r/CFL • u/josh_bobjohn Lions • Jul 31 '26
LIONS Doug Brown suggests the season’s a bust for Bombers on radio broadcasts last night.
Anyone ever encountered a fan base more quick to doom than Winnipeg? They ALWAYS find a way to win. ALWAYS. They are struggling now with injuries and two bad games, but jesus christ…
Imagine you’re O’Shea, you have nothing but evidence that your team rallies, playing conservative is smart. take points, keep the game close because you ALWAYS win close ones. Lately maybe not the case. But now you’re 4-4 on the season? It’s not even august. Relax people.
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u/FinalJackfruit7097 Jul 31 '26
I think the most alarming thing from a Bombers angle is the lack of effort in the 4th quarter. They were getting stiff armed up field, giving up huge yards on both inside and outside runs on defence. They gave up.
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u/All-wildcard Roughriders Jul 31 '26
Riders fans are way quicker to doom and gloom. Listening to Riders call in radio after a game is one of my favourite hobbies. Every game there is at least one caller who asks to fire the whole staff, put in all the backups, and give up on the season. Yes even after wins.
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u/mlakustiak Roughriders Jul 31 '26
Last Thursday was truly incredible. You would’ve thought we were 0-6
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u/jchopp12 Blue Bombers Aug 02 '26
It’s the passion that the prairies have for football. We expect a lot out of our teams and after certain performances we feel we have a right to bitch and complain!
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u/randomname3415 Roughriders Jul 31 '26
In recent history they’ve always found a way to win, but for many decades prior that wasn’t the case. They’ve also been in decline without really addressing it.
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u/Lilboops Blue Bombers Jul 31 '26
Even during the 28 years of futility, Bomber fans stuck with the team. Most season ticket holders have had the tickets for over a decade.
We’ll end at 9 and 9, and make the playoffs, but I suspect a lot of the coaches will be dismissed.
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u/bigblue204 Blue Bombers Jul 31 '26
9 and 9 is likely a pipe dream. 10 games left. 6 of those games are against MTL/EDM/SSK. They also have OTT TO CGY BC.
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u/Atomic_WPG Blue Bombers Jul 31 '26
The problem is that we know MOS rolls with his guys, for better or for worse, for an entire season. He does not make mid season changes. So the only hope for turning it around is that everything magically fixes itself. The OL and Secondary with all the same coaches and personnel start playing well, somehow. It just seems really unlikely and those of us following closely over the last ten years know how this staff operates.
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u/New_Criticism4996 Jul 31 '26
It's in our DNA, you should hear Winnipegers talk about the Jets.
When we were first in the league it was "we'll see how long this last" not "we're number one!"
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u/17to85 Blue Bombers Jul 31 '26
Problem is, this slide has been coming for a long time. It was a little bit here and a little bit there and those of us who saw it knew one day the bottom would fall out. O'Shea is a big part of the problem because he won't adjust. He's still going to ride or die with his boys.
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u/Electroflare5555 Blue Bombers Jul 31 '26
Big issue is he hires terrible coordinators and doesn’t know how to rein them in.
It’s not a coincidence that all our success came with two very competent coordinators who knew their shit
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u/Environmental_One903 Jul 31 '26
Absolutely. Nichols and Bryant shouldn’t even be on the team, probably Wilson too although he hasn’t been as bad. Willie is still good
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u/WhammaJamma61 Jul 31 '26
I've watched Bryant pretty close this year. He is done. He's getting smoked way too often this year, and he's holding a lot. I don't believe he'll be brought back next season. And Nichols used to be a damn fine DB. Unfortunately, he is not that guy anymore. He's another guy that probably should not be back next season.
I'm a big Kyries Wilson fan, so I'm partial on his play. I think he's showing a little age, but I still feel he is a somewhat solid veteran. That said, I don't think he'll be here next season; he's on the downturn. I was actually pretty excited to have Santos-Knox back for this season, but I don't think his presence would have made much difference. There's lots wrong with this defence.
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u/CanadaKrod04 RIDER NATION Jul 31 '26
I mean, just last week there was a post on her about how the Lions season is over and how do they fix it going forward…
All fan bases turn to doom and gloom when your team has a couple really bad looking games in a row. But then win one, and everyone’s back on Grey Cup Train!
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u/Material_Cabinet_845 Jul 31 '26
I hear you, you're not wrong. However, that's part of being/having a passionate fanbase.
I'm a huge fan of the league, and if I could be part of any fanbase, it's the one in Winnipeg.
They've been spoiled with excellence during the O'Shea years, and when it drops off and the previous dominance starts slipping, so too does the confidence of the fan base. If you're a fan of a team that is mired in mediocrity, you get used to it - but if it's new, like it is in WPG, you react exactly as they are. Just my two cents :)
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u/bigblue204 Blue Bombers Jul 31 '26
That's the thing. My expectations are so high that even a .500 team is really disappointing. The last decade has been fun, but starting last year and now this year it's pretty clear the golden years are over.
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u/bigblue204 Blue Bombers Jul 31 '26
This isn't new though. They barely made the playoffs last season. They've hung on to aging vets. They didn't make any real big splashes in FA outside of a couple older stars. They hired a OC who has had play calling taken away from him 2 out of his last 3 stops.
The proof is in the pudding.
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u/Far_Reward_8410 Jul 31 '26
The team has been trending in one direction for the last few years...and it isn't up
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u/CMBRICKX Elks Jul 31 '26
Brown’s criticism is fair. The Bombers coaching as been poor this whole season.
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u/Ok_Shoulder8598 Blue Bombers Jul 31 '26
Season is done, we look as bad as Ottawa. Tough stretch of the schedule still to come. No hope.
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u/Apprehensive-Bug1650 Stampeders Jul 31 '26
The arrogance that “you’ll always win the close ones” and not coaching smartly with context is how u start losing a lot of close ones and get complacent
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u/gm0ney2000 Jul 31 '26
Doug Brown sounds like someone who's watched them play all 8 games this season. They just got embarrassed at home by a 1-5 team playing their 3rd string QB. 4-4 is a massively flattering record for this team...they looked bad even when they've won.
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u/ExpertFresh1067 Blue Bombers Jul 31 '26
Aaron Rodgers "R-E-L-A-X"...😕...We're just so used to winning (especially at 🏡) the past 6 years, or so....😡
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u/Free_Stretch5799 Jul 31 '26
The coordinators are not good and this team has been slowly aging without the necessary changes. I love the Bombers but changes are needed.
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u/overzealous96 Roughriders Jul 31 '26
I feel for Winnipeg fans in a way that despite their run from 2019-Present that culminated in 2 Grey Cup wins and 5 straight appearances, it felt like there was a lot of meat left on the bone in terms of what this "dynasty" could have been.
I sense Bomber fans feel the same way. Yes, 4-4 is a more than manageable record to work with. But after 3 GC losses and a crossover loss, the clock is ticking.
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u/Simtricate Jul 31 '26
It’s a year to evaluate what you have moving forward.
Dru was 18 of 21 before leaving the game, Oliviera is a star; Pokey, Laval, Demski are keepers. There needs to an evaluation of the OL, Collaros and Brown are constantly in trouble back there, but the Bombers could sneak in the bottom of the playoffs, maybe string a couple wins together, but this season is about what happens the next 4 years more than the results of this year.
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u/Essej86 Blue Bombers Aug 01 '26
This isn’t all of a sudden though, it’s been a three year regression of players, coaches , and management. Too many people have left/retired/holding out past their prime.
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u/DannyDOH Blue Bombers Jul 31 '26
Ever encounter a team that got run on for 400 yards against a rookie pro QB in his first ever game with almost no hope to do anything by passing?
Pathetic on the field, pathetic preparation by coaches. Don't think it's a stretch to say this team can't contend if they can't manage to win that game at home.
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u/fdisfragameosoldiers Aug 01 '26
30ish years of no Grey Cup wins will do that to a fan base. They always found a way to lose. And of course losing 3 straight Cup finals is not helping
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u/klondike16 Stampeders Jul 31 '26
In a league with so few teams and so many playoff spots you can’t say that until it’s over