Waters out 6 weeks - Groin Injury

[AngeloV]

While I agree that Pfeffer was a bit inconsistent with his punting ability, IMO he showed promise and the Argonauts should have kept him around to develop, which seems to be what Ottawa is doing. The kid is only 23 years old and showed a lot of potential to be a solid all round kicker. The fact that the Argonauts are now scrambling around for a kicker, trying to get Crapigna and another kicker who's name escapes me. What's worse IMO is bringing in Justin Palardy, who has a very weak leg, probably the weakest I've ever seen in the CFL. Justin is decent from 30 yards and in, after that you're better off playing Russian roulette. Michael Palardy at least has the skills to be a CFL kicker, whether or not he works out is yet to be seen.

Swayze seems to get a lot of love around here, he had one great season, he's a top end punter, not the best IMO, but a top end punter none the less. However take out last seasons kicking percentage and Swayze's percentages are 74.4, 72 and 57.1, so why is Swayze still around and Pfeffer not given the same treatment ?

I don't disagree with you on any of that..especially the Waters part. I, personally have no issues with going with an American kicker. There are a lot of good ones not working. The difficult thing is trying to find a duo purpose kicker, because in the US, they tend to train them more as specialists.

I still believe they should have brought in Alvarado. Who knows? Maybe they did, and he turned them down.

[Argo]

I don't disagree with you on any of that..especially the Waters part. I, personally have no issues with going with an American kicker. There are a lot of good ones not working. The difficult thing is trying to find a duo purpose kicker, because in the US, they tend to train them more as specialists.

I still believe they should have brought in Alvarado. Who knows? Maybe they did, and he turned them down.

If the team was rejected by Alvarado, I assume it would be because he didn't care to become Pfeffer II the next time Waters is apparently healthy.

[AngeloV]

If the team was rejected by Alvarado, I assume it would be because he didn't care to become Pfeffer II the next time Waters is apparently healthy.

Not necessarily. He's been in camps for the last 4 or 5 years now (mostly in Montreal). Maybe he would figure it's time to go on with his life outside of football. Of course this is all hypotheitical.

[jerrym]

A groin injury for a kicker will probably be chronic. Once you pull your groin, you're susceptible to having it happen again and it will increase with age. That's been my experience and I'm not a kicker whose always extending their leg on kickoffs, punts and field goals especially if you're looking for distance which is a part of being an effective kicker for long field goals and punts deep in your end. The adducter is perenially being stretched to the limit as a kicker.

I'm saddened to say this, but unfortunately you could stick a fork in him as a pro kicker. He's better off having had an MCL or ACL injury than a groin injury for a kicker. I honestly don't think he'll ever play a full season again as he has missed plenty of games in two of the last 3 years. It has nothing to do with bad luck or curses or whatever foolishness and superstition that may be mentioned. My analysis on why the Argos should've kept Pfeffer was based on foresight and not any superstition. The Argos management is no doubt run as a short-term operation and decisions will not be made for the long-term benefit until December 31st when the new ownership takes over.

Quad, groin and hips are all connected so it does make each injury somewhat related to the other to present a chronic problem. You get muscle movements affected by pain and soreness and it causes players to compensate by leaning on other muscles closely related to the injured area. This in turn ends up causing further injury when trying to comeback early or can aggravate a pre-existing injury.

i agree that this is likely going to be an ongoing problem.

[ArgoRavi]

Interesting quote from Milanovich regarding the Argos' inability to keep Pfeffer around: “It would have been great if we had kept him,’’ Milanovich said of Pfeffer. “Sometimes things don’t allow you to do things like that.”

http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Football/.../22555806.html

[argotom]

Interesting quote from Milanovich regarding the Argos' inability to keep Pfeffer around: “It would have been great if we had kept him,’’ Milanovich said of Pfeffer. “Sometimes things don’t allow you to do things like that.”

http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Football/.../22555806.html

Even though he is tucked away on the 6 game injury list, the RB are going to have a problem in keeping all of their punters/FG.
Who knows Pfeffer may be exposed at some point.

[Argo]

I really don't understand why hiding uninjured players on the IR list is allowed. It is tawdry and rather pathetic.

All that's required to remedy this poor sportsmanship - also known as cheating - is to require a physician's certification that the player is actually injured.

[argotom]

RB responds looks like we got a great finish.
We have to respond.

[ArgoRavi]

RB responds looks like we got a great finish.
We have to respond.

They did respond with both Palardys kicking very well tonight.

[Argocister]

They did respond with both Palardys kicking very well tonight.

It was very pleasant watching the Palardy squared kicking tonight.
Those punts were awesome, and that 50 yard field goal ....... Justin's bantam team was cheering him on for sure!

[AngeloV]

They did respond with both Palardys kicking very well tonight.

Just what I've been saying. There are a lot of good kickers available south of the border. I just don't get why so many were up in arms about losing a kicker that was OK, but nothing spectacular.

[Argo]

Just what I've been saying. There are a lot of good kickers available south of the border. I just don't get why so many were up in arms about losing a kicker that was OK, but nothing spectacular.

Factor in the passport...

[AngeloV]

Factor in the passport...

Not a factor at all, because the Argos already committed to using an INT kicker. As has Hamilton (Medlock), Montreal (Bede), B.C. (Leone), and Saskatchewan (Early). Way too much is made out of that. There are plenty of good NAT players to fill in another position if you choose to employ an INT kicker or punter

[Gill The Thrill]

Not a factor at all, because the Argos already committed to using an INT kicker. As has Hamilton (Medlock), Montreal (Bede), B.C. (Leone), and Saskatchewan (Early). Way too much is made out of that. There are plenty of good NAT players to fill in another position if you choose to employ an INT kicker or punter

So we should follow suit for exactly the same reason...WHY!!! Get a competent kicker yes, but let's not already prejudice Canadian kickers as inferior based on the fact that they're Canadian. I'm sure the Ticats could have found a Canadian kicker, many who could have matched Jason Medlock's last punt in yesterday's crucial loss vs the Stamps...A shanked 20 yd punt which resulted in a net punt of 2 yds after the return and gave Calgary instant field position to win the game with 9 seconds...yup that's clutch kicking by a superior trained American punter and worth the international roster spot.

[jerrym]

While I agree that Pfeffer was a bit inconsistent with his punting ability, IMO he showed promise and the Argonauts should have kept him around to develop, which seems to be what Ottawa is doing. The kid is only 23 years old and showed a lot of potential to be a solid all round kicker.

I agree it would have been to the Argos' benefit to keep Pfeffer and develop him (perhaps hiding him on the injured list a la Ottawa). After all, look what happened when Argos finally had the patience to develop a couple of their own QBs.

[gilthethrill]

I fear the kicking advantage the Argos had over Ottawa has evaporated.

[AngeloV]

I thought Alix punted quite well tonignt. He averaged just under 44 yards a punt, and his punts were pretty well placed towards the sidelines, limiting REDBLACKS punt returners to less than 1 yard per return average. Can't ask for more than that.

[Will]

Yeah he wasn't bad. I was concerned upon hearing his name at first, but a quick glance at his punting stats (however limited) alleviated those fears.

[paulwoods13]

His punts were fine and our punt coverage was excellent. But we have lost a lot of leg on kickoffs. I think he once got one down to the 12, but many of his KOs were outside the 20.

[Argo]

His punts were fine and our punt coverage was excellent. But we have lost a lot of leg on kickoffs. I think he once got one down to the 12, but many of his KOs were outside the 20.

I assume, at this point in Alix's career, that the relatively poor kickoffs indicate the physical, not technical, bound.