they find someone better to replace Thompkins - a big guy like you say. The O Line will likely be exactly as you say. QB will probably be Nichols. I’m lay with bringing him back as the starter, but he needs to have a short leash. Streveler should be next in line, he should get a shot. Bennett can come back for his work on the teams, if not, just a warm body is okay.
Medlock might retire, and if he does, we should definitely go with a Canadian in his place. What happened to Menard-Briere? We’ll likely need a separate punter and kicker if Medlock leaves.
I’d bring Nelson back and give him a shot at returner. Our return game was trash this year, but he gave a little bit of hope in the playoffs.
Before I get into it, on Menard-Briere he was offered a practice roster spot out of camp. He rejected it. A week later he then signed in Ottawa on their practice roster. I believe he was released off the practice roster in Ottawa sometime during the summer. He was a punter only though and I think he has moved on from football at this point.
I really like Augustine, I think he will replace Harris in 2-3 years when he retires. Harris was a backup his first few years as well, iirc Cornish bounced around a bit too it sometimes takes a while for Canadian backs to establish themselves. I was really hoping the Bombers would draft him two years ago.
As for receivers I think we again go with just two nationals. So Petermann and Simonise will be backups again. I do think both are potential starters though, IMO. We have never had better canadian receivers in the past 25 years, IMO. I'm not sure if Dressler will be back for another year. His role diminished as the year went on, IMO. We'll see if he wants to come back for another year and if the Bombers want him back. We need some playmakers in the receiving corps, at least one more big deep threat to take some pressure off Adams, who is more of a #2, IMO. As long as it's not that jackass Carter.
The O-Line will drive this team again, but I think Gray will be there for Neufeld. I know they love Neufeld but Gray should be starting next year and Neufeld is the easiest to replace.
I don't get the hate for Fogg. I think he's been a very solid DB and his return ability is just a bonus. He's not a superstar but he's been consistent. Ditto Alexander. Randle plays the "hot" corner so he is always going to be a lightning rod. Much like Jovon Johnson, anybody who plays that spot is either a hero or a zero, depending on the play. I think Randle has been real solid there, he is very well regarded around the league for a reason. There's just very very few better corners in the CFL. We had one of the best pass D's in the league this year. Calgary allowed 11 passing TD's, we allowed 15 and next lowest was at 23. We were 5th in pass yards against. Altogether pretty solid. Loffler likely back.
The DL is likely set with Okpalaugo, Nevis, Bryant, Roh next year, IMO. We likely can't afford to keep Jeffcoat after his breakout year so Rivers or a rookie steps in as the other rotational DE. Jake Thomas is likely back as a backup DT.
The LB corps is where is gets interesting. Leggett likely done. Gaitor and Fenner are both signed for next year so both are back as the cover LB/extra HB. Where it gets interesting is that Bighill and Santos-Knox need BIG raises. Both there is no internal options right now since Wild is likely retired or back as a STer and backup (he is apparently one of if not the best leader on the defense) and Kyrie Wilson has never really shown much, IMO. They need both of those guys back. But can they afford them?
Special teams there is no question that things need to change. Our return game was atrocious this year. Fogg had spurts in the punt return and field goal return, but it decreased noticably as the year went on. In kick return we were terrible. One of the issues with holding onto an international kicker/punter means that there is no room on roster for an international KR/PR guy. So we need a starter with KR ability next year, and no Lankford is not an option because despite his versatility he is terrible as a WR. Medlock is back next year he has already said, despite in year's past him talking about retirement this year he said he is coming back.
At QB there's just no better options than bringing back Nichols on a short leash with Streveler pushing. I know there's some concerns about Streveler's arm but I think he will be a player. Next year, unlike this one, I think he has a legitimate shot to unseat Nichols.
Overall I think we agree on most things, except the secondary. I think once we went away from the passive sit back approach we saw the true potential of the defense and secondary. No one is going to cover if you give the opponant QB all day.
Going into the off-season this is my list.
Needs
1. Retain Bighill and Santos-Knox
2. Add a big speedy WR to complement Adams
3. Improve the return game
Wants (but unlikely to get)
1. Elite shutdown corner to move Randle to wide side
2. Either retain Jeffcoat or add elite pass rushing DE
3. Elite QB
Here's the thing. The Bombers are a veteran team with quality young nationals. This is a team set up to win for quite a while. With starting canadians in their prime at S, C, RG, SB, WR and quality young canadians at LG, backup SB, backup WR, backup OL x2/3 this means this is a team that should be able to contend for quite a while despite the older internationals which are easier to replace. The key will be tweaking it and finding the answer at QB. I think the Bombers will take a run at Reilly, Harris, Bo Levi but I'd be SHOCKED if they manage to get any of them.