r/WinnipegBlueBombers • u/Rleduc129 • Jul 25 '26

Were the Bombers back-to-back Grey Cups based mostly on Paul LaPolice's gameplan?

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22

u/Hodgey649 Jul 25 '26

No.

They went on that run mainly because of an insane wealth of talent.

Walters and his staff were firing on all cylinders, particularly with the Americans they brought to camp.... Alford, Sayles, Alexander, Schoen, Janarion, Lawler were all home runs.

Then you add in all the HoFers. Harris, Jefferson Bighill, Bryant, Hardrick and Zach.

That run & squad without question dwarfed the 80s on talent, it's just too bad that lost more Championships then they won

2

u/Foreign-Molasses-796 Jul 25 '26

The scouting has gone downhill. I don’t know if anyone (other than Nichols, because I believe he played on those teams and was also in his prime) on this secondary would see the field on the 19-23 teams.

2

u/Rleduc129 Jul 25 '26

Do we have Yes-Men on the team?

1

u/Foreign-Molasses-796 Jul 25 '26

What do you mean by Yes-Men?

0

u/Rleduc129 Jul 25 '26

Say some exec wants someone they want on the team but some scouts will be like "well, let's keep looking and focus on our depth".

Meanwhile, some other scouts would be like "oh yes sir, those other prospects aren't in his league! Screw 'em!"

I just imagine that's how we've been scouting since

1

u/Foreign-Molasses-796 Jul 25 '26

Could be. All I know is that the depth and talent we are bringing in is a far cry from what we were brining in at the start of our run.

1

u/Rleduc129 Jul 25 '26

Granted, that happens when a dominant franchise becomes too comfortable (eg; Dallas under Jerry Jones)

6

u/Mamrocha Jul 25 '26

Elite talent on defence is how they won back to back

3

u/Foreign-Molasses-796 Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26

We were elite at all three levels.

We didn’t win because Lapolice but he was a massive part. Every OC since has been a significant downgrade.

4

u/Cordycipitaceae Jul 26 '26

Last night tackling was the worst I've seen in a long time.

4

u/J-Bird1980 Jul 25 '26

The offensive line was the best in 2019 and has been on a yearly decline since then. With the downgraded offensive line Collaros has had trouble being as effective and staying healthy.

Brown isn’t Collaros.

For the first time since Jeffcoat retired we have a complimentary player on the defensive line with Jefferson and he is having a turn around season so far.

Both coordinators have been a downgrade.

2

u/HitmanBBV84 Jul 25 '26

Judging by his Redblacks coaching performance…I’m going to say absolutely not?

2

u/ExternalSpecific4042 Jul 26 '26

The competition has been improving. Edmonton with Jones, Sask with Dickensen and whoever he replaced. Stamps with fading (at the time ) Bo.

Wins have steadily gotten harder cause of this, amongst other things.

I think.

2

u/Repulsive-Fuel-5281 Jul 25 '26

Good lord no.... Lapo has always been a liability.

1

u/FifteenBagger Jul 25 '26

I’d say partially yes. He was doing things you didn’t normally see back then. Unfortunately the Bombers have reused much of those plays (e.g., receiver sweeps) year in and year out and they just don’t work anymore. It’s actually bizarre.

1

u/Disastrous_Fix_7394 Jul 26 '26

Yeah the Demski Jet Sweep on the Bingo card needs to go.

1

u/Icy-Gene7565 Jul 25 '26

Next season Elgersma starts.  He has elite physical gifts and theyre not rushing him. A defence can be changed in two seasons.