Toronto Argonauts: What to expect with training camp underway
With the first two days of training camp in the books, the Toronto Argonauts have made significant changes to their roster and will look to put it all together this season.
Watching new head coach Marc Trestman address the media in Toronto Argonauts gear will take some getting used to. With two days of training camp in the books, the team continues to work towards erasing memories of last year’s disappointing season. Here are some things to watch for as the team prepares for their first taste of preseason action next Friday.
Will the offence be good enough?
The Argos’ offence went through drastic changes, with many coming during the 2016 season after receivers Tori Gurley, Vidal Hazelton and Kevin Elliott were released by the team in October. Then in the offseason, Kenny Shaw and Diontae Spencer signed with the Grey Cup champion Ottawa Redblacks, leaving the Argos with the chance to reshape their offence.
They did just that, bringing in perennial All-Star receiver SJ Green from Montreal, along with Jeff Fuller, Khalil Paden and Armanti Edwards. The Argos then rounded things off with returning members Anthony Coombs and Brian Jones.
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The team also brought back Brandon Whitaker, reuniting him with Green and Trestman. He will have some competition for a starting job with Kendall Hunter, Ben Malena, and James Wilder Jr.
Where the biggest question remains on the offensive side of the ball is how Ricky Ray works in Trestman’s offence. The 37-year old was named the starter right out of the gate and it still remains to be seen if he can stay healthy enough over a full season.
The team did make improvements on the offensive line, which should help give Ray more time in the pocket. The Argos success will come down to him staying on the field and getting some help from his defence.
The revitalized defence
No matter what the Argos do on the offensive side of the ball, it will not make a difference if they cannot improve on defence. That area got a lot of attention in free agency, with the team adding Winston Venable, Alan-Michael Cash, Johnny Sears Jr. and Cleyon Laing.
The team then made another key addition, bringing back Marcus Ball after three years in the NFL.
https://twitter.com/TorontoArgos/status/869297353559289857
The biggest improvement the team made on the defensive side was hiring Corey Chamblin, who last coached in 2015. He was the defensive backs coach in Calgary when they won the Grey Cup in 2008, before going on to win another one in 2013 as head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Trestman had high praise for Chamblin in his address to the media on Tuesday, referencing how fortunate he was to have a Grey Cup winning head coach as a part of his staff. He will have a strong group of defensive players to work with, which could include Bear Woods, who was released by the Montreal Alouettes on Monday.
Next: Recapping the 2017 CFL draft
It will be interesting to see how the Argos approach their first preseason game on June 8 against the Alouettes. There will probably be cuts made as the week goes by, with the 87 players currently at camp.