Toronto Argonauts: Chance to Return the Favour Against Hamilton
The Toronto Argonauts struggled in the second half of last week’s game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and lost, but will be looking for revenge on Sunday.
The Toronto Argonauts‘ playoff hopes took a tough blow after their loss on Labor Day in Hamilton. They now have to put that aside for the Tiger-Cats’ trip to BMO Field, with the Argos hoping to end their four-game losing streak.
The team found out earlier this week they will again be without Ricky Ray for the next four to six weeks, although head coach Scott Milanovich believes he could return in three weeks, pending his recovery. Regardless, with Ray out, the Argos will look to veteran Dan LeFevour to end the team’s losing streak.
The Argos got off to a strong start in Hamilton, but were unable to stop the Tiger-Cats’ offence in the second half, ending their unbeaten streak on the road. As a result, the Boatmen currently sit two points behind Hamilton in the standings, who also hold the edge in the season series.
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This means the Argos need to turn things around quickly if they want any shot at making the playoffs. This becomes even more important, when you consider the possibility of Winnipeg crossing over with more points in the standings.
This is the reason why the Argonauts are going with LeFevour instead of rookie Logan Kilgore, who had two rough starts against Winnipeg and Edmonton. LeFevour brings a different element to the Argos offence with his ability to extend plays with his legs, which will be important against an aggressive Hamilton defence.
As received Diontae Spencer told the press: “He [LeFevour] is more mobile than Ricky [Ray] is. He can get out of the pocket to extend plays with his legs. He adds another dimension to this offence which is a strong passing offence.”
The Argos receivers will have to make the necessary adjustments with a new quarterback, especially if LeFevour can hit them in stride. Spencer had eight receptions for 132 yards last weekend, with 60 yards coming after the catch – something he will look to exploit again on Sunday.
One player who had a big smile on his face this past week was safety Jermaine Gabriel, who suffered a tough injury in the opening game of the season. The Scarborough native will be a welcomed addition to the secondary, after the tough second-half collapse against Hamilton.
The defence got a pep talk from defensive coordinator Rich Stubler who was not impressed with their effort in practice on Friday. Gabriel was asked about adjustments the team needs to make defensively.
Gabriel pointed to one main issue, “We need to do a better job communicating pre-snap and during the play. Everyone has been keeping each other accountable especially in practice”.
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The team realises there has to be a sense of urgency against Hamiton, especially when it comes to getting pressure on Zach Collaros. Shawn Lemon collected two sacks on Collaros, but the pressure has to be more sustained.
Defensive tackle Brian Hall returns to the lineup on Sunday and said: “We need to be consistent and learned a good lesson which was that we need to finish games.”
Hamilton’s run game also gave the Argonauts a lot of problems last week. C.J. Gable rushed for 135 yards, including seven first downs and four runs of 10+ yards.
The Argonauts only had 54 total rushing yards in the game, while Hamilton finished with 152 on the ground. If Toronto can get more pressure on the quarterback and limit the running game it will make life easier for their secondary, which had a tough time in the second half last week.
Keys to the Game
Sustaining Pressure with the Lead- If Hamilton is down going into the half, the Argos need to find a way to sustain pressure and avoid breakdowns in the secondary. It will be tough to stop Hamilton’s lethal offence, but the Double Blue just need to avoid giving up the easy plays.
Avoiding Costly Turnovers- The Argonauts had two tough interceptions in the second half, which gave Hamilton life. If they can limit the turnovers and sustain long drives, it will keep the Ti-Cats’ offence off the field.
Protect the Quarterback- The first time Ray hurt himself was from a hit after he threw the ball, but this injury was as a result of a defender coming in unblocked. If the Argos expect to exploit a weaker Hamilton secondary, the offensive line needs to give LeFevour time to go through his reads and find the open receivers. Similarly, if the Argos receivers are given enough time, they can space between them and the defender.
Penalties- It is tough to avoid penalties, but the Argonauts had 81 yards worth against the Tiger-Cats, with another 110 the game before against the B.C. Lions. They will struggle to maintain momentum if they keep taking unnecessary penalties.
Next: Does Dan LeFevour have what it takes to replace Ricky Ray?
After four straight defeats, the Argonauts’ season is beginning to spiral out of control. What do you expect on Sunday against the Ti-Cats? Do you predict a win, or will the Boatmen add to their current losing streak? Let us know in the comments section below.