October 4, 2014: Edmonton vs. Toronto Argonauts

[Wobbler]

I always love it when we throw to a TE (usually Z Robinson). I wish he would learn to just run upfield with the ball and challenge tacklers instead of trying to make them miss, though. He's not going to make anyone miss.

[jerrym]

Ugh! Waters has been great but that missed FG hurt.

[Wobbler]

Um... why did we call a time out before the clock ran all the way down?

[jerrym]

Waters redeems himself with career high 6th FG. Two score game for Edmonton. Edmonton now doing the old Argo dumb and dumber penalty thing.

[jerrym]

The Argos now do the dumb and dumber penalty thing thereby contributing to an Edmonton TD.

[gilthethrill]

The Argos now do the dumb and dumber penalty thing thereby contributing to an Edmonton TD.

If you are referring to the roughing the passer call on Whiteside, there was nothing he could do when Reilly lowered his helmet, thus creating the helmet to helmet contact. Who was the PR player on the Argo sideline that drew the objectionable conduct penalty?

[Argo57]

If you are referring to the roughing the passer call on Whiteside, there was nothing he could do when Reilly lowered his helmet, thus creating the helmet to helmet contact. Who was the PR player on the Argo sideline that drew the objectionable conduct penalty?

Another curious call, I predict we will be watching 2 hand touch or flag football within 5 years if this keeps up.

[AngeloV]

If you are referring to the roughing the passer call on Whiteside, there was nothing he could do when Reilly lowered his helmet, thus creating the helmet to helmet contact. Who was the PR player on the Argo sideline that drew the objectionable conduct penalty?

I honestly thought it was the right call. Reilly didn't duck that far. There would have been helmet to helmet contact there regardless of whether or not he was in the process of ducking.

[Wobbler]

I'm really impressed with Devon Bailey. Coombs will need to develop rather well in order to justify our draft selection.

[AngeloV]

I'm really impressed with Devon Bailey. Coombs will need to develop rather well in order to justify our draft selection.

Not a fair comparison. They play different positions and Coombs is obviously someone they look to one day replace the 33 year old Durie.

[Wobbler]

Not a fair comparison. They play different positions and Coombs is obviously someone they look to one day replace the 33 year old Durie.

It's an entirely fair comparison: both are players we could have drafted in the first round. We may have had a specific job in mind for Coombs, but we would have found a place for Bailey too (i.e. Watt's spot).

[AngeloV]

It's an entirely fair comparison: both are players we could have drafted in the first round. We may have had a specific job in mind for Coombs, but we would have found a place for Bailey too (i.e. Watt's spot).

No it's not, because in this case, I believe the Argos were looking for a specific position, and WR was not it. Furthermore, why would you draft a wide side receiver in the first round, when it is the least used offensive position on most, if not all CFL offences?

[Wobbler]

No it's not, because in this case, I believe the Argos were looking for a specific position, and WR was not it. Furthermore, why would you draft a wide side receiver in the first round, when it is the least used offensive position on most, if not all CFL offences?

I get what you're saying, but I don't buy the idea that because we drafted the most Durie-like guy available that means we automatically made the right choice. If Bailey turns out to be a significantly more effective player, then the right move would have been to adapt our strategy. For the record I like Coombs - it's just that Bailey looks terrific for a rookie who hasn't played much.

[ArgoRavi]

Big win by the Argos. To finish in first I believe that Toronto will need to go at least 5-1 over their last six and at least 4-2 to make the playoffs. This is a good start. This was a funny game in the sense that the Argos seemed to dominate for most of it but let Edmonton hang around until the end. I thought that the Argo coaching staff did a good job getting the team ready to play and made solid adjustments as the game progressed.

Interesting statistical package for today's game: http://www.cfl.ca/statistics/statsGame/id/12779

Only one punt for the Argos which happened on their first possession and zero two and outs. Obviously, they had a very balanced attack and protected Ricky Ray extremely well. The Argos also got three sacks and good pressure on Reilly themselves. Waters was six for seven in FG attempts.

[jerrym]

Emry seemed more involved in the play than in some other games and led the team with 5 tackles.
However, the crowd looked pretty small on TV. Does anybody have the attendance?

[ArgoRavi]

Emry seemed more involved in the play than in some other games and led the team with 5 tackles.
However, the crowd looked pretty small on TV. Does anybody have the attendance?

Attendance was 16,276.

[jerrym]

The Argo ground game was an important part of this victory with both Slaton and Steele breaking runs of over 20 yards and gaining 54 and 56 yards respectively. Anthony Woodson also impressed me (unlike in his sole Argo appearance which was admittedly very limited last year) gaining 18 yards on 3 carries and 23 yards on 3 receptions. His greater bulk also seemed to add an ability to plough through defenders, something the smaller Slaton and Steele have not always displayed.
That's two games in a row where the Argo ground game has gained more than 135 yards. If the Argos can keep up a ground game along with Ray's passing, they could be hard to beat.

[Wobbler]

The most pleasant surprise of the game for me was the play of Anthony Woodson. He looked good! I like his ability to quickly change direction and he his hands were very good for a guy who has caught very few passes in his career. I'd be comfortable giving him Durie's job going forward.

[Will]

Happy with the 2nd half. The Argos could have easily folded their chairs after squandering the 20-7 lead and the Ricky's redzone INT, but the defense stiffened and the Eskimos shot themselves in the foot with enough penalties.

[paulwoods13]

Great game to be at once I remembered how to get there (after 48 days away I got lost downtown). Plenty of excitement and crazy happenings, lots of scoring and a tense, down-to-the-wire finish. Despite another small crowd, it was loud in there much of the time.

Ricky was solid except for the INT into double coverage. The o-line was mostly very good and did not miss King. The RBs were excellent, including Woodson who got a game ball. The lack of red-zone production was annoying -- we should have beaten them by at least 10-15 points -- but with Waters we can almost always count on three points from the 40 and in.

We put in a lot of different offensive and defensive packages -- the only guys who saw no action on O or D were Sewell, Herbert, Brown, Adjei and Gillanders. Lots of work for backup NATs: Yurichuk and Hood on D, Woodson, Robinson and Dupuis on O, and a bit for Mitchell. Bradwell and Watt rotated but neither saw a ball and I am starting to think we won't see Watt back next season. We missed Laing but our d-line got stronger as the game went on (as did the entire D). Carter did not play in the second half and did not appear to be on the bench so that is concerning.

Four more wins will pretty well guarantee first place, three more will pretty well guarantee a playoff spot and three might be enough to finish first. It would really help (obviously) if B.C. can hold on to get past the Ticats tonight but that is starting to look unlikely. Regardless, our fate is completely in our own hands.