Geez do you guys not get it??? Ranek and Cotton don’t even play football anymore. Homer Simpson could have made those moves. How much do you think an Offensive linemen like Smith made??? Please tell me what you think. And as for Flick, yes we dumped his 100,000 plus salary but we have auditioned receiver after receiver after reciever to replace all at a cost much higher than it would have cost to play Flick and none of which is as good as Flick. Not to mention we also lost Offensive Lineman Wayne Smith a standout. And for what??? Well Desjardins traded for Rocky Butler who doesn’t even play football anymore.
Gotta do better then that!!!
Kornegay is only starting because Justin got hurt. So he’s really a backup. French has played well enough to start on this team yet he doesnt get the reps. The trade was a wash.
I don’t mean to re-direct this thread to a different topic, but this Wayne Smith comment is flat out wrong. Smith was injured for a portion of last season, and when he returned from his injury at the end of the season, he actually agreed to a change in position by trying to fill the big void at RT, despite the fact that he has always played OG . . . I don’t know if I would consider Smith to be better than George Hudson before Hudson blew out his knee, but Wayne Smith is better than any of the O-Linemen on the roster right now. If you can ever corner John Salavantis in a pub somewhere I am sure that he would agree. Our new GM has to take responsibility for the stupidity of the Wayne Smith trade.
Having said that, I am optimistic that both Gagne-Marcoux & Dyakowski are showing some promise for the future.
Why do people start threads, presumably as a means for having a discussion with other users of the site, and then proceed to slam anyone and everyone who posts on their thread?
On O, we have the best QB and running back in the league, plus one of the top 5 receivers in the league in Armstead. We also have two great Canadian rookies on the O-Line who will have one year of experience under their belt next year.
We have cap room to build around these players on O next year (which we WILL DO) because of the moves Desjardins has made.
On D, we have two very good, young DE's, the best middle and outside linebacker in the league, and the best safety in the league.
We have cap room to build around these players on D next year (which we WILL DO) because of the moves Desjardins has made.
They are building a championship team in Hamilton, but it will take more than one season.
Now that’s perspective.
Enough shortsighted, knee jerk reactions already.
It’s way too early to evaluate what Desjardins and Taaffe have done. We know (at least some do) what they are trying to do. Yeah, 2-13 uck and I don’t like it, but I understand it. My chill pill is still working. Here, have some kool-aid.
It remains to be seen if they succeed or fail.
Kornegay is only starting because Justin got hurt. So he's really a backup. French has played well enough to start on this team yet he doesnt get the reps. The trade was a wash.
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Kornegay is only starting because Justin got hurt??? Justin Arabin was a Tiger-Cat until early 2007. Hmmm Desjardins has been GM since Aug 2006. When will the Tiger-Cat orgainization wake up? I'm sick of missing the playoffs and now with Desjardins we've got 2 wins. Whooopieee!!!
Okay, then let’s fire everyone again and start all over every year.
Okay, then let's fire everyone again and start all over every year.
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No let's hire someone with a proven track record and knowledge about football. Dan Rambo. Let's give Montreal's Popp back his secretary....Desjardins.
[url=http://www.ticats.ca/index.php?module=staff&func=display&staff_id=174]http://www.ticats.ca/index.php?module=s ... aff_id=174[/url]I see your point now - until DesJardins came along, this team was like a well-oiled machine, having competed in ten straight conference finals and coming out with a very respectable three Grey Cups. The roster was a powerhouse, with a good mix of all-stars and prospects, sure to continue that winning tradition for another ten. Salary cap - hah, 90% of those guys were playing for free just to maximize their chance of winning rings. Almost a dream organization. Then this guy comes along and we get what - 2 and 16. Unacceptable - blow this whole thing up and start all over again.
From the link provided, here’s Rambo’s CFL resume:
'[i]He previously worked with the Roughriders from 1983-90 where he worked in various positions, including director of scouting, director of player personnel and assistant general manager. Rambo’s work was instrumental in the Roughriders 1989 Grey Cup championship.
He returned to the CFL in 1992 as General Manager of the Ottawa Rough Riders, leading the team to its most successful season in 10 years. [/i]"
So he won one Grey Cup as assistant GM after six years of service with the team, then went on to a lousy Ottawa team.
So six years is accomplished, but we should can Marcel after one. Makes no sense
Here’s Desjardins’:
"[i] Desjardins spent fives season as assistant general manager of the Montreal Alouettes. He was previously assistant director of football operations with the organization after his arrival in Montreal in April 1999. Prior to joining the Alouettes, he worked at the Canadian Football League head office in Toronto for five years.
During his stint at the CFL (1994-99), Desjardins was responsible for the coordination of all player personnel related matters, including the Canadian college draft and the CFL evaluation camp. He also managed the CFL’s daily transactions and ensured all player contracts submitted to the CFL for registration adhered to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He regularly was in contact with the CFL member clubs, as well as the player personnel offices of the NFL, NFL Europe and Arena Football League with respect to player movement.
With General Manager Jim Popp, Desjardins was responsible of the smooth day-to-day management of the football operations side of the Alouettes. He was also in charge of contract negotiations, scouting the NFL and NFL Europe training camps, CIS Football, as well as a number of NCAA bowl games. He coordinated the team’s training camp in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu each year. In 2001 and 2002, he organized the CFL’s evaluation camp for the 40 top-rated Canadian players eligible for the CFL draft.
Among Desjardins’ day-to-day responsibilities with the Als’ were several salary cap related matters, team travel, player related administrative issues (insurance, pension, government documents) and office administration. He also communicated regularly with the CFL office, other CFL teams, the CFLPA and player agents.[/i]"
Furhter history with Desjardins in Montreal the past five years:
[i]"Led by head coach Don Matthews, the all-time winning coach in CFL history, the 2002 Alouettes posted the best regular season record in the league at 13-5. The Alouettes won their fifth Grey Cup, and their first in 25 years, by defeating the Edmonton Eskimos 25-16 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.
The Alouettes returned to the Grey Cup final in two of the next three seasons, losing both times to the Eskimos, including a heartbreaking 38-35 loss in overtime in 2005. The Alouettes have now played in front of sell-out crowd at Molson Stadium for over six years.[/i]"
And 4 Grey Cup appearnces in the last five years.
No… that’s the BC Lions…
- blow this whole thing up and start all over again.
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Who said anything about blowing the whole thing up? Fire Dangerdan and hire Rambo. Simple, and we build a contender.
Gotta do better then that.
This thread is a double edged sword, neither side will even CONSIDER the others "opinion", you all look like a bunch of school yard kids arguing who's soccer ball it is.. this thread is here mereley to incite arguments!!!
If I were at least 3 other CFL teams, I would be laughing at this thread. They would still be waiting for the answer to the question. Since August 2006 when Desjardins started, "Name one deal Desjardins didn't get taken in"?
I agreed with everything you wrote until you said that Hamilton has the best safety in the league. You lost me there.
Cody is a great DHB but I think he’s playing out of position at safety…and I am no fan of trying to squeeze square pegs into round holes. Move Cody back to halfback where he belongs and where he can consistently lay out monster hits on opposing slotbacks…I think he’s a bit of a fish out of water playing safety. Not that he’s bad at safety, mind you, just that it’s not optimizing his talent playing him there. And anyway, there are lots of true safeties in the league that are better at that position than he is right now (Kyries Hebert, Barron Miles, Orlando Steinauer…).
Otherwise, I agree with everything you said.
All of them, if the objective is to clean house and create cap space with which to build the future.
Yesh, that’s a very good assessmant of Cody. Putting him at safety has diminished his effectiveness IMO.
And then the new GM hires his own HC, and the new HC hires his own coordinators, and so on. Isn’t that the way it works? What quality candidate is going to take over a lousy team if he can’t clean house.
So isn’t that the same as blowing it up and starting over.
Obviously if you’re able to base your entire argument on such a narrow set of criteria, you’re going to be able to convince yourself you’re right every time.
Exactly! Well said.
It’s not a quick process. Instant gratification is not likely at all.
After this season, Marcel and Charlie will make changes that should move the process forward.
Then, and only then, can we laud them or criticise them.
There’s no sense in going backwards and starting it all over again. Especially when the current process hasn’t even been given a chance.