Toronto Argonauts open training camp with new mindset after disappointing season

As the Toronto Argonauts took the field for the first of training camp on Sunday looking to move forward without longtime offensive lineman Chris Van Zeyl.

Once the CFL and the players agreed to the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, the dominoes started to fall for teams especially the Toronto Argonauts.

After letting Bear Woods go on May 16, the team wasn’t done there announcing that they were releasing Chris Van Zeyl hours before players officially reported to training camp. This caught many by surprise and that shock turned to anger for Argos fans when they saw that he was signing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats hours later.

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Losing a player who had been an anchor of the offensive line for 11 seasons and two Grey Cup victory is a tough pill to swallow but in the business of professional sports, teams have to find a way to move on.

Head coach Corey Chamblin echoed that sentiment after the team completed their first walkthrough of training camp on Sunday.

"“It’s always hard to replace a vet that knows this game, that knows this league but at the same time transition happens in this league…when you look at a guy like that it is going to be super tough,” Chamblin said. “He’s a vet, he’s a pro but it gives other guys new opportunities. We have to make sure we build around those guys in new spots and lend them the hand they need.”"

One of those players is James Franklin who is coming into training camp No.1 on the quarterback depth chart and a chance to grow both on and off the field. This was something he didn’t have the chance to do last season but will get every chance to do it now.

"“This is his opportunity, this is his time to shine. It won’t just be all on him. Defence, special teams, all of us. We’re not asking him to throw the ball 55, 60 times a game. It takes all of us,” said Chamblin on what he expects from Franklin.“As a quarterback he is going to manage the system, not manage the ball game, but manage the system.”"

With Ricky Ray officially retired, Franklin has been given the reigns something the team was reluctant to do last season. He has a familiar face in Derel Walker who was big signing in the off-season.

Chamblin told his QB that he expects him to not only lead the offence but the entire team, something he might not be ready to do now but it will eventually come.

The head coach made sure to set the tone at the end of practice delivering a big speech to the players when he blew the final whistle. He stressed the importance of getting consistency through all three phases and preached that he will coach with an aggressive mindset.

He said he wants his players to have their mindset on football the moment they step onto the field and he’s fortunate to have veteran players from 2017 to help deliver that message.

It appears to be a much-needed change in approach and hopefully, the preparation leads to the desired results.