3DownNation looks at how the Argos, as well as other teams, are likely to fill their required National starter positions compared to what they did last year.
This is the first of a three part series, in which each part covers three teams. The other teams covered in this article are the Riders and Bombers.
Below is the hypothetical Argo National starters, as well as last years equivalents.
http://3downnation.com/2017/03/16/ra...bombers-argos/The Argos’ roster may have been a mess last season, but the club’s Canadian content is nothing to shake a stick at.
2016 Ratio Structure
Position Starter Primary Back-Up Slotback Anthony Coombs Andre Durie Left Guard Tyler Holmes Wayne Smith Centre Sean McEwen Wayne Smith Right Guard Corey Watman D.J. Sackey Right Tackle Chris Van Zeyl D.J. Sackey Weak-Side Linebacker Cory Greenwood Thomas Miles Safety Matt Black Jermaine Gabriel
Holmes and Van Zeyl are excellent Canadian hogs, while McEwen is an all-star in the making. The depth behind them is solid as well, with 2016 second and third round picks D.J. Sackey and Jamal Campbell waiting in the wings. Black and Gabriel are a formidable duo at safety, while Coombs, Brian Jones, and Llevi Noel (more on this group in a second) is a solid trio of young Canadian pass catchers.
The Argos will no longer be starting a Canadian in their linebacking corps following the departure of Cory Greenwood in free agency and the release of Thomas Miles. Instead, the club will likely turn to the receiving corps to meet the league’s minimum of seven Canadian starters in 2017.
2017 Ratio Projection
Position Starter Prospective Back-Up(s) Wide Receiver Llevi Noel Malcolm Williams Slotback Brian Jones Anthony Coombs, Ryan Nieuwesteeg Left Guard Tyler Holmes D.J. Sackey, Chris Kolankowski Centre Sean McEwen Corey Watman, Wayne Smith Right Guard Peter Dyakowski J’Michael Deane Right Tackle Chris Van Zeyl Jamal Campbell Safety Jermaine Gabriel Matt Black, Matt Webster
The concern with starting two national receivers is Toronto’s lack of depth. Expect defensive tackle Daryl Waud or defensive end Ricky Foley to start in the event that the Argos lose a Canadian pass catcher to injury.
The Argonauts are without a first round draft pick this year, a major disadvantage for general manager Jim Popp as he works to rebuild his club’s roster. Toronto already has a large percentage of its cap dedicated to Canadian offensive linemen, but it’s not impossible to imagine Popp bringing in Jeff Perrett or Josh Bourke — both of whom are free agents who once played under Marc Trestman in Montreal — to start at left tackle. This would allow the Argos to start five Canadian offensive linemen, alleviating the pressure on its Canadian content elsewhere on the roster.
IMO the loss of Greenwood and Miles leaving no National LB is big. On the other hand, I am really looking forward to a full season of Brian Jones at SB, but expect Coombs to be ahead of Noel, at this point in his career, although I think Noel has the potential to develop into a good receiver. It also possible that the Argos go with five Canadian OL instead of two Canadian receivers, although LT could well go International. Black ended the season as starter primarily because of Gabriel's injury, so I expect that to be reversed this year. Using 4 OL could also lead to a Foley/Waud National DL instead of a second National receiver.
Another possibility is to go with 8 Nationals, so it is easier during games to sub in an International.
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