Fumbling the Handoff: The 2016 Argos

[Will]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl...onauts-season/

Yes it is a Sportsnet article, but keep in mind that Justin Dunk does not usually sink to the levels that his colleagues do in terms of their attitude towards the Canadian Football League. The article is pretty damning of the coaching staff (quotes from players) although Barker does seem to escape a bit of the criticism.

[Neely2005]

It's a pretty fair article IMO.

[Will]

It's a pretty fair article IMO.

It is, but some will look at the source and dismiss it out of hand.

[R.J]

It is, but some will look at the source and dismiss it out of hand.

You mean the Milanovich and Barker backers ?
Because Justin Dunk's been pretty good with his information and sources.

As for the article itself, it's pretty much what the majority of us suspected had occured. The Willy trade crippled the team and without Braley's ownership, Milanovich had nothing to rally the team around. Barker isn't blameless in this though, he's the GM, the buck stops with him, and IMO he listened to what his coaches wanted way too much, and has never been able to fix the secondary. Bigger problem now is that we literally need upgrades everywhere, with exception to Lirim.

[Will]

You mean the Milanovich and Barker backers ?
Because Justin Dunk's been pretty good with his information and sources.

As for the article itself, it's pretty much what the majority of us suspected had occured. The Willy trade crippled the team and without Braley's ownership, Milanovich had nothing to rally the team around. Barker isn't blameless in this though, he's the GM, the buck stops with him, and IMO he listened to what his coaches wanted way too much, and has never been able to fix the secondary. Bigger problem now is that we literally need upgrades everywhere, with exception to Lirim.

Has nothing to do with the Milanovich or Barker backers, but those who will see Rogers attach to it and assume the worst.

[R.J]

Has nothing to do with the Milanovich or Barker backers, but those who will see Rogers attach to it and assume the worst.

Dunk, along with Lawless are easily the top two CFL insiders right now IMO. Dunk has been really good the last two seasons with his info.

On a side note: I'm really surprised that Barker isn't taking more heat for this season. The 3downnation piece the other day implied that Barker may have been given the reins to start talking to players about new deals.

[Will]

Dunk, along with Lawless are easily the top two CFL insiders right now IMO. Dunk has been really good the last two seasons with his info.

On a side note: I'm really surprised that Barker isn't taking more heat for this season. The 3downnation piece the other day implied that Barker may have been given the reins to start talking to players about new deals.

I agree, because Dunk doesn't sink to the level that some of his fellow Sportsnet colleagues do.

[mchesher03]

Instead, each pass catcher found a welcoming new team and the Argos sank some more.

Inaccurate, unless Phil Bates signed somewhere that I can't see on the internet.

Otherwise the article is pretty good imo.

[R.J]

Instead, each pass catcher found a welcoming new team and the Argos sank some more.

Inaccurate, unless Phil Bates signed somewhere that I can't see on the internet.

Otherwise the article is pretty good imo.

Bates signed with and played 2 games for the Riders.

[Argo]

Hopefully both Milanovich and Barker are fired.

[ArgoGabe22]

Willing to bet he talked to Ricky Foley. It's similar to the interview he gave at the end of season.

[paulwoods13]

Nothing in the story rings untrue. A few minor points are a bit of a stretch -- such as the suggestion that if he had stayed, Harris would have been a marketable player. And the implication that Harris and Burris formed a happy "tandem" at QB for Ottawa. Also, no one (including Dunk) has ever seemed to make a connection between Barker saying he couldn't pay Owens what he'd made in the past, and the fact he allegedly (and I believe it) signed with Hamilton for a paltry $80k. So Barker wasn't the only GM to judge him worth a lot less than his previous contracts. But I'd say Dunk has done a decent job, albeit one based on source(s) who are not identified enough to know whether they might have particular axe(s) to grind.

[Argo57]

It is, but some will look at the source and dismiss it out of hand.

The article makes perfect sense to me, unfortunately a major rebuild of the roster is needed and it it crystal clear the coaching staff should be shown the door.
Once they lose the respect of the players it is all over.

[Ron]

Very fair article. Interesting look at how Milo didn't lose the room in the normal way ... but he and his staff seemed hell bent on wrecking the room. Also interesting to see a player defend Barker.

I always thought Milo would be back because he somehow sold the brass his vision to turn things around ... which led to him being able to make the moves he made. But it seems the tide is turning as now we have some public voicing of what went wrong from inside the locker room.

[Ron]

The article makes perfect sense to me, unfortunately a major rebuild of the roster is needed and it it crystal clear the coaching staff should be shown the door.
Once they lose the respect of the players it is all over.

I'm thinking that Stubler may survive any purge. The D was lousy but I always saw him PO'ed by the performances. Plus if the real cancer was the "Milo crew" .. then he may never have stood a chance to succeed in 16.

[R.J]

Hopefully both Milanovich and Barker are fired.

X2

[Argo57]

X2

Next week should be interesting.

[R.J]

Next week should be interesting.

Problem is, I have little faith in Copeland and Ownership making the right moves here. Without question Milanovich has to go, but so does Barker IMO, and even if the moves are made, does Copeland just go after the "big name" in Popp ? I hope not.

No reports on O'Shea being close to a deal yet, so there's maybe a shot at him as well, but I'm really concerned that Steinauer is the front runner.

[mint83]

It's kind of strange that one of the things that upset the players so much was the Heath trade but many think Barker should stay.

The players believe that if Barker can find "an answer at quarterback" then good things can happen. No kidding but it may be way beyond Barker to find a QB.

[Ron]

It's kind of strange that one of the things that upset the players so much was the Heath trade but many think Barker should stay.

The players believe that if Barker can find "an answer at quarterback" then good things can happen. No kidding but it may be way beyond Barker to find a QB.

You're forgetting one item. Milo really sold hard to get Willy (The QB he's wanted a long time) according to reports and Barker made the trade. We also don't know if Barker's arm was twisted to do it. (ie: Milo sold his vision to a higher up and Barker was told to make it so)

It's also unfair to think Barker can't find QB's when he's found a number of them the last few years. All the QB's people bitch about losing from here were found by Barker in the first place. And the jury is still out whether the Willy trade was a great one or a bad one. We could be seeing him lift the cup for us in a couple of seasons and nobody will give a crap who Heath was.