Toronto Argonauts: 2015 Training Camp Thread

[gilthethrill]

After a long offseason TC finally is a couple days away. I doubt we will see Ricky in any pre-season game action. Lots of question yet to be answered on both sides of the ball. Gut feeling tells me a lot of things must go perfect for this team this year in order to make the post season.

[Will]

Use this thread to discuss all the goings on at training camp.

Gut feeling tells me a lot of things must go perfect for this team this year in order to make the post season.

My gut says the same.

[AngeloV]

Looking forward to it. Sunday is the first full practice with a double session starting at 7:30am. So glad it's at York..10 minute drive instead of the 45minute to Erindale for me.

[ArgoGabe22]

Looking forward to it. Sunday is the first full practice with a double session starting at 7:30am. So glad it's at York..10 minute drive instead of the 45minute to Erindale for me.

And its now the other way around for me. 10 minutes to Erindale, 45 min to York.

[AngeloV]

And its now the other way around for me. 10 minutes to Erindale, 45 min to York.

LOL..Sorry about that, but I have more than paid my dues.

[1argoholic]

I used to stop at Erindale while doing my lawn maintenance runs. From home it used to be 10 to 15 for me. Now at least to hit York is less then two hours. Will be faster once the 407 extends to 115/35. Which I love and hate all at the same time. Right now there's a sweet drive from 115/35 right into Brooklin.

Perhaps I should head to York but not for 7:30 am.

[LLB997]

A lot of us Mississauga guys were spoiled with the Erindale campus. I probably should've checked things out way more than I did at the time.

[ArgoRavi]

What I am looking forward to most this year is how the new rules will transform the game. Lots more room for receivers and punt returners should make the game even more exciting. We should see a faster pace to the games this year as well. And finally, do you go for two points from the two yard line after a TD or kick your one point convert from the 32? I would be inclined to go for 2 every time with the expectation that you should be able to make at least half of them.

Anyway, part of how well teams will do this year, including the Argos, is how well they can adjust to these new rules. I think that the Argos will put lots of points on the board offensively which means that where exactly they wind up will depend on whether they have a competent defence. I am a little concerned about having a newcomer to the Canadian game coaching special teams but personnel like Swayze Waters and Chad Owens should put the Argos in good field position.

[gilthethrill]

What I am looking forward to most this year is how the new rules will transform the game. Lots more room for receivers and punt returners should make the game even more exciting. We should see a faster pace to the games this year as well. And finally, do you go for two points from the two yard line after a TD or kick your one point convert from the 32? I would be inclined to go for 2 every time with the expectation that you should be able to make at least half of them.

Anyway, part of how well teams will do this year, including the Argos, is how well they can adjust to these new rules. I think that the Argos will put lots of points on the board offensively which means that where exactly they wind up will depend on whether they have a competent defence. I am a little concerned about having a newcomer to the Canadian game coaching special teams but personnel like Swayze Waters and Chad Owens should put the Argos in good field position.

Ravi, I gather you are expecting Owens to be the Argos main return weapon this year? I really hope one of the youngsters that were signed in the offseason can supplant him in that role.

[Wobbler]

Owens won't be returning any more kickoffs, but he'd be hard to replace as a punt returner. Well, it has to happen some time...

[ArgoRavi]

Owens won't be returning any more kickoffs, but he'd be hard to replace as a punt returner. Well, it has to happen some time...

Yeah, he stopped returning kickoffs last season. He may not return every punt this year but I suspect we will still see him doing some of the punt returning at least. Of course, it would be great if one or two of the new signings/draftees are able to take some, if not most, of the load off of him.

[Wobbler]

I feel the need for a foolish prediction based on a lot of guesses and wishful thinking. Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2015 starting line-up:

Campbell-Holmes*-Keeping*-Van Zeyl*-King
Hazelton-Owens-Elliott-Shaw
Steele-Durie*
Ray

B Smith-Agnew-Gabriel*-Owusu Ansah-Washington
Ware-Jones-Greenwood*
Foley*-Robertson-Laing*-Okpalaugo

"Reasoning"
- Eight National* starters with O/D balance, most with good backups (i.e. no ratio issues)
- Campbell and Hazelton were specifically mentioned by Milanovich, so why argue (yet)?
- Elliott seems to have been a good NFL pre-season performer who *just* missed out (very much like Inman before we signed him)
- Shaw is a good WR prospect and an experienced kick returner
- I don't know why Owusu-Ansah couldn't stick in the NFL, but with his size and speed... let's give him a chance
- Tracy Robertson is a bit more credentialed than Delano Johnson at DT and I think we could improve at this position

[Rich]

I feel the need for a foolish prediction based on a lot of guesses and wishful thinking. Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2015 starting line-up:

Campbell-Holmes*-Keeping*-Van Zeyl*-King
Hazelton-Owens-Elliott-Shaw
Steele-Durie*
Ray

B Smith-Agnew-Gabriel*-Owusu Ansah-Washington
Ware-Jones-Greenwood*
Foley*-Robertson-Laing*-Okpalaugo

"Reasoning"
- Eight National* starters with O/D balance, most with good backups (i.e. no ratio issues)
- Campbell and Hazelton were specifically mentioned by Milanovich, so why argue (yet)?
- Elliott seems to have been a good NFL pre-season performer who *just* missed out (very much like Inman before we signed him)
- Shaw is a good WR prospect and an experienced kick returner
- I don't know why Owusu-Ansah couldn't stick in the NFL, but with his size and speed... let's give him a chance
- Tracy Robertson is a bit more credentialed than Delano Johnson at DT and I think we could improve at this position

Looks pretty good to me. But I think they are going to start 5 NATS on offence -- one of Coombs, Adjei, Robinson or Dupuis will be on the offence at all times.

[doubleblue]

Looks pretty good to me. But I think they are going to start 5 NATS on offence -- one of Coombs, Adjei, Robinson or Dupuis will be on the offence at all times.

I was looking over the roster yesterday to see how close I could come to projecting the starting line up barring injuries. The WR's are pretty well all new so I have no idea there. They all have good resumes, even the ones already cut. I like the five O Line guys, we know Durie and Owens will start. Ray when he's healthy. I agree that a Canadian WR or Fullback will also take another starting position on Offense. Hope Kackert can come back and alternate with Steele at RB.

Defense, I agree about the front seven. The DB's projection are going to be like the WR's except for Gabriel. Quite a few unknowns but with good credentials and NFL experience. TC and the two exhibition games will be important for choosing the WR's and DB's.

[HereComeTheIrish]

I get off work at 1:00 PM, I assume they'll still be practicing if I showed up at around 1:30? Can anyone confirm what time a double session usually ends at? It will be my first time attending a TC session.

[AngeloV]

I get off work at 1:00 PM, I assume they'll still be practicing if I showed up at around 1:30? Can anyone confirm what time a double session usually ends at? It will be my first time attending a TC session.

Looks like they'll be done by 11:30ish once the main camp opens, but you should be good for rookie camp. Below is the practice schedule from their website.

QUARTERBACKS & ROOKIES CAMP OPENS

*Only Argos Rookies and QBs on the field from May 27 – May 29



Wednesday, May 27

2:05 p.m. (approx.) - Practice begins at York Stadium.

2:15 p.m.-3:50 p.m. (approx.) - Cameras are permitted to film. Recording audio is not permitted during walk through period.

4:05 p.m. - Media availability with Head Coach Scott Milanovich followed by players.



Thursday, May 28

2:05 p.m. (approx.) - Practice begins at York Stadium.

2:15 p.m.-3:50 p.m. (approx.) - Cameras are permitted to film. Recording audio is not permitted during walk through period.

4:05 p.m. - Media availability with Head Coach Scott Milanovich followed by players.



Friday, May 29

2:05 p.m. (approx.) - Practice begins at York Stadium.

2:15 p.m.-3:50 p.m. (approx.) - Cameras are permitted to film. Recording audio is not permitted during walk through period.

4:05 p.m. - Media availability with Head Coach Scott Milanovich followed by players.



2015 TRAINING CAMP OPENS

*All Players, including Argos Veterans, QBs and Rookies, on the field beginning May 31



Saturday, May 30

No scheduled media availability.



Sunday, May 31

7:30 a.m. - Practice 1 begins at York Stadium.

8:10 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. (approx.) - Cameras are permitted to film. Recording audio is not permitted during walk through period.

10:15 a.m. - Practice 2 begins at York Stadium.

10:35 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. (approx.) - Cameras are permitted to film. Recording audio is not permitted during walk through period.

11:40 a.m. - Media availability with Head Coach Scott Milanovich followed by players.

[Wobbler]

Coombs is important and will probably replace Durie before long, but I see him as a backup on Game 1+. Milanovich mentioned him as a WR candidate but if none of our recruits are better suited to play field WR I'll be disappointed. AC will get playing time at whatever position is appropriate, but not as a starter until he's earned it.

I love Robinson as a role-player (blocking TE who can catch on designed plays) but can't see him as a starter. Dupuis has a less exciting but similar role... not a starter either. Adjei might rise to the occasion and become important if we have some NAT injuries, but why start him?

[Rich]

Coombs is important and will probably replace Durie before long, but I see him as a backup on Game 1+. Milanovich mentioned him as a WR candidate but if none of our recruits are better suited to play field WR I'll be disappointed. AC will get playing time at whatever position is appropriate, but not as a starter until he's earned it.

I love Robinson as a role-player (blocking TE who can catch on designed plays) but can't see him as a starter. Dupuis has a less exciting but similar role... not a starter either. Adjei might rise to the occasion and become important if we have some NAT injuries, but why start him?

I don't see any of these guys as being a starter either. What I am saying is that these guys would be platooning into the lineup at a variety of positions -- SB, FB, TE, WR, H-Back -- depending on the situation. Collectively, these four represent a ton of talent and a ton of versatility and will give you a lot more options than a single INT WR would.

As for our shortage of national receivers, I think we should have signed Anthony Woodson as he is a RB but can also play that Andre Durie style SB position. We have more cap space and another roster spot for a national receiver now that Mike Bradwell has retired. We should have known Bradwell might retire or at least prepared for that possibility. We could always have traded or released Woodson later if the GM Barker felt the need to, which would have been unlikely anyway--especially with the new ownership group coming. If Braley ends up or already is signing more front-office employees to market the team, why not a bit more for players?

I was also disappointed to see Woodson go, but for all we know Dillon Campbell could be even better, so I'm willing to give Barker the benefit of the doubt.

[OV Argo]

I don't see any of these guys as being a starter either. What I am saying is that these guys would be platooning into the lineup at a variety of positions -- SB, FB, TE, WR, H-Back -- depending on the situation. Collectively, these four represent a ton of talent and a ton of versatility and will give you a lot more options than a single INT WR would.

Like to see more of the Robinson/Dupuis position, but they were not used much last season (maybe 10% of snaps at best?) and this offence might be very standard/predictable - I believe it will be 4 imports at receiver with Durie the NI in the main 5 pack = the standard offensive set. I'll also bet on the pencilling in of 2 import OTs (otherwise, why so many in TC?); we might see Coombs or even Campbell getting some playing time at RB, but I'll bet it will be mostly Steele or a new import guy with majority of reps there; Adjei or Coombs might get in a bit at receiver in some packages? (like to see Norzil do well and maybe claim some playing time; and I ask again - no Evan Psczonzak from last year's draft signed for TC ? - did he get written off already ? = might not have much use for NI receiver competition if only Durie is expected to play).

Could easilly do 4 starting NIs only on offence, because there is easily 3 or more NIs who can start on D - Foley, Gabriel, Greenwood, Laing or Matt Black given a shot to play corner.

[Brian45]

Any chance Kackert can play?