Argos at Blue Bombers PRE GAME thread

[bwiser]

Its going to be fun with a soon to be sold out crowd. It will be another loud crowd and the Argos will struggle with the noise. The Argos are not used to playing with crowd noise.

[3rdand1.5]

I think our DB corps is one of the best in the league.  Just look how almost no teams throw deep against us.  The teams that beat us are all dinking & dunking us to death.  If Hall goes into no-explosions mode for any team, it'll be this one.  He'll give up the wide out the whole night to stop the explosion.  The question is: will TOR be patient to take that out every time?  Kelly may be a lot of things, but "patient" doesn't strike me as one of them.

Our OL will get the job done in pass pro.  Not sure what will happen in the run game.  However, if we think of this as a revenge game (for GC) and chip-on-shoulder game (for just getting smoked by HAM), I think our OL/BO20 will be monster on the run (bully ball).

Our run-D has been good and getting steadily better.  I think we handle cracked egg mullet liver king guy.  Other, lesser, teams have lately, why not us?  Here's a hint WFC: if TOR gets within 25YL, they are running it to Oullette or Kelly.  Period.  Ignore the pass, because they aren't passing on 1st D.

TOR WRs haven't been anything special.  They are still mostly no-names.  None are ever good fantasy picks.  Gittens is a massive '23 disappointment.  Coxie and Philips are very hot & cold.  I never thought Daniels was any good.  TOR doesn't win by WR talent nor deep pass (Kelly) talent: they win by out-smarting and out-coaching the opponent.  Now that is what I'm scared of.  They out-smarted us all GC long, and I think they've only gotten better.

I think if our coaches/coords work their arsicles off in the bye week we have the talent to beat a full-strength TOR team.  If we say "normal Bomber ball is good enough" then we're doomed.  We have to start opening the playoff playbook, and start strategizing for each teams' weaknesses.

The #1 question though isn't any of this, it's: does TOR come to win or rotate out a few/bunch stars?  Why should they try, and risk injury?  I bet they dress their 3rd RB and he takes most snaps.  And give Kelly a quarter or a half and pull him.

Could all be true....but they have Leake and a great record-breaking return game, they have arguably the best kicker and cover teams and they have dominated other teams in special teams. Chad has been sacked once in 6 games and rarely overly pressured. We don't have the horses to compete with that...all things offense and defence are really close, we have the advantage of home field, but we lack in overall special teams, and we insist on only 6 D-lineman and by the end of games they are exhausted.

I fully expect it will be a heck of game and some great back and forth, but that we will have a longer field all day and they will have a shorter field to play all day due to special teams and at the end they will pull away as our D-line will be gassed...

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Could all be true....but they have Leake and a great record-breaking return game, they have arguably the best kicker and cover teams and they have dominated other teams in special teams. Chad has been sacked once in 6 games and rarely overly pressured. We don't have the horses to compete with that...all things offense and defence are really close, we have the advantage of home field, but we lack in overall special teams, and we insist on only 6 D-lineman and by the end of games they are exhausted.

I fully expect it will be a heck of game and some great back and forth, but that we will have a longer field all day and they will have a shorter field to play all day due to special teams and at the end they will pull away as our D-line will be gassed...

My word the Argos are loaded, Leake is outstanding but this RB Deonta McMahon they just pulled off their PR looks extremely dangerous, the Bombers will have to keep their eye on him everytime he steps on the field.  If he gets free in open space it won't be pretty.

[BBRT]

I think our DB corps is one of the best in the league.  Just look how almost no teams throw deep against us.  The teams that beat us are all dinking & dunking us to death.  If Hall goes into no-explosions mode for any team, it'll be this one.  He'll give up the wide out the whole night to stop the explosion.  The question is: will TOR be patient to take that out every time?  Kelly may be a lot of things, but "patient" doesn't strike me as one of them.

Our OL will get the job done in pass pro.  Not sure what will happen in the run game.  However, if we think of this as a revenge game (for GC) and chip-on-shoulder game (for just getting smoked by HAM), I think our OL/BO20 will be monster on the run (bully ball).

Our run-D has been good and getting steadily better.  I think we handle cracked egg mullet liver king guy.  Other, lesser, teams have lately, why not us?  Here's a hint WFC: if TOR gets within 25YL, they are running it to Oullette or Kelly.  Period.  Ignore the pass, because they aren't passing on 1st D.

TOR WRs haven't been anything special.  They are still mostly no-names.  None are ever good fantasy picks.  Gittens is a massive '23 disappointment.  Coxie and Philips are very hot & cold.  I never thought Daniels was any good.  TOR doesn't win by WR talent nor deep pass (Kelly) talent: they win by out-smarting and out-coaching the opponent.  Now that is what I'm scared of.  They out-smarted us all GC long, and I think they've only gotten better.

I think if our coaches/coords work their arsicles off in the bye week we have the talent to beat a full-strength TOR team.  If we say "normal Bomber ball is good enough" then we're doomed.  We have to start opening the playoff playbook, and start strategizing for each teams' weaknesses.

The #1 question though isn't any of this, it's: does TOR come to win or rotate out a few/bunch stars?  Why should they try, and risk injury?  I bet they dress their 3rd RB and he takes most snaps.  And give Kelly a quarter or a half and pull him.

I don't think this game really matters to TOR - they have locked up the East and will probably field some starters and some backups etc. What happens in this game for TOR does not really matter. Only matters if they see the Bombers in the Cup. As for the Bombers they need the win if they want to keep working on  home field advantage in the WF. So if the Bombers put on a good show and handle TOR easy - does not mean a thing IMHO.

[blue_or_die]

I wish the Argos still had something to play for. Would be much more entertaining watch a full-on dogfight. If we clobber them, it will just be all "meh Toronto didn't even care about this game, wait til playoffs and then they'll actually turn it on".

[bomb squad]

I wish the Argos still had something to play for. Would be much more entertaining watch a full-on dogfight. If we clobber them, it will just be all "meh Toronto didn't even care about this game, wait til playoffs and then they'll actually turn it on".

It is a downer no doubt. But, we need  the win whatever the circumstances and however the game plays out. It will not be easy. I think Toronto will bring everything for this one.

[Pete]

id like to see the argos coast all the way, then kick their butts in the grey cup. If we beat them fine, but Id be very surprised if Buck shows them anything different for this game. He tends to play things close to the vest. I do think we will play with intensity and I'm not sure what the argos will bring. However if we can put pressure on Kelly early they may not play him the whole game

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

id like to see the argos coast all the way, then kick their butts in the grey cup. If we beat them fine, but Id be very surprised if Buck shows them anything different for this game. He tends to play things close to the vest. I do think we will play with intensity and I'm not sure what the argos will bring. However if we can put pressure on Kelly early they may not play him the whole game

Without Jeffcoat highly unlikely the Bomber D-line can harass Kelly often, Argos also have a very good O-line and have only given up 12 sacks this season vs. the Bombers at 28.  Their secondary is also very good, if Zach relies overly on the long ball game to move the sticks, he will be hooped.  Pound for pound the Argos may have the better roster.

[Pete]

Thats what blitzes are for. Even if he completes some passes, make him pay. And put that thought in his head like we've done to Fajardo and others

[buckzumhoff]

Toronto will run the ball. Stop the run and don't let their qb run the ball.  His passing isn't the greatest . If rather contain and stop the running game. Bombers aren't the same at linebacker and defensive backs also. Letting them get 10 and 15 yard passes. No other teams are allowing that

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Toronto will run the ball. Stop the run and don't let their qb run the ball.  His passing isn't the greatest . If rather contain and stop the running game. Bombers aren't the same at linebacker and defensive backs also. Letting them get 10 and 15 yard passes. No other teams are allowing that

Probably not a well known fact but Chad Kelly first came to prominence when he won the national Punt, Pass and Kick competition 4 times as a teenager, so fair to say he is athletically gifted and can throw the ball quite well.

[TecnoGenius]

Luckily we'll be able to see what TOR's likely garbage-season plans are this Sat when we see who they field vs HAM.  If they're playing a lot of B and C backups then that's what they'll bring to WPG.

TOR is in a bit of a bind.  If the country is gauging the GC odds based on this game then TOR either brings 100% A-game and does everything to win, or they bring a clearly inferior B-team and say "look we aren't trying" and lose.  The worst from a face, rep, and morale standpoint would be to bring your mostly-A team, with a couple of resters staying home, and then lose.  Because then many will think they flat out aren't as good as WPG.

No matter what TOR brings, I think Buck et al are bringing their A-game and opening up the playbook.  We need to beat an A-team TOR, or we need to completely lay waste to a B-team TOR.  There is no option to lose.

I think TOR will do the normal garbage-season "superstars get 1Q" thing, though much of their D will play full-game, with some #1s staying home for each game in rotation.

[Waffler]

Luckily we'll be able to see what TOR's likely garbage-season plans are this Sat when we see who they field vs HAM.  If they're playing a lot of B and C backups then that's what they'll bring to WPG.

They can't play backups the rest of the season. I think first half is for the starters, just enough to stay sharp and then anyone and everyone in the second half. Like an exhibition game the starters play until they feel they have accomplished enough and no more.

[3rdand1.5]

We keep talking about us vs. T.O in the Grey cup. T.O will have to go through either Hammy or Mtrl. and if it is Mtrl. it's really hard to win, back to back, to back against a single team..... we will have to go through Sask. or BC and us shoot they way we have played the last number of weeks we may have to go through both, and well both of them beat us this year

Let's focus on one week at a time really comes true this year we may not host the West Final and it's a much harder route to win three than it is two....

Realistically I just don't see us winning this game regardless if they play vanilla or b's to the wall.....they have a great O-line, Chad was sacked once in the last 6 games and without pressure Hall's defence always struggles. They have a "bullyball" rusher in Oulette and we roster minimal D-line, and I don't care how good they are fatigue is real and no offense but Bennet and Schmekel are not strong enough pieces.....

Then our special teams have consistently given us a long field, they have a great kicker/punter....Additionally they have Leake who is a record breaking phenom at returning vs. our incredibly weak coverage teams. Against mediocre returners teams start close to mid field, I expect they will be even better than that all game.

Zach bounces back...so far... so I expect him to have a big game, but it won't be enough I fear.

[Jesse]

They can't play backups the rest of the season. I think first half is for the starters, just enough to stay sharp and then anyone and everyone in the second half. Like an exhibition game the starters play until they feel they have accomplished enough and no more.

CFL rosters aren't big enough to do this.