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OT: Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2023 Season - Another terrible disappointment. NEXT: Tough Decisions on How to Rebuild.

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Blue Bombers transactions - Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Huge number of transactions as expected. I know basically nothing of these guys, but I'll comment on the ones I do know something about
Signings
WR Braxton Westfield (AMER)
DT Julius Turner (AMER)
OL Jakub Szott (CAN) - Former 4th round pick of OTT in 21 or 22, he spent a few weeks on the Bombers PR last year
P Jamieson Sheahan (GLO) - Bombers 2023 1st Round Pick in Global Draft

Releases
RB TaZawn Henry (AMER)
QB Cooper Calis (AMER)
OL Tyler Grisolia (CAN)
P Chris MacLean (CAN)
K Marc Orozca (AMER)
DB Cedric Lavigne (CAN) - Former depth Bombers pick who was also a LS in uni, he's bounced on and off the PR roster for the past couple of years. A release this early probably means end of the road for him, or he's banged up and they'll wait until he's healthy to bring him back
WR Michael O'Shea (CAN) - It was always going to take a miracle for him to crack the roster, but I thought they'd at least let him get into a pre-season game to get some tape down
DB Jordan Brown (AMER)
DB Tyrique McGhee (AMER)
DB Karon Delince (AMER)
DB Noah Hallett (CAN) - The big surprise obviously. The former 2nd round pick has just not been able to stay healthy. Reports are that he is still not healthy. Bombers may just not longer be concerned about him signing elsewhere and will bring him back when he gets healthy. Or his career may just be over.
WR Javon Heiligh (AMER) - A holdover from the PR from last year, kinda surprised he was released so quickly

Moved to 6 game IR
DE Thiadric Hansen (GLO) - Sorry @bustamente looks like I was wrong. So I guess we have no idea when Hansen will be back. Hansen spent his off-season in WPG, was a prominent member of the PR stuff Bombers ran all winter (along with Willie, Neufeld, Bighill, Gauthier) so I imagine there's little concern about his long term health, but we may have to wait until later in the summer to see him back on the field
LB Kyrie Wilson (AMER) - Ah yes this what I was concerned about. This is why they have so many American LB's in camp.

Moved to suspended list (usually means Bombers still like the player but they didn't show up in camp)
DB Will Allen Jr (AMER)
DT O'Bryan Goodson (AMER)
 
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Holden Caulfield said:
Blue Bombers transactions - Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Huge number of transactions as expected. I know basically nothing of these guys, but I'll comment on the ones I do know something about
Signings
WR Braxton Westfield (AMER)
DT Julius Turner (AMER)
OL Jakub Szott (CAN) - Former 4th round pick of OTT in 21 or 22, he spent a few weeks on the Bombers PR last year
P Jamieson Sheahan (GLO) - Bombers 2023 1st Round Pick in Global Draft

Releases
RB TaZawn Henry (AMER)
QB Cooper Calis (AMER)
OL Tyler Grisolia (CAN)
P Chris MacLean (CAN)
K Marc Orozca (AMER)
DB Cedric Lavigne (CAN) - Former depth Bombers pick who was also a LS in uni, he's bounced on and off the PR roster for the past couple of years. A release this early probably means end of the road for him, or he's banged up and they'll wait until he's healthy to bring him back
WR Michael O'Shea (CAN) - It was always going to take a miracle for him to crack the roster, but I thought they'd at least let him get into a pre-season game to get some tape down
DB Jordan Brown (AMER)
DB Tyrique McGhee (AMER)
DB Karon Delince (AMER)
DB Noah Hallett (CAN) - The big surprise obviously. The former 2nd round pick has just not been able to stay healthy. Reports are that he is still not healthy. Bombers may just not longer be concerned about him signing elsewhere and will bring him back when he gets healthy. Or his career may just be over.
WR Javon Heiligh (AMER) - A holdover from the PR from last year, kinda surprised he was released so quickly

Moved to 6 game IR
DE Thiadric Hansen (GLO) - Sorry @bustamente looks like I was wrong. So I guess we have no idea when Hansen will be back. Hansen spent his off-season in WPG, was a prominent member of the PR stuff Bombers ran all winter (along with Willie, Neufeld, Bighill, Gauthier) so I imagine there's little concern about his long term health, but we may have to wait until later in the summer to see him back on the field
LB Kyrie Wilson (AMER) - Ah yes this what I was concerned about. This is why they have so many American LB's in camp.

Moved to suspended list (usually means Bombers still like the player but they didn't show up in camp)
DB Will Allen Jr (AMER)
DT O'Bryan Goodson (AMER)
Click to expand...
It's really to bad about Hansen and Wilson, both have been very good players in the past especially Wilson who was really coming into is own before his injury and Hansen who was a good rotational player and of courses on the teams.
 
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Actually at TC this morning. As an FYI to anyone interested the #1's on O are
Bryant-Gray-Kolankowski-Neufeld-Hardrick
Wolitarsky-Demski-Schoen-Lawler-Bailey
Collaros-Oliveira

EDIT: The just broke off into groups for WR/QB throws. O'Leary-Orange and Grant not practicing. "Starter" group is just Collaros, Brown plus the 5 WR starters and Braxton Westfield. The rest sectioned off together.
 
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I don't normally attend TC. But had some time this morning so we made the drive over to check it out. The disclaimer is that this in my inexpert views with just my memory, and even if I'm 100% correct you shouldn't read too much into one/a few reps in day 1 of TC.

DL/OL = Can't tell much from this with no pads on today. I posted above what the #1 unit looks like on OL as we start camp, same way last year ended. Eli and Dobson are expected to challenge to starting roles as well though.

LB = Biggest notables was Clements getting first crack at WLB which is too be expected. Les Maruo has changed to Andrew Harris' #33 for this season after CFL banned having 0 and 00 on the same roster (Clements has #0). 2023 8th Round Pick Max Charbonneau looked visibly stiff in his movements compared to the other LB's during their LB specific drills. He has 0 chance of ever being a defensive player though, he's a ST only guy at best.

RB = Salima looks fast. I'll get into McCrae in the WR portion.

QB = Arnaud was getting significant reps with Collaros and Brown. You could tell he was nervous, but got better as the drills moved along. Had a least one really nice deep balls, but when Collaros subs back in you can easily tell the difference particularly on the deep balls. Arnaud doesn't have that same arm strength. Which is to be expected from a rookie Canadian who's not even draft eligible yet.

Onto stuff the positions where it's a little easier to make some evaluations

WR = Braxton Westfield is a guy to keep your eye on, IMO. Certainly looks the part out there. Got some reps with the starters in drills. Ideal size and speed it would appear.
2023 3rd Round pick Jeremy Murphy had a beauty over the shoulder catch.
Tavaris Harrison was showing his experience out there compared to the rest of the rookies and looked closer to the starters than the rookies obviously as he has 2 years experience out there.
As for the starters Lawler looked up and down. One of the one on one reps he just absolutely schooled Winston Rose though.
Demski was doing his thing as always.
As for another returnee in RB/WR Greg McCrae I was unimpressed. He took all his reps at WR. I won't write anyone off cause of one day obviously, but he had 2 or 3 clear drops out there. At one point he looked visibly frustrated at himself. He's already in an odd spot trying to find a role, today likely won't help him.
Agudosi struggled to seperate at times, but it just doesn't matter with his size and reach as he goes up and over guys for catches.
Only other rookies that stood out were #72 Michael Young Jr who had one nice catch on a nice move and solid grab over the defender and #71 Manasseh Bailey who stood out the other way as he had trouble finding room and catching, IMO.

DB = I don't think the Bombers most divisive DB Winston Rose is going to get any less divisive. As mentioned above Lawler go Rose to fall over with his cuts at one point, but outside of that he was blanketing the WRs.
Nichols was the one who fired up the crowd that was in attendence when on the first play in the 12v12 in the middle of practice he came off his guy and snatched a Zach Collaros deep shot away from Kenny Lawler.
Houston only caught my eye once, when he was in blanket coverage on...Lawler I believe and he went for the big knockdown but missed allowing the catch over his head.
Global depth PR guy out of Laval Soulymane Karamoko was the unfortunate recipient when Tavaris Harrison (I think) made a very slight double move but it was enough for Karamoko to bite hard and Harrison ran completely free over the top.
2023 2nd round pick Jake Kelly got caught cheating turning his hips too soon and was completely blown by the other way. Didn't look up to speed. But again day 1, he's got time.
I remember being disappointed in a play from rookie Abu Daramy-Swaray, but don't remember why anymore.

Well, that's my day 1 thoughts. A lot of guys weren't practicing (O'Leary-Orange, Grant, Bighill, among others) and there's so many guys it's hard to make many evaluations out there. Why there's 50 coaches out there! Haha. It was great to be back at the stadium and it was a beautiful day out there for it!
 
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Holden Caulfield said:
Actually at TC this morning. As an FYI to anyone interested the #1's on O are
Bryant-Gray-Kolankowski-Neufeld-Hardrick
Wolitarsky-Demski-Schoen-Lawler-Bailey
Collaros-Oliveira

EDIT: The just broke off into groups for WR/QB throws. O'Leary-Orange and Grant not practicing. "Starter" group is just Collaros, Brown plus the 5 WR starters and Braxton Westfield. The rest sectioned off together.
Click to expand...
f*** me that’s a sexy offence

Holden Caulfield said:
I don't normally attend TC. But had some time this morning so we made the drive over to check it out. The disclaimer is that this in my inexpert views with just my memory, and even if I'm 100% correct you shouldn't read too much into one/a few reps in day 1 of TC.

DL/OL = Can't tell much from this with no pads on today. I posted above what the #1 unit looks like on OL as we start camp, same way last year ended. Eli and Dobson are expected to challenge to starting roles as well though.

LB = Biggest notables was Clements getting first crack at WLB which is too be expected. Les Maruo has changed to Andrew Harris' #33 for this season after CFL banned having 0 and 00 on the same roster (Clements has #0). 2023 8th Round Pick Max Charbonneau looked visibly stiff in his movements compared to the other LB's during their LB specific drills. He has 0 chance of ever being a defensive player though, he's a ST only guy at best.

RB = Salima looks fast. I'll get into McCrae in the WR portion.

QB = Arnaud was getting significant reps with Collaros and Brown. You could tell he was nervous, but got better as the drills moved along. Had a least one really nice deep balls, but when Collaros subs back in you can easily tell the difference particularly on the deep balls. Arnaud doesn't have that same arm strength. Which is to be expected from a rookie Canadian who's not even draft eligible yet.

Onto stuff the positions where it's a little easier to make some evaluations

WR = Braxton Westfield is a guy to keep your eye on, IMO. Certainly looks the part out there. Got some reps with the starters in drills. Ideal size and speed it would appear.
2023 3rd Round pick Jeremy Murphy had a beauty over the shoulder catch.
Tavaris Harrison was showing his experience out there compared to the rest of the rookies and looked closer to the starters than the rookies obviously as he has 2 years experience out there.
As for the starters Lawler looked up and down. One of the one on one reps he just absolutely schooled Winston Rose though.
Demski was doing his thing as always.
As for another returnee in RB/WR Greg McCrae I was unimpressed. He took all his reps at WR. I won't write anyone off cause of one day obviously, but he had 2 or 3 clear drops out there. At one point he looked visibly frustrated at himself. He's already in an odd spot trying to find a role, today likely won't help him.
Agudosi struggled to seperate at times, but it just doesn't matter with his size and reach as he goes up and over guys for catches.
Only other rookies that stood out were #72 Michael Young Jr who had one nice catch on a nice move and solid grab over the defender and #71 Manasseh Bailey who stood out the other way as he had trouble finding room and catching, IMO.

DB = I don't think the Bombers most divisive DB Winston Rose is going to get any less divisive. As mentioned above Lawler go Rose to fall over with his cuts at one point, but outside of that he was blanketing the WRs.
Nichols was the one who fired up the crowd that was in attendence when on the first play in the 12v12 in the middle of practice he came off his guy and snatched a Zach Collaros deep shot away from Kenny Lawler.
Houston only caught my eye once, when he was in blanket coverage on...Lawler I believe and he went for the big knockdown but missed allowing the catch over his head.
Global depth PR guy out of Laval Soulymane Karamoko was the unfortunate recipient when Tavaris Harrison (I think) made a very slight double move but it was enough for Karamoko to bite hard and Harrison ran completely free over the top.
2023 2nd round pick Jake Kelly got caught cheating turning his hips too soon and was completely blown by the other way. Didn't look up to speed. But again day 1, he's got time.
I remember being disappointed in a play from rookie Abu Daramy-Swaray, but don't remember why anymore.

Well, that's my day 1 thoughts. A lot of guys weren't practicing (O'Leary-Orange, Grant, Bighill, among others) and there's so many guys it's hard to make many evaluations out there. Why there's 50 coaches out there! Haha. It was great to be back at the stadium and it was a beautiful day out there for it!
Click to expand...
Thanks for this, Holden. I’m so pumped for this season.
 
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Holden Caulfield said:
I mean thats even the most ridiculous thing there. Tanner Cadwallader is nowhere NEAR a starting spot...like ever. Not going to happen. He's not even in the top 3 WLB on the team! Great STer, no chance at defence.

I'm a huge O'Leary-Orange fan. Absolutely 0 chance he replaces Bailey. Maybe Wolitarsky, no chance of Bailey.

No chance of that happening.
Click to expand...
You guys are boring... Im sticking with Oleary-Orange over Bailey.
 
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Holden Caulfield said:
Boring means same old same old. Only time last year got "interesting" crazy plays, blocked kicks, etc was the Grey Cup. I'll take boring...:naughty:
Click to expand...
I should have specified surprise camp predictions... because the chances of Osh/Walters not running it back with the same crew is super low.

As for Cadwallader - no one predicted the rise of Shane Gauthier, Wilson is already 6-gamed and I just don't like Clements game - maybe Barrington Wade gets it but I just don't see Clements holding down WIL for the whole season
 
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O'Leary-Orange is closer to being a "surprise" cut than stealing an American players job or even Wolitarsky's without some kind of significant injury situation arising.

He's a classic "can't make the club from the tub" type guy. Lots of missed time and they really like Murphy out of this draft.
 
WolfHouse said:
I should have specified surprise camp predictions... because the chances of Osh/Walters not running it back with the same crew is super low.

As for Cadwallader - no one predicted the rise of Shane Gauthier, Wilson is already 6-gamed and I just don't like Clements game - maybe Barrington Wade gets it but I just don't see Clements holding down WIL for the whole season
Click to expand...

Shayne Gauthier is still pretty trash on D, IMO. He is not fluid enough in his movements to strike through holes and he obviously cannot cover at all. He is mediocre run stun stopper that is replaced for Global Les Maruo in passing situations when he does play. These guys just don't make starting LB's. For years people were talking up Briggs as a potential starter, and he never moved beyond a spot start here and there. And he's considerably more talented than Gauthier, and even moreso than Cadwallader, IMO. Not too undercut their importance, these guys are key players. On ST. But they don't really hack it on defense.

There's a bunch of American LB's in camp. In front I even heard a rumbling that they like Brian Cole to potentially make a push. He was on the roster most of the games last year but as a pure STer, playing behind Briggs/Cadwallader/Maruo/Gauthier. But he's more projectable into a defense as he's a more well rounded defensive player. As you mentioned Barrington Wade, and there's another couple guys they have in camp. So we'll see. Lots of competition.
 
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BigZ65 said:
O'Leary-Orange is closer to being a "surprise" cut than stealing an American players job or even Wolitarsky's without some kind of significant injury situation arising.

He's a classic "can't make the club from the tub" type guy. Lots of missed time and they really like Murphy out of this draft.
Click to expand...
O'Leary-Orange hasn't had many injury troubles as a pro, the big one coming when they had an opening and he was just hitting his groove. I did expect him to take a bigger step forward last year none the less.

Depth WR is an interesting position for battles. Not sure if Murphy has another year left in college. Bombers have generally kept either just Grant and O'Leary-Orange as the backups or Grant, BOLO, and a guy like Harrison. They've got BOLO, Murphy, Agudosi, Harrison, Grant all around, with rookies still on top of that. Bombers aren't just talented in their starters, they've got crazy depth.

Agudosi might end up a victim of that saying though. He had a VERY good chance to make the team in both 2021 and 2022 but got injured in camp. In 22 he had that breakout 1st game, then with the opportunity still available for a bunch more weeks, got injured in game 2. He needs to stay on the field, despite his skills he might run out of time
 
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Rosters have to be down to 75 plus non-counters* tonight at 11pm. Not sure where the Bombers are at.

*=Non-counters are players such as recent draft picks, junior aged players trying out, and guys like the Canadian QB in camp Arnaud who's is ineligible to even make the team as he's not even draft eligible yet.
 
Holden Caulfield said:
Rosters have to be down to 75 plus non-counters* tonight at 11pm. Not sure where the Bombers are at.

*=Non-counters are players such as recent draft picks, junior aged players trying out, and guys like the Canadian QB in camp Arnaud who's is ineligible to even make the team as he's not even draft eligible yet.
Click to expand...


For what it's worth I actually took note of that Turner guy in my day at TC. He was noticably lagging behind everyone else doing the conditioning drills in practice day 1. As someone who often lagged behind others in conditioning drills I took some sympathy on him and didn't mention it when I posted on the weekend haha

Bit surprised they released Kneuttel so soon. The Dutch WR had signed very early in the off-season and seemed like he potentially had a shot at a PR spot, particularly with Hansen on IR. But it could be the depth at the Global position got him with Maruo on roster and Machino, Karamoko basically locks for PR. I'm guessing Bombers will try to PR either Sheahan or Schmiltz as well assuming one of them doesn't beat out Liegghio for the P spot.
 
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Oilpeg said:
Anyone know what the Grant suspension is all about?
Click to expand...
Haven't found any info yet.

He was at TC on day 1, I saw him walking with O'Leary-Orange not practicing. So he's here in town. USUALLY when guys get placed on suspension list at this time of year it's cause they fail to show up for camp. It's a bit odd.
 
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Holden Caulfield said:
Haven't found any info yet.

He was at TC on day 1, I saw him walking with O'Leary-Orange not practicing. So he's here in town. USUALLY when guys get placed on suspension list at this time of year it's cause they fail to show up for camp. It's a bit odd.
Click to expand...
I wonder if it is condition related.

I remember seeing you say something earlier about usually guys are only suspended when they don't show up to camp in order to keep their rites, or something like that anyway. So it's odd that he's here in this case. Really wonder what's up.
 
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Oilpeg said:
I wonder if it is condition related.

I remember seeing you say something earlier about usually guys are only suspended when they don't show up to camp in order to keep their rites, or something like that anyway. So it's odd that he's here in this case. Really wonder what's up.
Click to expand...
Quick Hits | Training Camp - Day 4 - Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea on Grant, the CFL’s all-star kick returner: “Just needed some time. Personal reasons.”

This is the quote from O'Shea on it. There's seems to be little concern from the team on the issue, I think it will likely be a nothing burger at the end of the day. It is certainly odd though.
 
Holden Caulfield said:
Quick Hits | Training Camp - Day 4 - Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea on Grant, the CFL’s all-star kick returner: “Just needed some time. Personal reasons.”

This is the quote from O'Shea on it. There's seems to be little concern from the team on the issue, I think it will likely be a nothing burger at the end of the day. It is certainly odd though.
Click to expand...
Why suspend him then? I guess so he doesn't count against the 75?
 
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Oilpeg said:
Why suspend him then? I guess so he doesn't count against the 75?
Click to expand...
That's the popular theory. He needs to be away for whatever reason for a bit and this way they can keep an extra player on the camp roster.

I haven't really seen this (suspended list) used in this way in the past though.
 
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