Argo Training Camp

[AngeloV]

It's interesting that Milanovich keeps noting guys are out of shape. I wonder if guys are spending too much time in the weight room in the offseason and not enough on cardio?
He says guys are sucking wind after two reps. I know it takes a bit to get into football shape as well. Interested to hear others thoughts on this.

Obvious they were out late at the local casino....Sorry, wrong team.

[Golden Fleece]

Every year Milanovich is "critical" of the rookie group's tempo, energy level, and fallibility - I think it's part of his motivational strategy.

Out Of Shape???? Holy Shitski these poor guys get no slack. It's been pretty friggin hot and it's only the first few days of camp. I was sucking wind big time while moving compost in hot thick air conditions yesterday. Too hot too fast.

I think you two hit the nail on the head. Set the tone early by demanding mid-season form on Day 1. Heat and humidity are a killer that can't be replicated until on the practice field either.

[jerrym]

Argo TC Day 2

With just over 40 players testing out the nuances of the CFL and the Argonauts offensive and defensive schemes, head coach Scott Milanovich put his men to work as he attempts to get them up to speed before the club’s veterans report to take the field this weekend.
“[Rookie camp] gives us an idea of their skill set but more importantly it’s them getting acclimated to the offence, defence and special teams which our veterans have some familiarity with”, said Milanovich as Thursday’s session concluded. “We try to get the rookies on the same plane when they come in so it’s not brand new for them.”
Sean McEwen, the Argos third overall selection in the 2015 CFL Draft, notes that rookie camp and even training camp will be a learning experience for him and he has used the first two practices to get his feet wet.
“It’s been really good, [there’s] a lot to pick up at the centre position, adjusting to the speed of the game and the competition, said Argonauts newcomer Sean McEwen. “I’ve been enjoying just trying to get my feet wet and picking up as much as I can as fast as I can.”
The product of the University of Calgary recognizes that when he takes the field with the Argonauts veterans on Sunday, practices will not only be more intense but an opportunity for him to learn visually from players that have been league for a while now.
The Argonauts will host their final practice of Rookies & QBs Camp on Friday at 2:05pm at Alumni Stadium in Guelph.

http://www.argonauts.ca/2016/05/26/t...ie-camp-day-2/

[jerrym]

Out Of Shape???? Holy Shitski these poor guys get no slack. It's been pretty friggin hot and it's only the first few days of camp. I was sucking wind big time while moving compost in hot thick air conditions yesterday. Too hot too fast.

I think you two hit the nail on the head. Set the tone early by demanding mid-season form on Day 1. Heat and humidity are a killer that can't be replicated until on the practice field either.

Heat and humidity are definitely killers to which the death of MLB pitcher Steven Belcher, who died form heat stroke during spring training, testifies. While a weight-loss drug made the situation worse, heat and humidity played a major role.

Steven Scott Bechler (November 18, 1979 – February 17, 2003) was an American professional baseball player. A pitcher, Bechler played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles.
After starring for the South Medford High School baseball team, the Orioles selected Bechler in the third round of the 1998 MLB draft. Following five seasons in Minor League Baseball, Bechler made his major league debut with the Orioles in 2002. Attending spring training in 2003, he died of heat stroke while participating in conditioning drills.
A medical examiner found that Bechler's use of ephedra as a weight-loss supplement contributed to his death. Following this revelation, the Food and Drug Administration opened an inquiry, which resulted in the banning of ephedra products in the United States.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bechler

The problem of heat in football is especially concerning for the DL and OL as their huge weights make them more susceptible to heat.
Further compounding the issue as 1argoholic notes are the unseasonally high temperatures, which could well be related to global warming and a forewarning of future summers of significantly higher temperatures. Also,with so many players in TC trying to make the team, it's highly unlikely that no one is using performance enhancing drugs, some of which may compound the heat risks, as occurred with MLB pitcher Steven Belcher.
Summer temperatures are hitting 50 degrees C fairly regularly now in the Arabian peninsula and this month temperatures reached 51 C in India, an all-time high. My wife just came back from the Philippines (where she was born) where temperatures, which rarely rose above 35 C, hit 43 C, which when combined with the intense humidity made life extremely difficult, killed a large amount of the vegetation and trees, and caused air conditioners to break down again and again.
The United States government's National Center for Environmental Information confirms this global trend is continuing right up until today.

The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for April 2016 was 1.10°C (1.98°F) above the 20th century average of 13.7°C (56.7°F)—the highest temperature departure for April since global records began in 1880. This value surpassed the previous record set in 2010 by 0.28°C (0.50°F). This was also the fourth highest monthly temperature departure among all 1,636 months on record, behind March 2016 (1.23°C/2.21°F), February 2016 (1.19°C/2.14°F), and December 2015 (1.12°C/2.02°F). Overall, 13 out of the 15 highest monthly temperature departures in the recordhave all occurred since February 2015,

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201604

I love the fact that the Argos are moving to BMO and leaving Rogers Centre behind. However, being outside in the summer in the future could be problematic for players and fans in the heat. On the bright side, maybe in 2030, we can wear shorts to the Grey Cup.

[KCargosfan]

Obvious they were out late at the local casino....Sorry, wrong team.

haha. Was there a CFL or Toronto team that went gambling one night or something?

[Neely2005]

haha. Was there a CFL or Toronto team that went gambling one night or something?

Raptors.

[jerrym]

Milanovich reports things are getting familiar in this video on the final day of TC. Sound familiar?

http://www.argonauts.ca/2016/05/27/rookie-camp-recap-2/

[jerrym]

Day 3 Argo TC Summary

First year players got their last chance to get up to speed with the team’s systems prior to the arrival of the veterans for Day One of training camp on Sunday, May 29.
“It was good to see a lot of the Americans that we’ve been tracking for a year or two,” said Argos Director of Player Personnel Curtis Rukavina.
After three days of practice, the Argos staff have a better idea of the talent that they’re working with and the rookies’ fit within the team’s overall composition.
“We got to see them come up and confirm the reports that we had on them, watch them fit in and see how their style of play translates,” continued Rukavina.
Head coach Milanovich was more impressed with the team’s pace of play on Friday, and acknowledged that the rookies were beginning to gain a better understanding of the team’s concepts and making fewer mistakes.
“That’s what this rookie camp is all about,” started quarterback Ricky Ray, “to get the young guys ready for what kind of tempo is going to be expected from the head coach.” ...
“Hopefully our veterans remember how we like to practice,” said Milanovich, “and hopefully they’ll show these young guys how it’s done.” ...

“There’s a fine line with rookies and veterans,” explained Milanovich. “The veterans need to be respected, they’ve earned that right. At the same time, we need the rookies to push us and we need a couple of these guys to make the team, make us better and take somebody’s spot.”
The Argonauts full team will take to the field at Alumni Stadium at the University of Guelph for Day 1 of Training Camp on Sunday, May 29 at 7:30 a.m.

http://www.argonauts.ca/2016/05/27/188173/

[jerrym]

Stabler talks about the newcomers and veterans on defence at TC in this video.

http://www.argonauts.ca/2016/05/27/o...is-2016-corps/

[KCargosfan]

Raptors.

Wow, not sure how I missed that. Poor thinking by those guys. During the regular season, sure, but not the ECF.

[gilthethrill]

Wow, not sure how I missed that. Poor thinking by those guys. During the regular season, sure, but not the ECF.

Not really. They did not have to play until the next night. Hack reporting by the columnist.

[Golden Fleece]

On the bright side, maybe in 2030, we can wear shorts to the Grey Cup.

Well played.

[Argo57]

Just to clarify are training camp sessions open to the public?
The schedule mentions media only??

[Will]

They always have been in the past and I think they've always just mentioned media.

[Johno27]

I'll likely wear my Condredge Holloway jersey.

Thanks argofan87! I'll be wearing an Argo tee shirt with the boat logo and a beige cap with, "Eastern Mountain Sports". If the weather is stable will be there bright and early.

[Will]

It looks like Chad Kackert is still an Argonaut:

"Hey!" 👋👋
Vets have arrived for head shot day!

Follow all the shenanigans on our snap story
👻 torontoargos pic.twitter.com/J4objKuORP

— Toronto Argonauts (@TorontoArgos) May 28, 2016

[Will]

Once again, I'll be at camp tomorrow (hopefully by 7:30) wearing a Condredge Holloway jersey so if anyone else is there and wants to say hi then you're more then welcome to it!

[Jayahre]

Did anyone see Cato out there yet?

http://www.torontosun.com/2016/05/25...e-calling-cato

[Will]

Keon Raymond is now wearing #2

There's a new #2 in Toronto.... @Mr_Raymond25 #CFL

H/T to the @torontoargos pic.twitter.com/8NOXCLfJ8K

— CFL (@CFL) May 28, 2016

[Stevoman]

Hmmm Kack is back, I love this guys determination! Would've thought #2 would be out of circulation for awhile but I'm excited about Raymond.