2025-2026 Offseason thread

[glenvb]

Ottawa just released K Lewis Ward , should we be interested in him ? Or stick with the young Blanchard as our kicker ???

Yeah, I'd stick with Blanchard. Rather have a guy on an upward trajectory rather than down. Probably making less money too.

Not saying that Ward is done though. I'll bet he'll find another home.

[Looner]

Yeah, I'd stick with Blanchard. Rather have a guy on an upward trajectory rather than down. Probably making less money too.

Not saying that Ward is done though. I'll bet he'll find another home.

me too!!

[tigerdar]

Yeah, I'd stick with Blanchard. Rather have a guy on an upward trajectory rather than down. Probably making less money too.

Not saying that Ward is done though. I'll bet he'll find another home.

with the goalposts going to the back of a 15 yard endzone and then for the hold you're gonna need a kicker with a big leg cause you need the 30 for a 52 yard fg. Lewis has had a lot of success but I don't think of him as a kicker with a big leg

[Hammer24]

with the goalposts going to the back of a 15 yard endzone and then for the hold you're gonna need a kicker with a big leg cause you need the 30 for a 52 yard fg. Lewis has had a lot of success but I don't think of him as a kicker with a big leg

Agreed that Ward is not a long range bomber. He has 12 successful kicks of 52 or longer; 3 from 52, 6 from 53, 2 from 54 and his career best from 56. So only 3 kicks in 8 years from what would be a LOS of 31 or beyond after the posts move in 2027. Several were likely attempted only because of a tailwind.

Personally as far as I'm concerned none of the upcoming rule changes will impact the way the game is played with one exception. Teams will still work with the same playbooks running the same schemes. Where the difference will come is with the moving of the uprights which will create somewhat of a "no mans land" when the offense moves.down to where they are scrimmaging from roughly the 27 to pushing the 40.making for a 49 to 62 yard attempt.

I've become intrigued to see.how the coaches will manage those yardage situations. Are they going to punt from the 40 because they're outside their kicker's FG range? Or if they're say 3rd and 6 or 7 will they gamble to get the 1st down and extend their drive. Similarly I think when they get down close to the 30, which could be at the outer edge of their kicker's range, they will be more likely to gamble to extend the drive. Punting wouldn't even be an option that close to the endzone given how little the gains in field position would be.

My gut feel is in 2027 when offences stall inside the 40 we will see very few punts, fewer FG attempts and a lot more 3rd down gambles. Coaches at all levels, pro and college, are much bolder these days than they were even a decade ago. Used to be like a line in the CFL sand where 3rd and a full yard was as far as a coach would push things to gamble. Now we them going for it on 3rd and 2 or 3rd and 3.

[Looner]

Looks like we renegotiated Metchie as he was deleted and added back to the roster on the CFL transactions page.

[BeaverSports]

For what it's worth, the talk around Ward's hometown in Kingston is that he is retiring. Early in his career, he was about as good as it gets. For now, though, I'm happy with staying with Blanchard. With his leg, once he settles in, he should be a good one.

[glenvb]

My gut feel is in 2027 when offences stall inside the 40 we will see very few punts, fewer FG attempts and a lot more 3rd down gambles. Coaches at all levels, pro and college, are much bolder these days than they were even a decade ago. Used to be like a line in the CFL sand where 3rd and a full yard was as far as a coach would push things to gamble. Now we them going for it on 3rd and 2 or 3rd and 3.

This is partly a result of analytics coming into the game (CFL and NFL). It used to drive me crazy, as a mathematician, how conservative the play calling was, when in many cases it was obvious that the gamble was the better choice. It was like the world would end if the gamble failed, and they hardly ever risked anything. Well, finally they're starting to realize that they could be doing better with more aggressive play calling.

[tigerdar]

Agreed that Ward is not a long range bomber. He has 12 successful kicks of 52 or longer; 3 from 52, 6 from 53, 2 from 54 and his career best from 56. So only 3 kicks in 8 years from what would be a LOS of 31 or beyond after the posts move in 2027. Several were likely attempted only because of a tailwind.

Personally as far as I'm concerned none of the upcoming rule changes will impact the way the game is played with one exception. Teams will still work with the same playbooks running the same schemes. Where the difference will come is with the moving of the uprights which will create somewhat of a "no mans land" when the offense moves.down to where they are scrimmaging from roughly the 27 to pushing the 40.making for a 49 to 62 yard attempt.

I've become intrigued to see.how the coaches will manage those yardage situations. Are they going to punt from the 40 because they're outside their kicker's FG range? Or if they're say 3rd and 6 or 7 will they gamble to get the 1st down and extend their drive. Similarly I think when they get down close to the 30, which could be at the outer edge of their kicker's range, they will be more likely to gamble to extend the drive. Punting wouldn't even be an option that close to the endzone given how little the gains in field position would be.

My gut feel is in 2027 when offences stall inside the 40 we will see very few punts, fewer FG attempts and a lot more 3rd down gambles. Coaches at all levels, pro and college, are much bolder these days than they were even a decade ago. Used to be like a line in the CFL sand where 3rd and a full yard was as far as a coach would push things to gamble. Now we them going for it on 3rd and 2 or 3rd and 3.

you are very likely true. I'm sure teams will hire math nerds like Glen ( as if he needs more wealth and groupies) to tell them when to go for it when to punt etc simliar to knowing when to go for 2 vs 1

[glenvb]

Some major changes to the schedule and playoff structure announced for 2027. Remember how the CFL has been teased mercilessly for having three teams (or two, before the return of the RedBlacks) eliminated from the playoffs? Well, good news: now it's down to only one!

And the season will start on Victoria Day. Yikes!

https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/cfl-a...begin-in-2027/

[tigerdar]

Some major changes to the schedule and playoff structure announced for 2027. Remember how the CFL has been teased mercilessly for having three teams (or two, before the return of the RedBlacks) eliminated from the playoffs? Well, good news: now it's down to only one!

And the season will start on Victoria Day. Yikes!

https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/cfl-a...begin-in-2027/

we decided to make regular season pretty pointless....maybe we should add more gimmicks like an in season punting tournament.

[glenvb]

you are very likely true. I'm sure teams will hire math nerds like Glen ( as if he needs more wealth and groupies) to tell them when to go for it when to punt etc simliar to knowing when to go for 2 vs 1

One can always use more wealth and groupies.

[Sectionq]

Finally! The CFL is recognizing where the league is and moving the season up significantly.

I know May Long weekend can be hit or miss weather wise but the likelihood it will be -20 or more like it can be in later November is pretty low. I never understood why the CFL wanted its year end, signature game where you get the most people watching to be in late November when the weather is usually not great.

[bone]

Finally! The CFL is recognizing where the league is and moving the season up significantly.

I know May Long weekend can be hit or miss weather wise but the likelihood it will be -20 or more like it can be in later November is pretty low. I never understood why the CFL wanted its year end, signature game where you get the most people watching to be in late November when the weather is usually not great.

I used to feel the same way, but evidence so far is that fans aren't interested in watching football even in June. Good luck drawing a crowd in May.

With 8 of 9 teams making playoffs and the earlier start, I bet you a lot of veterans won't even sign until mid-season and teams might even encourage it as then the vets would be more fresh and likely stay healthy for the playoff run, plus they'd get some cap savings and playing time for the younger players to figure out who's the best of the bunch. Might as well eliminate exhibition games as the first 10 weeks of the season now are basically exhibition. Teams will bear down later in the season to stay out of the play-ins but really you'll never be out of it even if you start 0-9.

[Sectionq]

I used to feel the same way, but evidence so far is that fans aren't interested in watching football even in June. Good luck drawing a crowd in May.

With 8 of 9 teams making playoffs and the earlier start, I bet you a lot of veterans won't even sign until mid-season and teams might even encourage it as then the vets would be more fresh and likely stay healthy for the playoff run, plus they'd get some cap savings and playing time for the younger players to figure out who's the best of the bunch. Might as well eliminate exhibition games as the first 10 weeks of the season now are basically exhibition. Teams will bear down later in the season to stay out of the play-ins but really you'll never be out of it even if you start 0-9.

I know you are a fan that doesn't like change when it comes to the CFL but staying status quo to please the small percentage of fans like yourself makes no sense. They have been doing that for way way too long and the lack of interest in the CFL is the result. That wasn't meant as a shot. Dedicated fans like yourself are awesome, there just isn't enough of fans like you anymore for the league to survive unfortunately without trying something else.

Here's a legit question. When does the CFL draw well ever lately? They don't draw great in June. People complain about July and August because they don't want to waste a weekend when they could be at their cabin. September can be OK depending on the weather. Then the crowds start to dwindle again in October because of hockey and the weather starting to turn. Then November can suck. So when is a good time for the CFL?

The way I look at it as a non hardcore fan is this. When am I most likely to go to a regular season game? In May or November? For me, it's May. May weather can be OK. My days of partying on May long are gone. Usually May long, we are cleaning up the yard, maybe de-winterizing the trailer because lots of time we go camping the last weekend in May somewhere close to RD, just to make sure everything in the trailer is working. So there is a pretty good chance I am home on May long, puttering around the yard so if it's nice, I might go. In early November, both my boys will be on hockey teams and probably have a game or 2 each Saturday and Sunday. So I won't be going to a game then. Then if the weather sucks, I am definitely not going.

I don't think there is a perfect time for the CFL but like I said, by moving the schedule up, you are at least not playing your championship game in late November when the weather could be awful. I used to go to many Grey Cups and for the majority of them, the weather was very cold.

[Hammer24]

Finally! The CFL is recognizing where the league is and moving the season up significantly.

I know May Long weekend can be hit or miss weather wise but the likelihood it will be -20 or more like it can be in later November is pretty low. I never understood why the CFL wanted its year end, signature game where you get the most people watching to be in late November when the weather is usually not great.

How's the Alberta weather been this year for what would've been the start of.training camp with a May long weekend season opener? Victoria Day is May 24 in 2027, latest possible day for it. This year it's May 18 meaning rookie camp would have opened April 15 and main camp April 18 coinciding with 1st day of Stanley Cup playoffs. Elks and Stamps best keep the snowblowers and Herman Nelsons ready just in case for future early spring training camps.

I've attended every GC going back to 1983. I don't remember the last -20 GC. Snowed some wet snow in OTT in 2017. WPG was a cooler one. I think maybe -8 once the sun set. Those legendary truly bitter prairie ones really haven't happened for puahing 25 years.

Personally I've been on the record as saying the season already starts too soon. I know I'm in the minority in that regard. However out here on the left coast I think you'd find a lot of Lions fans hold the same opinion. Historically fall games in Vancouver have always drawn better than early summer games with the exception of Doman's home opener concerts.