Who Should the Argos Play Now, Keep and/or Release in the Off-season?

While I think the Argos may be able to build a good defensive backfield out of some combination of injured veterans and this year's rookies who have learned from their baptism of fire this year along with a few TC recruits, recruiting or signing strong rush DEs must be an imperative, as well as a strengthening of our LB corps. While I have great respect for the skills and grit of Bear Woods and Marcus Ball, injuries have taken their toll on their capabilities, so improving our LBs is also important.

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Originally Posted by jerrym

While I think the Argos may be able to build a good defensive backfield out of some combination of injured veterans and this year's rookies who have learned from their baptism of fire this year along with a few TC recruits, recruiting or signing strong rush DEs must be an imperative, as well as a strengthening of our LB corps. While I have great respect for the skills and grit of Bear Woods and Marcus Ball, injuries have taken their toll on their capabilities, so improving our LBs is also important.

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Marcus Ball can still play at a high level while providing leadership. Give him a system in which he can play in. No way I let him walk this off season.

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Originally Posted by jerrym

While I think the Argos may be able to build a good defensive backfield out of some combination of injured veterans and this year's rookies who have learned from their baptism of fire this year along with a few TC recruits, recruiting or signing strong rush DEs must be an imperative, as well as a strengthening of our LB corps. While I have great respect for the skills and grit of Bear Woods and Marcus Ball, injuries have taken their toll on their capabilities, so improving our LBs is also important.

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IMO, the Argos erred big time by not starting Dowling at the boundary corner spot. Perhaps if they can lure Steinauer out of Hamilton, he will get that opportunity. Ever since Patrick Watkins came into the league with the Argos in 2012, a bigger, physical player on the boundary has been very successful in the league.

At this point, I would like to see a secondary with Dowling and Likely on the corners. Q Ford (field)and Darby (Boundary) at HB, and Gabriel at safety. I would also have no objections to Woodson over Likely at field corner, but Likely really impressed me before he was hurt. Trumane Washington in the mix, but I found him more hit and miss, and think both Darby and Ford are better than him.

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Originally Posted by gilthethrill

Marcus Ball can still play at a high level while providing leadership. Give him a system in which he can play in. No way I let him walk this off season.

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I agree. He had a bad year tackling wise, but I think it was a mere blip.

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Originally Posted by gilthethrill

Marcus Ball can still play at a high level while providing leadership. Give him a system in which he can play in. No way I let him walk this off season.

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Originally Posted by AngeloV

I agree. He had a bad year tackling wise, but I think it was a mere blip.

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I am not so sure I agree. IMO, his play fell off dramatically this year ... I am not convinced it was just a blip (was his "injury" that bad that he had to miss the rest of the season, or did they use the injury to save $ and play others?) ....and, he has a penchant for taking bad penalties. While I truly believed in his value as a leader in the locker room, some of his comments - in particular about his own ability - went over the top. For sure bring him back to training camp, but he has to prove himself again by winning the job through competition.

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Originally Posted by AngeloV

IMO, the Argos erred big time by not starting Dowling at the boundary corner spot. Perhaps if they can lure Steinauer out of Hamilton, he will get that opportunity. Ever since Patrick Watkins came into the league with the Argos in 2012, a bigger, physical player on the boundary has been very successful in the league.

At this point, I would like to see a secondary with Dowling and Likely on the corners. Q Ford (field)and Darby (Boundary) at HB, and Gabriel at safety. I would also have no objections to Woodson over Likely at field corner, but Likely really impressed me before he was hurt. Trumane Washington in the mix, but I found him more hit and miss, and think both Darby and Ford are better than him.

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Is TJ Heath a FA this off season?

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Originally Posted by RB957

I am not so sure I agree. IMO, his play fell off dramatically this year ... I am not convinced it was just a blip (was his "injury" that bad that he had to miss the rest of the season, or did they use the injury to save $ and play others?) ....and, he has a penchant for taking bad penalties. While I truly believed in his value as a leader in the locker room, some of his comments - in particular about his own ability - went over the top. For sure bring him back to training camp, but he has to prove himself again by winning the job through competition.

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Right on.

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Originally Posted by gilthethrill

Is TJ Heath a FA this off season?

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LOL. Been there, done that. Twice. I'm guessing he is.

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Originally Posted by AngeloV

IMO, the Argos erred big time by not starting Dowling at the boundary corner spot. Perhaps if they can lure Steinauer out of Hamilton, he will get that opportunity. Ever since Patrick Watkins came into the league with the Argos in 2012, a bigger, physical player on the boundary has been very successful in the league.

At this point, I would like to see a secondary with Dowling and Likely on the corners. Q Ford (field)and Darby (Boundary) at HB, and Gabriel at safety. I would also have no objections to Woodson over Likely at field corner, but Likely really impressed me before he was hurt. Trumane Washington in the mix, but I found him more hit and miss, and think both Darby and Ford are better than him.

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Are you forgetting about C. Vaughn ? - if he can bounce back from injury? Guy was a starter for 3 different NFL teams at corner (doubt that was some fluke) - why would he not be considered a top notch CFL corner, and why did the Argos have him moved around - playing some at safety or OLB ??? Let him play his real, natural position ?

I like Darby better somewhere in the D-backfield rather than at OLB; and Q. Ford was a real play-maker in that GC run; vet Ronnie Yell could still be in the mix; and Woodson & Washington have good potential. Gabriel at safety? - but IMO he could be a good fit at cover OLB, where he is good tackler and shown he can blitz well.

Bring in lots of competition for TC for sure, but IMO there is very good potential from the guys already around on the roster. Vaughn & Woodson/Washington at corners; Darby & Ford at D-half; maybe Gabriel at S, but if he could go at OLB, like to see a big hitter and ball hawk type safety found.

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Originally Posted by RB957

I am not so sure I agree. IMO, his play fell off dramatically this year ... I am not convinced it was just a blip (was his "injury" that bad that he had to miss the rest of the season, or did they use the injury to save $ and play others?) ....and, he has a penchant for taking bad penalties. While I truly believed in his value as a leader in the locker room, some of his comments - in particular about his own ability - went over the top. For sure bring him back to training camp, but he has to prove himself again by winning the job through competition.

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^^^^^

This - wouldn't give up on either of LB vets in Ball or Woods, but they have to prove themselves in real TC competition. And there have been some very good young OLBs emerge in the league lately - Thurman, Eguavoen, Ackie, Lokombo - all quite better than Ball played this past season IMO.

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Originally Posted by OV Argo

Are you forgetting about C. Vaughn ? - if he can bounce back from injury? Guy was a starter for 3 different NFL teams at corner (doubt that was some fluke) - why would he not be considered a top notch CFL corner, and why did the Argos have him moved around - playing some at safety or OLB ??? Let him play his real, natural position ?

I like Darby better somewhere in the D-backfield rather than at OLB; and Q. Ford was a real play-maker in that GC run; vet Ronnie Yell could still be in the mix; and Woodson & Washington have good potential. Gabriel at safety? - but IMO he could be a good fit at cover OLB, where he is good tackler and shown he can blitz well.

Bring in lots of competition for TC for sure, but IMO there is very good potential from the guys already around on the roster. Vaughn & Woodson/Washington at corners; Darby & Ford at D-half; maybe Gabriel at S, but if he could go at OLB, like to see a big hitter and ball hawk type safety found.

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Some decent building blocks on the defensive backfield but let’s hope Popp brings in some good competition for training camp,

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Originally Posted by OV Argo

Are you forgetting about C. Vaughn ? .

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Not at all. I have him at SAM, and not in the actual secondary.

I think you guys could go Canadian at WLB. You have the depth with Kwemo, Herdman, Harrington and Onyeka. I know they only had limited snaps, but none of them looked out of place when they did get reps.

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Originally Posted by CrazyCanuck89

I think you guys could go Canadian at WLB. You have the depth with Kwemo, Herdman, Harrington and Onyeka. I know they only had limited snaps, but none of them looked out of place when they did get reps.

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Welcome on board the somewhat leaky Argo ship. Hopefully it will be a lot better next year.

Anthony Combs re-signed today to an extension.

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Originally Posted by 1971GreyCup

Anthony Combs resigned today to an extension.

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As did Lindon Gaydosh (although I'd spell it re-signed). Good asset management. As frustrated as we all are with Coombs' injury history, when healthy he is our best NAT receiver, and there would be a bunch of teams lined up trying to sign him if we were to let him walk. Gaydosh saw a fair bit of playing time and seemed to supplant Finley as the primary backup to Laing.

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Originally Posted by 1971GreyCup

Anthony Combs re-signed today to an extension.

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So much for the rumour that FA's weren't going to resign or re-sign (lol) until the new contract with the League was in the books.
It would be nice if both sides could sit down and come to a fair agreement and get on with taking the CFL to a higher level. Randy seems like that type of person, but he has to answer to the owners. A players strike will leave a bad taste in some fans mouth, but also likewise if the fans perceive the owners are short changing the players.

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Originally Posted by doubleblue

So much for the rumour that FA's weren't going to resign or re-sign (lol) until the new contract with the League was in the books.
It would be nice if both sides could sit down and come to a fair agreement and get on with taking the CFL to a higher level. Randy seems like that type of person, but he has to answer to the owners. A players strike will leave a bad taste in some fans mouth, but also likewise if the fans perceive the owners are short changing the players.

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I think teams that have 2018 cap money remaining are using it as bonus money to sign players they really want to keep. Come January, I don't think you'll see any vets sign until a new CBA is done. Obviously, you won't see any big ticket guys (Reilly) sign now, because they are likely looking for 6 digit signing bonus. I'm betting Coombs may have received in the neighbourhood of 25k up front on a 100k deal.

Considering how weak our DEs were this year, I would like to see the Argos draft Laval DE Mathieu Betts, who won the USports Outstanding Lineman for a record third year in a row, in the first round.