What are your honest thoughts about the Argos chances of making the playoffs?

[gilthethrill]

I don't worship anyone, but I've seen the likes of Meyer, Etcheverry, Stubler, Andrus and Faragelli as HC's of the Argos (just over the last 20 years). I have no complaints here.

Whatever happens from here on in, with all the ownership issues and scheduling issues dogging this team, I honestly hope the Argos are able to retain the services of both Jim Barker and Scott Milanovich long term.

[AngeloV]

Whatever happens from here on in, with all the ownership issues and scheduling issues dogging this team, I honestly hope the Argos are able to retain the services of both Jim Barker and Scott Milanovich long term.

You and me both, gil.

[Rich]

I don't worship anyone, but I've seen the likes of Meyer, Etcheverry, Stubler, Andrus and Faragelli as HC's of the Argos (just over the last 20 years). I have no complaints here.

I think it's unfair to include Stubler on this list of duds. He really didn't get a fair chance, and the short time he did have as HC was completely undermined and sabotaged by a meddling owner who decided to weigh in on personnel matters.

[ArgoGabe22]

The only way I see the Argos making the playoffs is if we bring in some no name High School coach to pump up the boys. In all seriousness, pro coaches aren't much of "rah rah" coaches and when they are, they usually don't have much respect from the players. That is why most career college coaches don't last long in the pros.

[AngeloV]

I think it's unfair to include Stubler on this list of duds. He really didn't get a fair chance, and the short time he did have as HC was completely undermined and sabotaged by a meddling owner who decided to weigh in on personnel matters.

You may be right there, Rich. I personally didn't like the Stubler hiring as HC from the beginning. I just think that when a coach is a coordinator or assistant as long as Stubler had been, they usually have a difficult time with the HC promotion.

[MEEZY]

I like Milanovich and agree that he's a definite improvement over many of the coaches in recent history; however, I do see some glaring deficiencies that have yet to be adequately addressed during his tenure here. I'm thinking in particular of penalties - now I'm sure he's been trying to crack down on them, but I haven't really noticed a progressive improvement. Maybe the players aren't listening or maybe, like Jones, Milanovich encourages an aggressive style of play of which penalties are a natural by-product. The occasional penalty is one thing, but it's the pointless and stupid ones that kill drives, such as unnecessary roughness, objectionable conduct, etc. If they want a legitimate shot at making the playoffs, those have to be eliminated.

[Argocister]

I believe it will be whirlwind to the end of the season .... the Argos have as much a chance as Ticats and Als .... well down one game .... but they have to bring their A game. Both the Ticats and the Argos seem a bit more erratic in their play .... The Argos have the ability to be an A team .... but can easily be the C team at any time.
The Ticats are the C/B team that keep plugging but can play poorly as well... The als seem to be the team that is improving day by day .... I haven't seen them drop down to the C/D level .... and JC keeps them steady.
If the Argos don't make the playoffs, it shows you how coach stability is very important .... so the last thing I would recommend is changing Milanovich.

As to bringing in a rah-rah guy .... can we hire Belli as conditioning coach?

[argotom]

Like most, it does not look good.
Way too many distractions this year has caught up with this team.
The future does look bleak, however the ownership issue has to be resolved this off season as another year like this I am afraid may be fatal?

[Argo]

The Ti-Cats are currently, at the very least, on par with the Argonauts.

[Ron]

All three east teams are close. All three have beaten west teams since they woke up.

So the Argos have a chance to make the playoffs. But if they don't it does not mean they lost out to mediocre teams. If anything the Als and Cats have the advantage of having much better defenses.

[Argo57]

The Ti-Cats are currently, at the very least, on par with the Argonauts.

Hamilton has an edge on D and special teams.

Whatever happens from here on in, with all the ownership issues and scheduling issues dogging this team, I honestly hope the Argos are able to retain the services of both Jim Barker and Scott Milanovich long term.

That is my concern as well, I think both are good football men and would hate to lose them.

[paulwoods13]

Considering the absurd amount of injuries to key players and Nationals that we have faced this year, getting into the playoffs would count as a miracle of sorts. Every team has had injuries (especially this season) but I can't think of any team that has had its top four receivers together in the same game only once (if that) and its top two receivers only twice, and has had to play much of the season without three NATs who were starters heading into the season.

[argonaut11xx]

The only way I see the Argos making the playoffs is if we bring in some no name High School coach to pump up the boys. In all seriousness, pro coaches aren't much of "rah rah" coaches and when they are, they usually don't have much respect from the players. That is why most career college coaches don't last long in the pros.

See David Beckman, former Ti-Cat coach.
(except the highest level he was ever a head coach was highschool)

Milo, and Barker are not the problem. That said you are as only as good as the people around you.
- The coaching staff has lost many key people, as did the on field team.

A double whammy thats tough to recover from.

[Gill The Thrill]

The Argos chances are now pretty good, seeing that they've won the season series vs the Ticats 2 games to 1 in the regular season meaning that the Argos would get second place if the teams remain tied at the end of the season. The Ticats would have to have a better record than the Argos and would need help as of now to surpass the Argos in the standings. Both teams play Montreal and Ottawa to close out the season.

Unfortunately the Lions beat the Bombers so they've clinched a playoff spot with 9 wins. Seeing that the Argos, Als and Ticats will be beating on each other in the last 2 weeks, one of them for sure will not get to 9 wins and will miss as the 3rd place team in the east will be eliminated.

Argos are in if they and the Cats lose their final 2 games. The Cats must win both games if the Argos win one of their remaining 2 but may still get 2nd if they beat Als in their last game, but need the Argos to beat them next week also.,,,The Als are in the driver seat as they need 1 win vs either Toronto or Hamilton in their last 2 games to clinch a playoff spot...ew...get that...did I miss anything.

[ArgoRavi]

The Argos chances are now pretty good, seeing that they've won the season series vs the Ticats 2 games to 1 in the regular season meaning that the Argos would get second place if the teams remain tied at the end of the season. The Ticats would have to have a better record than the Argos and would need help as of now to surpass the Argos in the standings. Both teams play Montreal and Ottawa to close out the season.

Unfortunately the Lions beat the Bombers so they've clinched a playoff spot with 9 wins. Seeing that the Argos, Als and Ticats will be beating on each other in the last 2 weeks, one of them for sure will not get to 9 wins and will miss as the 3rd place team in the east will be eliminated.

Argos are in if they and the Cats lose their final 2 games. The Cats must win both games if the Argos win one of their remaining 2 but may still get 2nd if they beat Als in their last game, but need the Argos to beat them next week also.,,,The Als are in the driver seat as they need 1 win vs either Toronto or Hamilton in their last 2 games to clinch a playoff spot...ew...get that...did I miss anything.

I think that you nailed it, Gill. From an Argo perspective, they need to beat Montreal to continue to have control over their own destiny. Also, a win over Montreal would all but clinch a playoff spot as the only way that the Argos wouldn't make it at that point (assuming a Hamilton win over Ottawa) is if they lose to Ottawa and the Als and Ticats tie their final game. Two wins for the Argos gives them first place. A loss to Montreal and a win over Ottawa (assuming a Hamilton win over the RedBlacks) would leave the Argos needing a Montreal win over the Ticats on the final day of the season to secure a playoff spot.

The bottom line on all of this is that the Montreal game shapes up as a similar game in importance to the game that the Argos just won today. If they lose that one they will be playing with fire whereas if they win they will likely be in the playoffs and maintain a great shot at first place.

[paulwoods13]

Win against Montreal and we are effectively in -- the scenario in which we lose to Ottawa and Mtl-Ham tie is incredibly unlikely. Montreal needs the game less than we do because they can still get in by beating Hamilton the following week. We absolutely have to treat this as a must-win game.

[ArgoRedneck]

My concern is that Montreal goes all out against the Argos, and with Hamilton having them last game Montreal will rest some of their key players.

[AngeloV]

My concern is that Montreal goes all out against the Argos, and with Hamilton having them last game Montreal will rest some of their key players.

I don't think anyone will rest key players. If Montreal and Hamilton both win next week, the winner of their game would get a bye and host the Eastern final.

[ArgoRavi]

My concern is that Montreal goes all out against the Argos, and with Hamilton having them last game Montreal will rest some of their key players.

The only way that the Montreal/Hamilton game won't be important is if Hamilton loses to Ottawa on Friday, in which case the Argos only need to beat Ottawa to make the playoffs. As long as Hamilton wins that game, it guarantees that first place at least will be at stake in the MTL/HAM game. In other words, you don't have to worry about Montreal not playing their starters and not playing hard in that final game, if necessary, as they will have much incentive to win that game.

[Stevoman]

Well, I'm sure hoping for the Redblacks to win on Friday and lose the following week and the Argos winning both of course! Didn't expect the win against Hamilton but it was great to see!