paulwoods13 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 9:33 am
I have a hard time imagining the team going all-NAT on the o-line. When all is said and done, I think there will be at least one INT there. Hunter can replace Cage, but I don't see a NAT they can count on to replace Allen. Perhaps Doxtater but that seems like a lot to ask of a guy who hasn't played Cdn football in years. Losing Metchie and/or Smith to FA would obviously accelerate the need to go with four NATs. Blackburn might be ready to replace Metchie, and Adeleke might fit in somewhere if he's re-signed. There isn't a NAT currently on the roster who can step in as a starter on the d-line, IMO.
5 starting Canadian O-line is a possibility, and hopefully that is determined by honest TC competition, and not pencilled-in thinking. Hunter can play there, though he might be better staying at OG; and Doxtater or Bosse or even MacKellar (former U Sports all-star OT till he was converted to OG in the CFL) might be able to win a starting job; but Moore or some imports could compete as well; I like the idea of a player who has plenty of experience in Canadian ball over some guy learning Canadian ball OT nuances.
Really hope both Robbie & Metchie stay in Double Blue; Blackburn might be ready to take over S (and there are also a few very good safety prospects up this draft IMO), but there is a need for some National D-line talent added and this draft crop seems fairly deep in both DE and DT types; maybe Hergott progresses but they showed little faith in him last season in play DE reps.
And with Judge & Varga added to go along with Cassar, maybe Adeleke & Sopik still around -IF McManis flees (more likely than Metchie or Robbie Smith IMO) - they could easily to go with 2 if not 3 Canadian starters at LB. They could even just have 2 Canadian LB starters on D and fill the rest of the spots with imports if they had to.
Should be zero reason for GOB 7 only thinking to be an issue with this team.
Waiting to hear which 2 teams get the reward of the bonus draft picks for playing most Canadians (reps combined on O & D) last season; won't be surprised if it is the 2 teams that met in the GC. Which would puzzle the hell out of the 7 only need apply types.