Toronto Argonauts: Big Test Against the Best Team in the CFL
After the Toronto Argonauts made big changes to their offence, they will look to show it off against the Calgary Stampeders on Monday.
The Toronto Argonauts sent a message earlier this week warning players that changes were coming and they wasted no time releasing four wide receivers. After a full week of practice, all the Argos have on their minds is finding a way to beat the best team in the CFL.
The team’s playoff hopes are still alive but it does not get any easier with two games against Calgary and one against Edmonton and Saskatchewan. The West is 20-8 against the East this season and currently on an 11-game winning streak. Calgary has won four of their last five games against Toronto and can clinch first place in the CFL with a victory.
More from Tip of the Tower
- Cam Phillips making his mark on Toronto Argonauts offence
- Toronto Argonauts: 4 storylines ahead of matchup against Redblacks
- Federico Bernardeschi ready for new challenge with Toronto FC
- Toronto Argonauts overcome Roughriders in entertaining Touchdown Atlantic
- Buffalo Bills: Von Miller drawing inspiration from Bruce Smith
Bryan Jones and Llevi Noel are making their first career starts in the CFL on offence, which is tough going up against Calgary, but a good test for them right out of the gate. While most eyes will be on Jones and Noel with the opportunity presented to them, head coach Scott Milanovich believes that both are ready.
“As far as knowing what to do, it has gotten better as the weeks has gone through with more reps” said Milanovich to reporters.
He has been impressed with what Noel has shown since training camp and with a longer look at practice this week. Both Bryan and Jones are impressive with their size but the question is whether they can use that to their advantage and provide some explosiveness with their speed.
“He has such a strong internal drive to be great. He is fearless out there, not afraid to get blocked or smashed and has the size to put it all together to be great” said Milanovich about Noel.
Getting the lead will be important for the Argos, but stopping Calgary will be tough as the Stampeders have been dominant in the final quarter. Time of possession and coming away with touchdowns on drives will be key because the offence has struggled to get going when the team needs them too. This is certainly a game that the Argos will be in tough to win, but maybe their desperate situation gives them extra motivation against a team that might take them lightly.
The team still has dynamic weapons in Diontae Spencer and Kenny Shaw who will likely see more attention with Tori Gurley and Kevin Elliott gone. Ricky Foley will also miss the game against Calgary so all eyes will be on Shawn Lemon to see if he can put pressure on Bo Levi Mitchell.
Brandon Whitaker will likely get more carries, especially if the Argos want to avoid turning the ball over to a dangerous offence led by Jerome Messam. The Argos have not played at BMO Field since they beat Hamilton at home on September 11th, they have lost three straight since then.
Next: Toronto Argonauts: Four Players Cut By Team
The team still has a chance to make the playoffs after Ottawa lost to Saskatchewan this weekend and hope that Ottawa or Hamilton win two straight against each other. A split would not work as much in the Argos favour given that the Argos do not own a tiebreaker against either of them.