Week 1: Hamilton TigerCats @ Toronto Argonauts, June 23, 2016 @ BMO FIELD Game Thread

[R.J]

National TV ratings number for #Ticats @ #Argos opener: 747,000 viewers when you add in RDS/Quebec. #CFL via @paulosenra

— CFL News (@CFL_News) June 25, 2016

[doubleblue]

I agree with most of the reviews. Massoli played well and is actually the type of QB the Argos need is they are going to go with this Offensive Line. But he did have lots of time to throw. I said, probably too many times, this off season that if the Argos were going to hang their hat on Ricky Ray, the Offensive Line had to be Grade A and the right side of the line on paper wasn't good enough. Nothing I saw Thursday night changed my mine. What I couldn't understand is why Milanovich didn't go with two TE's (back ups Smith and Campbell) to at least try to slow down the Hamilton pass rush and give Ricky at least three steam boats. Maybe Wayne Smith wasn't 100% but he is a better Guard than Watman IMO. I would suggest moving Van Zeyl in to RG and find a Import Tackle who can pass block, and if McEwen is ready to play Center they would still have their 4 Canadians starting. Otherwise Ricky will be on the IR very soon and the young back ups will be running for their lives.

Hamilton LB Lawrence was outstanding.

[paulwoods13]

I agree with most of the reviews. Massoli played well and is actually the type of QB the Argos need is they are going to go with this Offensive Line. But he did have lots of time to throw. I said, probably too many times, this off season that if the Argos were going to hang their hat on Ricky Ray, the Offensive Line had to be Grade A and the right side of the line on paper wasn't good enough. Nothing I saw Thursday night changed my mine. What I couldn't understand is why Milanovich didn't go with two TE's (back ups Smith and Campbell) to at least try to slow down the Hamilton pass rush and give Ricky at least three steam boats. Maybe Wayne Smith wasn't 100% but he is a better Guard than Watman IMO. I would suggest moving Van Zeyl in to RG and find a Import Tackle who can pass block, and if McEwen is ready to play Center they would still have their 4 Canadians starting. Otherwise Ricky will be on the IR very soon and the young back ups will be running for their lives.

Hamilton LB Lawrence was outstanding.

Campbell was not dressed. The backup o-linemen were Smith and McEwen. The Argos did play one or two TEs (Smith/Dupuis mostly) a fair bit but it didn't seem to help.

[1argoholic]

Cody Fajardo. The guy would be just like the young qb in BC except bigger and stronger. Can you tell I'm a fan?

[Argo57]

Cody Fajardo. The guy would be just like the young qb in BC except bigger and stronger. Can you tell I'm a fan?

Let him master the QB sneak on 3rd down then we'll go from there.

[1argoholic]

He's one and one. The O line couldn't block. haha. On the first one he could have taken the snap and run left and would still be running it was so open. He could have run to Regina for the next game.

[Stevoman]

Cody Fajardo. The guy would be just like the young qb in BC except bigger and stronger. Can you tell I'm a fan?

I'd like to see him develop as well. I'm sure Ricky and the O-line will bounce back next week but I was feeling a little bummed watching Trevor Harris light it up tonight. Not starting this whole debate again and I'm happy for Harris but I'm waiting for Ray to have a really good game. When you factor in all of the injuries, you have to go back to 2014 some time for his last really good one. I guess I'd feel better if I knew we had some quarterbacks behind him that have lots of potential. I guess I have to wait and see.

[Ron]

I don't think Harris or Collaros would have looked so good with that Argo O-Line on Thursday.

[gilthethrill]

Has BMO field ever in its existence had this much exposure on TV for a sorting event?

[ArgoRavi]

Has BMO field ever in its existence had this much exposure on TV for a sorting event?

I know there was a big deal when David Beckham first visited BMO Field years ago but I don't think that stadium has ever had the level of exposure that the Argos are bringing to it.

[Reggiemac]

This is what can happen when we only have 2 preseason games. It usually takes a few games to gel and the only easy to watch game so far was ottawa and edmonton.

[Qman]

I know there was a big deal when David Beckham first visited BMO Field years ago but I don't think that stadium has ever had the level of exposure that the Argos are bringing to it.

Thats why they bought the team and that why BMO signed up for another 10 years

[1971GreyCup]

Harris really lit it up last night. Apart from a late season run in 2012, three years of ineptitude is quite trying. The Argos have been waiting for HOF Ricky Ray to return to form and in doing so have setup the Ticats and RedBlacks nicely with QBs for years to come!

Our only player flow continues to come from the Als with those players Coach Milanovich liked pre-2012. Youth out, veterans late in their career coming in. Our youthful players have flourished under coaching elsewhere.

Being greatly out coached by Austin & Steinhauher on Thursday was very disheartening. A ton of penalties and a team that looked flat in the most important game to happen in Toronto in a decade?? A no name defence with coaching in Hamilton dominated us. I sure hope I am wrong and we get good, and get there fast.

Am I wrong and Milanovich is the genius and his OC is the guy? Is Barker right hanging on to Ray and the elder players? Or will Ray be Barkers Cleo Lemon and he hangs his hat on the future of the club too long?

[OV Argo]

Harris really lit it up last night. Apart from a late season run in 2012, three years of ineptitude is quite trying. The Argos have been waiting for HOF Ricky Ray to return to form and in doing so have setup the Ticats and RedBlacks nicely with QBs for years to come!

Our only player flow continues to come from the Als with those players Coach Milanovich liked pre-2012. Youth out, veterans late in their career coming in. Our youthful players have flourished under coaching elsewhere.

Being greatly out coached by Austin & Steinhauher on Thursday was very disheartening. A ton of penalties and a team that looked flat in the most important game to happen in Toronto in a decade?? A no name defence with coaching in Hamilton dominated us. I sure hope I am wrong and we get good, and get there fast.

Am I wrong and Milanovich is the genius and his OC is the guy? Is Barker right hanging on to Ray and the elder players? Or will Ray be Barkers Cleo Lemon and he hangs his hat on the future of the club too long?

Agreed totally on the being outcoached part - obvious in last year's East semi too - when a young QB like Masoli is able to beat a HOF type like Ray, and it isn't because the Ticats have greater talent everywhere else on the roster = all on coaching / play-calling. Millanovich & Brady know one basic, simpleton offence - and the Ticats D knows it, and the Argos O-line wasn't good enough in pass protection to let Ray run the same old mostly pass offence.

I'd hardly call the Ticats D "no name" though IMO - Lawrence is a real play-maker on D (one of the league's best D players IMO); Chick is a very good vet DE; E. Davis is a top notch D-backfielder - they have some talent and Steinauer was able to blend in some new & young guys = he out-coached Stubler too IMO.

[Double Dare]

Millanovich & Brady know one basic, simpleton offence - and the Ticats D knows it,

Yep, but I might add, that every team knows it.
Milanovich is highly overrated by some people. I don't like him as a HC.

[Stevoman]

My last thought on this game is that while the Argos were beat soundly in all 3 phases, the Argos had better jerseys (small consolation but have to try and find something positive!). TiCats uniforms still look good but regressed, in my opinion, especially with the smaller logo on the shoulder. It now looks out of place.

[Will]

Yep, but I might add, that every team knows it.
Milanovich is highly overrated by some people. I don't like him as a HC.

I've always had a bigger problem with Jim Barker rather than Milanovich.

I am not ready to turn against Milanovich, but the being "outcoached" by Austin, Thrope et al has definitely caught my eye over the last little while.

Whether it was a mistake to keep Ray over Harris remains to be seen, but to suggest that Ray has been a bust in Toronto since he arrived in 2012 is a little unfair. Injury-prone yes, but ineffective when healthy? Also, Ricky Ray and Cleo Lemon shouldn't be mentioned in the same sentence.

[Argo57]

Agreed totally on the being outcoached part - obvious in last year's East semi too - when a young QB like Masoli is able to beat a HOF type like Ray, and it isn't because the Ticats have greater talent everywhere else on the roster = all on coaching / play-calling. Millanovich & Brady know one basic, simpleton offence - and the Ticats D knows it, and the Argos O-line wasn't good enough in pass protection to let Ray run the same old mostly pass offence.

I'd hardly call the Ticats D "no name" though IMO - Lawrence is a real play-maker on D (one of the league's best D players IMO); Chick is a very good vet DE; E. Davis is a top notch D-backfielder - they have some talent and Steinauer was able to blend in some new & young guys = he out-coached Stubler too IMO.

Hamilton easily defend the Argo offence to the point of being sickening.
0-5 in the last year and no indication last week that the Argos coaching staff have any answers against the Ticats on either side of the ball.
What you have is a mediocre O-Line in front of an aging QB with next to no mobility not a great combination IMO.
Let's see how the next 2-3 games go before panicking but I will admit some frustration at seeing a lot of talented young QB's thriving in other organizations while our QB situation becomes unsettled.

[1argoholic]

Without the time Ray is screwed. I have to admit most teams looked pretty good this week. We were the worst team of the week by far. Oh well maybe Winnipeg didn't look too good.

[Argo57]

Without the time Ray is screwed. I have to admit most teams looked pretty good this week. We were the worst team of the week by far. Oh well maybe Winnipeg didn't look too good.

Exactly my point, jury is out as to this O-Line's ability to give any QB the time to throw which may suggest a mobile quarterback would be more effective.