The_Pauser wrote:I don't know that signing Williams necessarily cost us Olafioye. IIRC his contract this year is relatively low, and it's next season where he sees a huge raise.
Also, I completely disagree with not wanting to sign Waters. In fact I find that comment laughable. With how awful our field goal kicking has been, signing a big powerful leg like Waters who can do all 3 kicking duties addresses a big need. We can't fford to keep leaving points on the board, and having a kicker who can confidently hit from beyond 50 is something we haven't really had in a long time.
It sucks losing Olafioye. I've been a big fan of his for a long time, and he was our rock on the O-line. I just pray that Dorazio had nothing to do with the guys we targeted in this deal.
Williams alone did not cost us Olifioye nor did any one free agent signing. But even though Williams contract is lower in the first season its not cheap by any means. Ottawa wouldn't pay it. But if you add up the cost of signing Williams, Waters, as well as vets as Iannuzzi and Moore, along with free agents as Buddy Jackson, Tony Burnett, DeQuin Evans, Dylan Ainsworth, and Matt Bucknor, then things got expensive. I agree with signing Waters, can see the positive in Williams (and the risk) but signing Buddy Jackson, Tony Burnett, Dequin Evans, and Matt Bucknor as free agents are question marks that also edged us up against the SMS.
I have no problem with us signing Waters for this season. We didn't have a lot of choice because of the situation we had gotten ourselves into. I *beeotch* enough last season about Leone's field goal kicking and how much that cost us and his excellent punting did not make up for it. My concern was that we had to outbid Hamilton for Waters in the first place and should have had a National field goal kicker in place. Most teams have a National field goal kicker and a good one.
Have a look at last season's National field goal kickers: Shawn Whyte (45/48, 93.8%), Parades (56/64, 87.5%), Hajrullahu 37/42 (88.1%), Maher (41/50, 82%), Crapigna (35/42, 85.7%), Milo (47/55, 81%). Leone hit on only 68.6% of his field goals, only made 8 field goals between 40-49 yds. and had to be replaced by McCallum at the end of the season. The two year experiment with Leone cost us games, did't give us close to what we needed, and he is gone two seasons later, while we didn't develop a National. So with a good team in place for 2017, with no National on the roster ready to step in, we needed to sign an experienced kicker like Waters. But he cost us. Waters has a CFL field goal kicking average of 79.5 %, lower than the National kickers listed above's average. Waters is a very good punter.
I think its good that Wally wants to go with four Nationals on the offensive line. Steward is a stud, a natural left tackle, with amazing athleticism, long arms, etc. Vaillencourt is a first round draft choice who many thought would be the first choice of the 2016 draft. He was considered the most pro ready. He needs to play. He started last season's first two games and had a hell of a training camp before getting hurt. I would love to see us play five Nationals if we could.
But if we want to beat Calgary (and Rammer mentioned that was what Wally said we needed to do) trading Olifioye for Facault is not going to get that done. Calgary's greatest strength is its offensive line...both in terms of size, talent, coaching, and depth. They started 11 different offensive linemen last season. Bo Levi Mitchell was by far the least sacked quarterback last season. Calgary protects Bo Levi so well he could eat dinner in the pocket at times and still throw the football.
If Wally really wants to beat Calgary the key is that our Leos coaching has to improve. We beat Calgary at home in our season opener and almost beat them and were leading them badly in their own stadium in the second game. In the third game and the WDF, they badly kicked our ass on both offence and defence. The talent of both teams basically stayed the same. But the pre-game scouting, thegame plans, the coaching, the in -game adjustments all favored Calgary as the season progressed.
While we bombed away with an exciting passing attack, Calgary's passing attack can beat a defence in so many ways. They can beat you deep, over the middle, in the short passing attack, screen game etc. etc. They dissected our defense in the last two games of last season. Their defense had our offence so well scouted and they were so prepared for what we wanted to do.
The biggest difference between Calgary and B.C. is not talent. Playing an extra National on the offensive line and starting an International receiver will not be enough. Calgary has very good players, no question about it. But the biggest differences between Calgary and B.C. is their offensive and defensive lines and their coaching. Calgary protects their quarterback better, they can get good pressure without blitzing with their defensive line, and they are much superior to us in the x and o's of the game.
In order to beat them we have to win the trenches and by at least match them in the coaching department. That didn't happen last season.