June 9, 2015: Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Toronto Argonauts

[1argoholic]

Remembered about our Bell satellite tv tsn 1050 channel that came in perfectly. We only get a few true radio channels that come in clear as we are literally in the woods. Nice to hear Hogie on the call once again. Typical first preseason game.
Not sure I like the change in extra points. Not sure why the game has to be screwed with. Might make it way to gimmicky for my liking. I'll have to give it some time.
Sounds like a few receivers played well like Hazelton but Elliott dropped one that looked bad. I guess he improved after that.

I feel like well be going through some growing pains with so many new guys finding our roster, league, country and starting with so many road games. How can these new guys get settled in any way? I'm expecting tough times even though I hope we go 18-0. I expect more like 8-10 or 7-11 to be honest. I know it's preseason but we can't turn the ball over.

[AngeloV]

I was very disappointed with Trevor Harris. I didn't see anything to show he has progressed from last year. His completions were mostly checkdowns, and his incompletions looked like lack of arm strength.

You must be the only one that saw it that way. He had a perfect deep ball dropped by Elliot, then also had a big completion to Elliot. I thought he looked very good. Sorry he isn't Collaros.

[Godfather]

I attended last night's game and I would like to make the following observation about those in attendance. I was pleased to see a lot of young fans at the game - both men and women, and most wearing Argos gear. This surprised me for two reasons 1) despite some of the ups and downs with this franchise the last few years and the lousy schedule the team can still cultivate new young fans and 2) being a pre-season game I thought only the die hard old timers that remember varsity were going to dominate the attendance. Glad to see that wasn't the case. Maybe these young fans hate the Skydome just as much as the older folks. Anyways, Bob McCowan's claim that nobody under 40 follows the argos is utter nonsense. With a committed ownership group and good game day experience the potential upside to this franchise could be huge.

[Will]

You must be the only one that saw it that way. He had a perfect deep ball dropped by Elliot, then also had a big completion to Elliot. I thought he looked very good. Sorry he isn't Collaros.

Argotom hasn't chimed in yet.

[AngeloV]

I attended last night's game and I would like to make the following observation about those in attendance. I was pleased to see a lot of young fans at the game - both men and women, and most wearing Argos gear. This surprised me for two reasons 1) despite some of the ups and downs with this franchise the last few years and the lousy schedule the team can still cultivate new young fans and 2) being a pre-season game I thought only the die hard old timers that remember varsity were going to dominate the attendance. Glad to see that wasn't the case. Maybe these young fans hate the Skydome just as much as the older folks. Anyways, Bob McCowan's claim that nobody under 40 follows the argos is utter nonsense. With a committed ownership group and good game day experience the potential upside to this franchise could be huge.

Great observations and post.

[Rich]

You must be the only one that saw it that way. He had a perfect deep ball dropped by Elliot, then also had a big completion to Elliot. I thought he looked very good.

Harris was OK. I didn't say he played badly. But we were led to believe this was a new and improved Trevor Harris, and to me he looked exactly like he did last year. I didn't see him talking to his teammates the way good field generals do. Believe me I am rooting for him to do well. Surely even you are looking for improvement from him in the next game?

[argolio]

I think our d-line has been the strength of the team so far. That will keep us in a lot of games if that carries over into the regular season.

[AngeloV]

Harris was OK. I didn't say he played badly. But we were led to believe this was a new and improved Trevor Harris, and to me he looked exactly like he did last year. I didn't see him talking to his teammates the way good field generals do. Believe me I am rooting for him to do well. Surely even you are looking for improvement from him in the next game?

I've been to 3 practices and last night's game. I have seen a lot of improvement from him. The comments about the check downs are what really make my shake my head. What would people prefer, a checkdown or a desparation throw into coverage? He didn't make a bad decision at all in his quarter of play. That is good QBing.

As far as you now saying that you never said he played badly, I guess I must have misunderstood this comment you made in reponse to Wobbler?

I'm encouraged.

You wouldn't be if you saw Harris' performance

[Wobbler]

I've been to 3 practices and last night's game. I have seen a lot of improvement from him. The comments about the check downs are what really make my shake my head. What would people prefer, a checkdown or a desparation throw into coverage? He didn't make a bad decision at all in his quarter of play. That is good QBing.

Well, according to Milanovich, he should be a bit more willing to take off with the ball instead of checking down. But I agree, he looks good. I see no reason to worry about him, and I'm looking forward to seeing him develop now that he'll be getting actual starts. Blessing in disguise, yadda yadda yadda.

[Rich]

I've been to 3 practices and last night's game. I have seen a lot of improvement from him. The comments about the check downs are what really make my shake my head. What would people prefer, a checkdown or a desparation throw into coverage? He didn't make a bad decision at all in his quarter of play. That is good QBing.

As far as you now saying that you never said he played badly, I guess I must have misunderstood this comment you made in reponse to Wobbler?

I don't think anybody should be getting excited about the prospect of OK, adequate game management from the QB position for who knows how long this season. The offence is supposed to be the strength of this team. Unless you have a dominant defence, capable game managers at QB are usually good for a .500 record. Why should anybody be encouraged by that?

[AngeloV]

I don't think anybody should be getting excited about the prospect of OK, adequate game management from the QB position for who knows how long this season. The offence is supposed to be the strength of this team. Unless you have a dominant defence, capable game managers at QB are usually good for a .500 record. Why should anybody be encouraged by that?

We see it differently. I think his performance was very good in limited time. I supposed you blame him for the fumble by Steele as well which cut short one of his drives?

I see most of your negativity as a bias over the fact that the guy you want isn't here anymore.

[Rich]

We see it differently. I think his performance was very good in limited time. I supposed you blame him for the fumble by Steele as well which cut short one of his drives?

I see most of your negativity as a bias over the fact that the guy you want isn't here anymore.

What are you, a shrink? The Collaros ship has sailed. I would like to see the Argos develop a young QB who has the potential to be a great and not just adequate CFL QB. Can you honestly say Harris has the potential to be a great CFL QB?

I mean, I'll definitely take adequate. I'm glad Harris is adequate. But he's nothing to get excited about as far as the upcoming season goes, unless the Defence fulfills its potential and becomes dominant, in which case we'll have some excitement on our hands.

[AngeloV]

What are you, a shrink? The Collaros ship has sailed. I would like to see the Argos develop a young QB who has the potential to be a great and not just adequate CFL QB. Can you honestly say Harris has the potential to be a great CFL QB?

I mean, I'll definitely take adequate. I'm glad Harris is adequate. But he's nothing to get excited about as far as the upcoming season goes, unless the Defence fulfills its potential and becomes dominant, in which case we'll have some excitement on our hands.

And what makes you think that Harris will be nothing more than adequate? The fact that he didn't play at a big Div 1 school? He's had 1 career start, and did a lot better than a lot of very good QB's did in their first career starts.

[Rich]

And what makes you think that Harris will be nothing more than adequate? The fact that he didn't play at a big Div 1 school? He's had 1 career start, and did a lot better than a lot of very good QB's did in their first career starts.

Did he show anything last night to demonstrate that he is improving?

[AngeloV]

Did he show anything last night to demonstrate that he is improving?

Yes. He made the right reads and good throws. He would have been 6 of 8 for big yards (at least 120) had Elliot not dropped a perfectly thrown, deep go route. That is close to perfect QBing. Don't know what more you would ask for, from ANY QB.

[ArgoGabe22]

Despite giving up 34 points I'm not that concerned about the defence for some reason. Really liked Branden Smith, good coverage and never got penalized.

It's going to take awhile for me to get used to new PATs. It just looks so wrong.

Not sure if I saw correctly but there was one bad snap and it looked like Tyler Holmes was at centre.

We were supposed to have return specialists signed but I didn't really see much yet.

[QBall]

Damn where has Gurley been hiding? He keeps this up then we're going to see his jersey in the Argo's store real soon.

[ArgoZ]

Argotom hasn't chimed in yet.

Thank goodness. He shtick is getting old.

[ArgoRavi]

Despite giving up 34 points I'm not that concerned about the defence for some reason. Really liked Branden Smith, good coverage and never got penalized.

I neither saw nor watched the game but I got the impression that Winnipeg's points largely came off of good field position provided by special teams and turnovers. One of their TDs was on a punt return too so that would lead me to believe that the defence wasn't bad last night.

[doubleblue]

Despite giving up 34 points I'm not that concerned about the defence for some reason. Really liked Branden Smith, good coverage and never got penalized.

It's going to take awhile for me to get used to new PATs. It just looks so wrong.

Not sure if I saw correctly but there was one bad snap and it looked like Tyler Holmes was at centre.

We were supposed to have return specialists signed but I didn't really see much yet.

Tyler Holmes had a turn at Center probably so he can fill in if Keeping gets nicked with Wayne Smith moving in at Guard for him. Dhillon doesn't look ready yet at C IMO and they had him playing RG for a while. Sewell played both RT and LT and didn't get beat badly at any time, but Winnipeg didn't have their #1 DE's in the game. The new kid Cerelli played some Center in the 4th quarter and looked better there than at Guard I thought. He might bump Dhillon on the depth chart at Center.
I thought the Canadian kids and new Imports looked better against Winnipeg than they did against the Argo D-Line in the Fan Day scrimmage.

I thought Brandon Smith played well also AG22. They seem to like Jefferson and Hawkins as new starters. The left DB in the second half Lacey? is a hard hitter. IMO a better bunch of new DB's this year than in recent year.

I agree Barker still has come up with another kick returner if they're counting on Spencer or Moore to back up Owens. Bring back Kackert, he's better than those guys.

RB Josey has a good burst of speed but like most of the guys they bring in to Toronto he's small. Maybe he could return punts.