Right the Ship

A slowish start to the season, and the usual culprits have been the offiense, but we can't fault them. The defense has been pretty stellar, and so we can't fault them either.
It happens to be the special teams that is killing the cause.

Kick offs, punt returns, wides field goal returns, we are just not executing, and these are killing our momentum.

For a change, it is not our quarterbacking., our wide receivers, or or our O-Line, and Cory Boyd is carrying the mail quite well.

A short week for Boatmen as the face the Bombers on Wednesday, but a win will again right the ship.

 A loss, and if it is at the hands of Special Teams might spell doom for coach Michael O'Shea.

I will predict a close Argo's victory, and the defense will give us the ball in some good field psotions.




Then we get 10 days off, and chance to work on our special team game, and seek improvement

Go you Double Blue

Wish they played in all weather

Have to say that after the Vikings roof collapse forcing them outdoors, I do harken back to outdoor stadiums, playing games in daylight, and games where the weather played a hand in the outcome.

Years ago, when the Argos were hunting down Russ Jackson, the field at Landsowne resembled an ice rink, and so Jackson, and educated fellow, simply slipped on better footwear, and we never caught him

In the 1977 Grey Cup, the Als were better equiped and the Eskies could not run the field. In the NFL, it is no different, outdoor encounters have a special feel to them. So when the Metrodome sprung a leak and the snow came in, I would have just shovelled off, and played the game, I mean it's a hunk of cloth, not steel girders supporting their baggie.

Bud Grant made an appearance that evening, I swear I thought the man was already dead, but there he was, being introduced with his ealry 1970's boys of Eller, Page, and Marshall, wearing his ball cap and a short sleeved shirt !!! He muct live year round in Arizona, and forgot to pack his thermals, however this guy coached in the CFL, they played in mud, fog, a foot of ice and snow, and he got used to the rotten weather, and Minnesota was a walk in the park.

The ABC announcers were wrapped tighter with scarves, and woolies, and such, and the pansy players were all huddled near heaters, and so this is what we have come to, do we have to play all games indoors at 75 degrees, and padded seats, and spa treatments, and playing at 8:30 so we all got a chance to stay up and watch SNL. C'mon Man, let's try and schedule as many out door games at 1 pm, as we can. It is the spirit that made the game what it is. Unless you are the San Diego Chargers, they just wilt if the mercury dips below 50 F.

Harrington, Number 54

Ed "Hercules" Harrington

 This Sunday, Hercules gets another honour, and no it's not Clash of the Titans.
 Ed Harrington, who was nicknamed Hercules , roamed the fields of the CFL will be given honorary status in the Rogers Centre. It's about time.

Number 54 was another of the heroes of my youth as an Argonaut stalward, he patrolled right defensive and Walt Balisiuk the other end, during the late 60's.

The photos here is a shot of a home game at Exhibition Stadium ( in 1970 ) against the Alouettes. Sonny Wade( 14 ) with his helmet off.

So here is my favorite Harrngton story, and it has become an Argo legend.

The Argos are playing in the Montreal, in the old Autostade, and QB Sonny Wade tosses an interception and during the play, Argo DB Jim Tomlin was on the ground, and Wade actually stepped on Tomlin's head. So, incensed by this, Harrington chased Wade until he caught him , and proceeded to put a hurtin' on him.

Hercules was tossed from the game, and received a 2 game suspension, Wade got nothing, not even a penalty. I was livid, if I could have reached through the radio, that 14 year old would have throttled Wade. But I was held back by radio play by play host John Badham, who reminded fans, that in 3 weeks, the Als were coming to Toronto.

Rick Hooper and I went to that game, expecting fireworks, and there were none, but Harrington sacked Wade in the end zone for a rouge, or safety, and the Argos edged out a tight victory. The Als would win the Grey Cup that year, and it was the last year they had real grass on the field.

We had one of those good, not great years

A good memory, and Ed, welcome back, and all the best.

Defense first

When rebuilding a football franchise, and a Canadian one, you need certain key ingrediants.





Number 1, you need a QB you can build with, and Number 2 is you need solid Canadian talent, as it makes up a large majority of yor roster.


Number 3, you have to protect Asset # 1, and Number 4, if you can run the ball, you do 2 things.








# 1 is, you control the clock, and # 2 is you keep the defense off the field, and keep them fresh for 4 quarters. Because Number # 5 is you have to rely on your defense until you have Numbers 1 thru 4 are ready.








The Double Blue think they have some of these ingrediants, but it is only Game 6 coming up, that's including the 2 pre season games, so it is way to eearly to know.








This Friday they play the Lions, and a chance to win and become 3-1, and while that does not sound earth shattering, with Buck Pierce out 3-4 weeks , the Go Nuts have a chance to get a leg up, and stay ahead of the Ti Cats and stay near the Als for another week.





The running game looks improved, but the key difference is the willingness to stay with it, even in the 4rth quarter, when Count Dracula ( Bart Andrus ) long abandonded it. Jamal Roberston face was spotted on milk cartons most of last fall. Now he plays for the Lions, and will be seeking some revenge against the Argos, but am guessing that if Casey Printers is 100 %, he is the one to worry about.









Defense wins so we will need a strong effort from Kevin Eiben , Byron Parker, Willie Pile and the front 4. Need to put Cleo Lemon and Corey Boyd the best field position, and they should suceed.

Go Argos !

What would Matt do ?

I ask you, why is Adam Rita still in charge of this team ?

Why did Bob Nicholson , the new president, not think outside the box, and consider hiring one of the smartest football minds in ex Argo Matt Dunigan.

This team needed a new identity in management, and I think Dunnigan sees the game differently, has many contacts, and is not married to the same old CFL concepts.

Maybe after this year they'll indeed turn the reigns over to someone with fresh ideas, and I think Matt fits the bill.

Hamilton did it with Obie, we should do it with Matty.

They have enoughtalent on TSN, they won't miss him, and just listen to his commentary at the half, he knows the game better than anyone I hear these days.

He's played, won, coached and scouted, so Argos, if this becomes another lost season, maybe , just maybe we can turn the page to some really innovative new thinking.

A new season

Like the rebirth of another Time Lord ( Doctor Who ) the Argos get another crack at redemption, on the last 2 years of 4-14 and 3-15, geezus could it have been any worse.

Count Dracula no longer patrols the sidelines, as lovable Jim Barker returns to try and turn the leagues dysfunctional family to row in the same direction.

You know, as in we all pull together , like the Argos logo used to depict.

New QB's, and one is named Lemon, I don't like the sound of that ! I have no idea what to expect from this new squad, but maybe we can win 5 games, but I don't know, most of last years team is gone, new offense, new defense, new coaches, new hope.

Oh and David Braley owns us and the Lions, so if you were hoping for an easier year, buckle up, it just seems to be the way of the Argonauts to have some controversy.

Don't ask me yet who plays where, but we're on TV in 30 minutes, so we will give them a look and as always , another chance to redeem our faith, our eternal faith in the Double Blue.

Will the Argos rise again ?

Maybe if they had these guys.

3-15 and done

The mess that is the Toronto Argonauts has begun digging itself out of 2009 quagmire created by the nitwit owners, the lame GM, and suddenly dead quiet Micheal Clemons.

I have watched this team in bad times, seen some truly bad talent plat here, so when I say this team is not that bad talent wise, trust me, I know.

I am likely on shaky ground with that statement, but the defense needed 2009 to remake itself, and it did, despite the antics of it's head coach.

The office is run by nincompoops, and Adam Rita has escaped the noose because Bob Nicholson needs someone to answers the phones until CFL Commisar Cohon steps is and says, okay boys, " Who owns the team ? Really ??? " Then once David Braley who already owns the Lions, finds a local buyer for his Leo's, he can begin the house cleaning exercise, and Adam, your ticket will get punched then.

Get me 4 talented receivers, and another defensive back who can play that rover position, and a kick returner who can actual make a difference, and a coaching staff that knows that there are only 3 downs, and that when you are averging 6.3 yards per rush , you don't abandon the run game just because you want to prove that you can mould QB's ( like you did in the NFL ).

If you can do all that, this situation is fixable, and this team is not that far off where Hamilton and Winnipeg are.

While I am at it, let's get Pinball out of the promo booth and back involved with this team, and make him the GM, hire a Canadian coach, and I bet you dollars to doughnuts, this team gets back to .500 next year.

Okay, that's it for this year, I am going to sit back for the holidays and reflect fondly on the Flutie years, the Dunigan years, and the Damon Allen years, maybe even the Conredge Holliway years, while chestnust roast over my open fire.

G'Bye Black Bart, see ya in the funny papers....

Merry Christmas Everyone