2014 CFL Offseason Thread

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Why are you surprised?

Larry Taylor (special teams): Taylor earns CFL all-star honours for the second time in his career — and for the first time as a Stampeder — after leading the CFL with 1,970 return yards in 2013. Taylor ranked first in the league with 615 punt-return yards and 228 missed-field goal return yards and second with 1,147 kickoff-return yards. He had three games with at least 100 kickoff-return yards — including a season high of 183 against Toronto on Sept. 21 — and 108 yards in punt returns against Hamilton on Sept. 13. Despite handling the ball 152 times in 2013, he did not have a single lost fumble.

Because it seemed to me he had a very off year and there were only 1 or 2 games where he looked dangerous. Smith had a larger impact than Taylor in his 2 games.

But the numbers say he was the best in the league so I guess it was a down year for returners league wide, and Chad Owens got hurt during the season too

[browna]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Bombers hiring O'Shea as Head Coach.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=438169

Not that I really care, but a bit of a stretch no? Special Teams Coordinator as a token position (and its a pretty low profile position in the first place) after he retired and had nothing else to do.

But he's a bit obnoxious, loud, assumable that he is a players type coach, and likes wearing tshirts and shorts on the sidelines, so they're swinging the other way, thinking that "do the opposite" is the right mentality to try.

Experience wise, it'd be like Nik Lewis retiring now, doing something with the Stamps, then hanging around for 4 years after on the sidelines, then getting a head coaching gig somewhere.

A guy like Rick Campbell (who's not probably ready yet, just as Chris Jones wasn't ready before this year) would've been a much more experienced coach..not as high profile a name of course, but years and years more coaching experence...and Campbell is a couple notches below a guy like Dickenson. It took a guy like Jones a few pass-overs to get a gig, but O'Shea gets in right away?

He's in as over his head as Dunigan was here as a coach (and then they gave Dunigan the GM duties as well to make things worse).

[tvp2003]

I guess in a 8 team league, there are only so many coaching candidates around. They must see something in O'Shea that they really like; when was the last time a former player/rookie coach had head coaching success at this level? Pinball?

[Pagal4321]

Originally Posted by dino7c

the whole bundle thing is likely changing soon, if that happens then the CFL is in trouble if you ask me

Says who?! TSN is available on all basic cable packages.

If you're just throwing around assumptions that's fine but you're speaking so matter of factly.

[browna]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

I guess in a 8 team league, there are only so many coaching candidates around. They must see something in O'Shea that they really like...

The new GM Walters was a teammate of O'Shea in the CIAU (CIS) back when at Guelph. In the CFL/Winnipeg that's often enough.

[Trojan97]

Cortez should have been the choice in Winnipeg. O'Shea would have been a better choice for DC.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Sask. Roughriders ‏@sskroughriders 4m
Getzlaf, Bagg and Picard extended through 2015. LaBatte through 2016. #Riders

Interesting. Most mock drafts I've seen have the Riders losing Picard, wonder if they will now protect him. That or one of Picard and Bagg were just delivered to Ottawa on a silver platter

[Drake]

@friesensunmedia:

I'm hearing #Bombers new coach Mike O'Shea has already called Khari Jones about OC job. And will call SK assistant Barrin Simpson re DC post.

*He meant Barrin Miles

[Drake]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

Sask. Roughriders ‏@sskroughriders 4m
Getzlaf, Bagg and Picard extended through 2015. LaBatte through 2016. #Riders

Interesting. Most mock drafts I've seen have the Riders losing Picard, wonder if they will now protect him. That or one of Picard and Bagg were just delivered to Ottawa on a silver platter

I thought them letting Picard go was going to happen actually.That's why they drafted Watman 4th last year? Maybe they don't feel he isn't ready?

[Drake]

RedBlacks to likely name coach no later than Monday.

4 finalists in I believe order?

Rick Campbell
Danny Maciocia
Paul LaPolice
Marcel Bellefeuille

Paul LaPolice has been told apparently he is no longer in the running for the Ottawa job, though he remains in the running in B.C. for the vacant OC position if he decides not to remain as a TSN analyst. George Cortez is another naming going around about the vacant OC position in B.C.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by Drake

I thought them letting Picard go was going to happen actually.That's why they drafted Watman 4th last year? Maybe they don't feel he isn't ready?

That's the impression I have had as well.

Duane Forde ‏@DuaneFordeTSN 3m
Don't rule out the possibility of teams signing players to deals that make them "unattractive" to Ottawa & then "renegotiating" on Dec.17.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Drake

RedBlacks to likely name coach no later than Monday.

4 finalists in I believe order?

Rick Campbell
Danny Maciocia
Paul LaPolice
Marcel Bellefeuille

Paul LaPolice has been told apparently he is no longer in the running for the Ottawa job, though he remains in the running in B.C. for the vacant OC position if he decides not to remain as a TSN analyst. George Cortez is another naming going around about the vacant OC position in B.C.

Maciocia? Really? I would think it has to be LaPolice or Bellefeuille...with Campbell also a strong possibility.
If it is Campbell who do the Stamps grab to take on DC reigns? Would LaPolice come over?

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Arash Madani ‏@ArashMadani 1m
BREAKING: Have learned Rick Campbell will be the inaugural head coach of the Ottawa #RedBlacks. Done deal. To be made official Friday. #CFL

Arash Madani ‏@ArashMadani 2m
Rick Campbell, the #Stampeders def coordinator, came to terms with the #RedBlacks on Wednesday to be the team’s first ever head coach. #CFL

And there it is.

[dash_pinched]

nm

[Cheese]

hmmm...wellity wellity. Stamps coaching ranks does take a hit. Too bad I didnt mind Campbell at all.

[MissTeeks]

“@CFL: CFL announces that Tom Higgins will be leaving his role as Director of Officiating - http://ow.ly/ruGgB #CFL”

[Cheese]

hmm...the new DC for Calgary?

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by Cheese

hmm...the new DC for Calgary?

I am sure Stamps will promote their Secondary coach Tony Missick as the new DC then hire a young coach as a secondary coach. Stamps like promoting coaches from within.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

RICKCAMPBELL has now been officially announced as the HC of the REDBLACKS

[Drake]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

“@CFL: CFL announces that Tom Higgins will be leaving his role as Director of Officiating - http://ow.ly/ruGgB #CFL”

My guess is he will be named assistant GM for the Ottawa RedBlacks.

Look for Doug Berry to join Chris Jones in Edmonton as his OC, on the other side of the ball the rumored canadiates for the DC position are Devone Claybrooks and Jason Shivers.

Khari Jones was in Winnipeg yesterday afternoon for the OC position.