Argos at Als GDT

[GOLDMEMBER]

Can the Als finally get a measly W against these guys?
Sheesh! 

[Jesse]

...probably not.

[GOLDMEMBER]

...probably not.

likely due to Fajardo but you never know. Trap game for the Argos.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Go birds go

[GOLDMEMBER]

Come on  Fajardo.

[GOLDMEMBER]

A La 3 bute lol

[GOLDMEMBER]

I like Dunnigan but he is calling the colour like the drunken hillbilly lol

[Pete]

Argos making it look way too easy, Mtrl could sure use sankey in

[pjrocksmb]

Argos making it look way too easy, Mtrl could sure use sankey in

Is he not starting?

[bomb squad]

TSN/CFL must have got a bundle of $ for that N'Espresso commercial

[Pete]

Is he not starting?

My mistake he is on the depth chart, hes just playing like he's invisible

[GOLDMEMBER]

TSN/CFL must have got a bundle of $ for that N'Espresso commercial

Oh hello there Squad!

[GOLDMEMBER]

TO DL and LB is no friggin joke.

[pjrocksmb]

Harris looked explosive there x2

He can't run outside they said

He is slowing down they cried

Beast

[Pete]

they re keepin him fresh..whats that song..I may not be as good as I once was, but I am as good once as i ever was
Meanwhile Fajardo looks like he always does

[pjrocksmb]

they re keepin him fresh..whats that song..I may not be as good as I once was, but I am as good once as i ever was
Meanwhile Fajardo looks like he always does

True fresh as a daisy

[pjrocksmb]

Cody is hurt

[Pete]

Argos play a tight defense at all levels.

[BBRT]

Argos play a tight defense at all levels.

Got to agree - that Argo defense looks really good.

[J5V]

Kelly doesn't look good to me. Could have easily thrown a couple of picks in that first half.

[bomb squad]

Fajardo is not endearing himself to the Montreal fans tonight.  Yes needs run support, but that boy gotta start moving his team or he is soon going to be out of business.

[Pete]

scary thing is Argos are not even playing with intensity, they are freely substituting, keeping everyone fresh

[pjrocksmb]

They just let them back in this

[GOLDMEMBER]

scary thing is Argos are not even playing with intensity, they are freely substituting, keeping everyone fresh

They better they have no more bye weeks.

[pjrocksmb]

Good stand for the D

[pjrocksmb]

That's a tough one for Harris

[TecnoGenius]

I'm partway through the 2nd Q.  It's so clear as day that Cody's problem is he has no feel for what's happening anywhere on the field.  He has no feel for the pocket, no eye for what the coverage is, misses all the blitzes, never adjusts to what's happening.  He's like the anti-Zach.

Maas is designing all these wacky plays, and I like creativity, but when TOR is covering them Cody will throw or run into it anyhow!!  It's very aggravating.

He can throw ok on every ball but the deep ones, and is ok at running and can take abuse (albeit with writhing), but he just can't read what's going on and fixates on his called play and cannot improvise.  I wish he could, because then he'd be a ton better and the league would look better.

Oh ya, Maas is hurting not helping Cody with all these crazy designs that just flop in real life.  I'm still rooting for (and pickem'ing) MTL, and sometimes Cody can pull off wins, but his limitations remain.  I bet he slides to being a #2 next season (or #1 in a bottom barrel team), or is out completely.

[pjrocksmb]

I'm partway through the 2nd Q.  It's so clear as day that Cody's problem is he has no feel for what's happening anywhere on the field.  He has no feel for the pocket, no eye for what the coverage is, misses all the blitzes, never adjusts to what's happening.  He's like the anti-Zach.

Maas is designing all these wacky plays, and I like creativity, but when TOR is covering them Cody will throw or run into it anyhow!!  It's very aggravating.

He can throw ok on every ball but the deep ones, and is ok at running and can take abuse (albeit with writhing), but he just can't read what's going on and fixates on his called play and cannot improvise.  I wish he could, because then he'd be a ton better and the league would look better.

Oh ya, Maas is hurting not helping Cody with all these crazy designs that just flop in real life.  I'm still rooting for (and pickem'ing) MTL, and sometimes Cody can pull off wins, but his limitations remain.  I bet he slides to being a #2 next season (or #1 in a bottom barrel team), or is out completely.

He comes back strong, spoiler alert.

Argos holding or illegal block here will hurt em bad.

[pjrocksmb]

Argos play like this when we see them we win by 21

[dd]

I ve never seen a Qb get sacked as much as fajardo. He?s always getting beat up. He?s got to get rid of the ball or he ain?t going to survive and if he goes down bye bye Als

[pjrocksmb]

That was the craziest gamble I have seen!

[Pete]

brutal play to take an interference call

[pjrocksmb]

brutal play to take an interference call

Yeah tough one to take there

[pjrocksmb]

Sick throw and catch

Edit penalty took it off

[dd]

Wow the much talked about and ?fresh? Argos are losing to the bogus Alouettes. Awesome!!

[pjrocksmb]

Argos taken down a few notches here.

We will smoke these guys

[pjrocksmb]

Boy o boy Kelly can zip that

[Pete]

good teams find ways to win, montreal not so much

[The Zipp]

Don't count out the argos


Als needed some first downs

[pjrocksmb]

Sick x2

[pjrocksmb]

Cccchoke?

[dd]

Like a cat on a hairball!!

[pjrocksmb]

Like a cat on a hairball!!

Lol

Big penalty here boy

[The Zipp]

Bede can boom those kickoffs

[pjrocksmb]

Don't count out the argos


Als needed some first downs

Don't count out the Als, Argos need a stop

This aged poorly

Duck duck goose

I'll take the wings

[pjrocksmb]

Bede can boom those kickoffs

That was sick!

[pjrocksmb]

Nice job pull down bad snap

[pjrocksmb]

This game ended awesome!

[pjrocksmb]

Cote cote cote

[The Zipp]

Chad Kelly - born winner

Cody Fajardo - the opposite

Toronto played poorly at times but they are legit - make plays when you need to

[pjrocksmb]

Crazy stuff, you can't make this stuff up! Sick block

[pjrocksmb]

Thanks for mods for cleaning up the names here.  Hopefully we can see this issue put to bed.

[TecnoGenius]

Nearly at halftime.  Holy smokes is MTL bad on 1st down.  They should just forfeit their first down because half the time they end up losing yards.  Where is their run game?  Fletcher isn't bad, and he's crazy fast.  You can't pass every down.

Maas doing Maas things.

And what's up with all the penalties on MTL.  Just messy and sloppy.  Even TOR is looking sloppy so far.  Did everyone hit downtown MTL last night?

Refs are all over the place too: some over-zealous calls, some missed calls.  2 picked-up flags so far?  Yikes

You know how WPG almost always looks like a well-oiled machine on O?  MTL is like the opposite.  Everything looks rusty and squeaky.  Even when they make plays it's ugly.  It's like they don't practice or someone is replacing 6 O players every week.

[pjrocksmb]

Nearly at halftime.  Holy smokes is MTL bad on 1st down.  They should just forfeit their first down because half the time they end up losing yards.  Where is their run game?  Fletcher isn't bad, and he's crazy fast.  You can't pass every down.

Maas doing Maas things.

And what's up with all the penalties on MTL.  Just messy and sloppy.  Even TOR is looking sloppy so far.  Did everyone hit downtown MTL last night?

Refs are all over the place too: some over-zealous calls, some missed calls.  2 picked-up flags so far?  Yikes

You know how WPG almost always looks like a well-oiled machine on O?  MTL is like the opposite.  Everything looks rusty and squeaky.  Even when they make plays it's ugly.  It's like they don't practice or someone is replacing 6 O players every week.

Weird game for flags

[GOLDMEMBER]

Als did an amazing choke job.

Argos showed a few chinks in the armour. They can be beaten in the playoffs.

Pretty brutal pick by Fajardo. Loser QB.

[TecnoGenius]

2Q2:15 the Leake return which gets stripped, is clearly a fumble, booth is right.  Maas is right.  Refs and EITS: "I see naaathing".

a) The no yards was iffy.  They didn't call the exact same 4.5y range the other way earlier in the game.  They usually let a sprinting 4.5y no-yards pass without a flag.  Maas could challenge and say a fumble and get the ball, if command will let 4.5y pass.

b) If Maas gets the fumble and the NY stands, it's basically no change because the return was 15y and the NY would be 15y.  But at least MTL gets the fumble stat (important for fantasy!).

I'm starting to think Commander Data's ref squad is the worst in the league.  Makes me miss First Down Foxcroft.

P.S. It's a great strip!!  Eventually one of these game-changing plays by MTL D & ST will stick...  DeQuoy needs to hire Dressler to learn how to lay out for potential INTs.

[GOLDMEMBER]

2Q2:15 the Leake return which gets stripped, is clearly a fumble, booth is right.  Maas is right.  Refs and EITS: "I see naaathing".

a) The no yards was iffy.  They didn't call the exact same 4.5y range the other way earlier in the game.  They usually let a sprinting 4.5y no-yards pass without a flag.  Maas could challenge and say a fumble and get the ball, if command will let 4.5y pass.

b) If Maas gets the fumble and the NY stands, it's basically no change because the return was 15y and the NY would be 15y.  But at least MTL gets the fumble stat (important for fantasy!).

I'm starting to think Commander Data's ref squad is the worst in the league.  Makes me miss First Down Foxcroft.

P.S. It's a great strip!!  Eventually one of these game-changing plays by MTL D & ST will stick...  DeQuoy needs to hire Dressler to learn how to lay out for potential INTs.

Agreed the Leak fumble was a true Leak. That ref crew has really been brutal all year game in game out they participated in.

[TecnoGenius]

Kelly: his main strength is he's got a super quick wind & release, just like Rourke.  It gives D's almost no time to react, especially on the short game against zone.  Once he makes his decision it's like 1/2 sec and the ball is in the receiver's hands.  And he puts mega zip on it.  Good thing his receivers seem to be able to handle the heat.

I think just like Rourke, because he's so fast at his decisions, you can take advantage by getting guys into the lanes of the short passes for passes or INTs.  Pass rush won't help you much.  You need to block the lanes.  If you do that and flat out stop the cracked eggs guy, you're halfway to beating TOR.

I can see why McGloster never earned a spot in WPG.  MTL really missing Rice.

Some boo-ouiseaus out at Molson as the clock hits 0:00 at halftime.

[TecnoGenius]

That's a tough one for Harris

Glad to see Harris got up and ran away from that one.  It could have been really bad.  Maybe just really panful kneecap and not internal damage.  (I'm at the start of the 4th Q)

Maas/Calvillo doing much, much better in 2nd H.  He may have cracked the TOR code.  The key is making Cody's first read work, and keep everyone guessing.

[bunker]

Kelly: his main strength is he's got a super quick wind & release, just like Rourke.  It gives D's almost no time to react, especially on the short game against zone.  Once he makes his decision it's like 1/2 sec and the ball is in the receiver's hands.  And he puts mega zip on it.  Good thing his receivers seem to be able to handle the heat.

I think just like Rourke, because he's so fast at his decisions, you can take advantage by getting guys into the lanes of the short passes for passes or INTs.  Pass rush won't help you much.  You need to block the lanes.  If you do that and flat out stop the cracked eggs guy, you're halfway to beating TOR.

I can see why McGloster never earned a spot in WPG.  MTL really missing Rice.

Some boo-ouiseaus out at Molson as the clock hits 0:00 at halftime.

I agree Kelly has a quick release, but you still need to pressure him. You could see Kelly was having some problems with accuracy, and Montreal getting pressure on him with blitzing contributed a lot to that. Any QB starts to perform worse when pressured and hit. The key is whether we can actually get pressure on him, especially with Jeffcoat questionable, since he has a very good O-line in front of him. (Although didn't one of their O-lineman go down to injury?) I think this was one of Kelly's poorer games, although to his credit, he came up big when he had to at the end with 2 very accurate passes. Toronto's D looked human for much of the second half against a Montreal offense that has not been that good, so hopefully we can put up some points on the 29th.

[TecnoGenius]

Well that was crazy.  I feel a bit ripped off.  MTL outplayed TOR in every way for about 3 Q's.  Calvillo was owning them.

Who called that mid/deep pass on that critical MTL 2nd down?  Calvillo brain toot?  It's absolutely the worst call at that time.  You need something that absolutely cannot be an INT.  At worst you're looking at an OT at that point, unless TOR gets really lucky, and they weren't looking too hot all 2nd half.  1 bad decision and you throw the game.

Then that shambles of a FG.  Makes all of us cringe because it's what they did to us in the GC.  Booth guys were wrong, it was the lead DL that got his hand on it, not the following guy 2Y back.  Didn't MTL watch the GC to see how TOR schemes to block the FG more than any other team?  I'm getting PTSD from the flashbacks.

TOR's has identified the wide OL spacing and weak point in the A-gap beside the LS.  Watch how far the MTL blockers are at that point.  So have your DL (NT) line up legally on his LG and then have him attack that weak A-gap.  The only catch is you can't truck the LS.  You have to shimmy past him, not through him.  He doesn't really block much anyhow.

We need to study and copy this.  And we need to change FG block scheme to tighten up that A-gap: it can't be as big as the MTL one.

Lastly, the MTL LG hoggie was slow to get up, just like Sayles in the GC.  My word, these guys have one job, to get up and make their easy head-on blocks.  That's it.  How TOR can get this game freebie and the '22 GC because of weak FG OL play is beyond me.  I understand once, but twice?  Hey hoggies, how about make your easy FG blocks??

P.S. That wasn't DPI on that MTL guy for the critical TOR TD.  Weak sauce.

P.P.S. Cody looked good game-managing when the OC was calling good 1st reads in 2nd H.  If the OC is really on his game he can execute.  Oh ya, and this is the first game in 2 seasons I've seen a Cody audible work better than the called play.  Can't someone sit him down and teach him how to read D's post-snap??

[TecnoGenius]

If TOR gets a FG block on us, either on Sep 29, or in the GC, I will lose my bleep bleep bleepity bleep.  Boudreau better be on top of this.  As in spending 90% of his time making sure this doesn't happen.

I want no DL as 4th Q FG blockers.  I want no slow stand-ups.  I want all 7 hoggies in.  I want a super tight A-gap.

Is there a rule that says you must FG from 7Y back?  If not, why not kick FG from 8 yards back when facing TOR?  That extra yard would have won us the GC, and let MTL tie this game.

[TecnoGenius]

So does this clinch the East for TOR or do they still need to win next week vs HAM (which they should easily do)?  I'm thinking it would be nice for us if TOR is starting #2's on Sept 29.

[GOLDMEMBER]

So does this clinch the East for TOR or do they still need to win next week vs HAM (which they should easily do)?  I'm thinking it would be nice for us if TOR is starting #2's on Sept 29.

Nope, they clinched 1st place last night. Rest of the year is next to meaningless.

[3rdand1.5]

Toronta may not have played great, but they are the best team in the league.

Kelly was off, but on when he really needed to be, he can get that ball out and downfield...wow... I believe that was the first time he was sacked in like 6 weeks or something crazy...and that T.O special teams...they are in a whole nother category than the rest of the league.

If they stay healthy they are scary good!

It has to be tough on AH, as I think he is now the 3rd RB on the team, but he still gets to cash a nice check and has a great shot at his 5th ring...so hard to really feel for him

[Jesse]

So does this clinch the East for TOR or do they still need to win next week vs HAM (which they should easily do)?  I'm thinking it would be nice for us if TOR is starting #2's on Sept 29.

That would be incredibly sucky if the most anticipated match-up of the year featured back-ups by either team.

I'm hoping both teams treat it as a statement game, even if the standings are irrelevant.

[The Zipp]

That would be incredibly sucky if the most anticipated match-up of the year featured back-ups by either team.

I'm hoping both teams treat it as a statement game, even if the standings are irrelevant.

Argos have nothing to play for...if they go into that mode this early it's dangerous to think they turn it on months from now for one game. 

Terrible scheduling by CFL

[theaardvark]

Toronto has "nothing" to play for?

They have played their wordt ball all year, trending down... they really, really need to tighten things up.

Will they rest a player here and there, "personal bye weeks"?  Sure.

But they need to play hard to the end, or they could bow out in the EDF...

[Lincoln Locomotive]

Toronta may not have played great, but they are the best team in the league.

Kelly was off, but on when he really needed to be, he can get that ball out and downfield...wow... I believe that was the first time he was sacked in like 6 weeks or something crazy...and that T.O special teams...they are in a whole nother category than the rest of the league.

If they stay healthy they are scary good!

It has to be tough on AH, as I think he is now the 3rd RB on the team, but he still gets to cash a nice check and has a great shot at his 5th ring...so hard to really feel for him

Curious as to what happened with Harris?   Didn't listen to or watch the game

[Jesse]

Argos have nothing to play for...if they go into that mode this early it's dangerous to think they turn it on months from now for one game. 

Terrible scheduling by CFL

The CFL couldn't anticipate them being 11-1 at this time of year.

That said, we should play every team twice and they should 100% have scheduled the Grey Cup re-match for earlier in the year (like week 1).

[Jesse]

Curious as to what happened with Harris?   Didn't listen to or watch the game

Nothing happened. He's just old and barely plays.

[The Zipp]

The CFL couldn't anticipate them being 11-1 at this time of year.

That said, we should play every team twice and they should 100% have scheduled the Grey Cup re-match for earlier in the year (like week 1).

The grey cup rematch is what I was talking about. 

[J5V]

Andrew Harris took a nasty blow to the knee and watching the replay it looked like a definite hyper extension. The knee isn't supposed to flex backward like that and it definitely hurt him as he was clutching it in pain. Yes he appeared to run it off on the sidelines but that's the sort of thing that may blow up later.

Six games to go yet for the Argos and they can't sit back for that long. Staying focused and on top of their game isn't going to be easy for that long a stretch. Toronto's games are all against weak opponents except the one with us. How many times have we seen a team that played strong all year and clinched early bow out in the playoffs. Happens all the time and is one of the most difficult things to overcome. A team needs to peak at the right time.

For the Blue and Gold I think it's great! Our schedule features the Cats, Argos, Lions, Elks and Stamps. Tougher schedule and no problem staying focused. Let everyone, including the Argos, think it's all wrapped up for the boatmen and just a formality. The Bombers love the underdog role and a Grey Cup rematch would be absolutely perfect.

[Pete]

Argos will rest players liberally, in fact against us I wouldn't be surprised if Dimwiddie actually wouldn't mind losing that game. Argos play better with a chip on their shoulder, last thing their coach wants is to go into the playoffs complacent.
Neither coach is going to show their whole hand, preferring to keep that for the grey cup should they meet
  In the scheme of things, other than for the media power rankings the only thing on the line is for the bombers to help clinch first place. For the argos they have nothing to prove.

[bomb squad]

Wow. Having a team clinch everything with 2 months left in the season is insane. If you're the Argos, I guess you have to take it as it comes to you, but I think that right now any other team (maybe not Ottawa) in the league is in a better position. I just don't see how a team can suddenly manufacture playoff intensity after not playing a meaningful game for 2 months. They may be able to keep up the steam pressure for another couple weeks when they play the Bombers, but after that, it's going to be tough for them. This isn't a good situation for the league.

[BBRT]

Toronto has "nothing" to play for?

They have played their wordt ball all year, trending down... they really, really need to tighten things up.

Will they rest a player here and there, "personal bye weeks"?  Sure.

But they need to play hard to the end, or they could bow out in the EDF...

I completely disagree with you on this. Toronto is not trending down. They have overall the best team in the CFL at least IMHO. They will have a walk over in the EDF and will be a match for anyone in the Grey Cup. If it comes down to Winnipeg vs. Toronto for the Cup I believe Toronto will be the favorites. For the Bombers they just need to focus on getting first locked up in the West and then prep for whoever they play in the WF. No easy road ahead at least IMHO.

[peg_city]

Wow. Having a team clinch everything with 2 months left in the season is insane. If you're the Argos, I guess you have to take it as it comes to you, but I think that right now any other team (maybe not Ottawa) in the league is in a better position. I just don't see how a team can suddenly manufacture playoff intensity after not playing a meaningful game for 2 months. They may be able to keep up the steam pressure for another couple weeks when they play the Bombers, but after that, it's going to be tough for them. This isn't a good situation for the league.

Agreed. Reminds me of the 2001 Winnipeg Blue Bombers. 14-2 and mailed to in the last two weeks. That was 3 weeks without playing a meaningful game. Toronto has 7.

[The Zipp]

CFL divisions and playoff format needs a hard tweak...having a team one win away from being in the championship with 7 weeks left cause they fed on bottom feeders just doesn't create the excitement it should. 

Scrap the divisions and figure something else out

[bomb squad]

A tenth team would also help. Please Randy, let's get this done.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

A tenth team would also help. Please Randy, let's get this done.

Every year it's the same thing, the CFL generates expansion chatter around TD Atlantic, then does nothing to push forward.

[TecnoGenius]

CFL divisions and playoff format needs a hard tweak...having a team one win away from being in the championship with 7 weeks left cause they fed on bottom feeders just doesn't create the excitement it should. 

Or have WPG alternate between E and W divisions.... (see other thread)   

WPG and TOR being in the same division this year and playing 3 reg season games vs each other would have been epic.  I think it would have helped both divisions be more competitive this year.

That said, we should play every team twice and they should 100% have scheduled the Grey Cup re-match for earlier in the year (like week 1).

Yes, that was a major major mistake.  The fanfare and explosions in a week 1 or 2 GC rematch would have gotten huge media and eyeballs, and the game would have been epic.  A "week 17 rematch where TOR has already clinched the EDF" just doesn't have the same ring to it.