GAME THREAD / Week 8 / Argonauts de Toronto v Alouettes de Montréal

[Wobbler]

I think we owe Shirley an apology.

I think you should review his posts.

Tonight's main lesson, IMO, is that Fajardo doesn't look like a future star and seems questionable as a future starter. He is definitely mobile, but that was a weak passing performance. He's now the clear #2, and hopefully he'll be better with lots of reps in practice and an offense tailored to his strengths, but I was dismayed by what I saw.

Mathews was even worse (overall), but did any of us expect much?

[Neely2005]

I think you should review his posts.

Tonight's main lesson, IMO, is that Fajardo doesn't look like a future star. He is definitely mobile, but that was a weak passing performance. He's now the clear #2, and hopefully he'll be better with lots of reps in practice and an offense tailored to his strengths, but I was dismayed by what I saw.

Mathews was even worse (overall), but did any of us expect much?

I must have been watching a different Fajardo than you. The one I was watching moved the ball down the field well with some nice passes and kept the defense off balance with his rushing ability. I guess it depends on your definition of Star.

[Wobbler]

I must have been watching a different Fajardo than you. The one I was watching moved the ball down the field well with some nice passes and kept the defense off balance with his rushing ability. I guess it depends on your definition of Star.

The "I must have been watching a different ____" thing is pretty tired. You disagree with me - totally fine!

What I hoped to see from Fajardo was an ability to make various situational throws. We all know he moves well and carries well. He did that and helped Whitaker to look like his old self. That's great! But... Fajardo didn't seem to read well or throw the ball well. He completed short passes, but I saw nothing to suggest that he could be special in the next year or two - which is all that matters in the CFL.

I haven't given up on him, but this was discouraging.

[BroadSword]

Honestly I was fairly impressed with Fajardo.

A couple of penalties robbed him of some touchdowns, but I would find it hard to blame him for that.

Passing could maybe use a bit of work, but I like his mobility.

I say, assuming Ray isn't going next week, then give him a chance to start.

Also somewhat unrelated: Fajardo is clearly a big Philip Rivers fan (Coming from Anaheim and wearing that number 17).

[gilthethrill]

I never really felt the game was in doubt for Montreal. Enjoyed watching Dylan Wynn play.

[Topshelf]

Argos almost beat the spread at the end, but other than betting wise, this game was never in doubt.

[ArgoZ]

^ Apologize for what? No one right out disagreed with her comments, many posters shared her views. The repeated posts (25!) stating the same opinion over and over was the problem.

[paulwoods13]

^ Apologize for what? No one right out disagreed with her comments, many posters shared her views. The repeated posts (25!) stating the same opinion over and over was the problem.

Precisely. The opinion that Fajardo should start was never invalid -- it just didn't need to be made in 25 out of 27 posts by a member of the forum.

[Shatto]

Even though, Shirley had repeatedly beaten the same drum about Fajardo starting, perhaps a more diplomatic complaint, might have been made, in expressing the dissatisfaction of Shirley's many posts on the same issue. I thought the comment by Paulwood was much more diplomatically expressed, without being personally insulting. The comment "guys--I think we owe an apology to Shirley" was made tongue in cheek and was meant to be humorous in nature, hopefully lightening the discussion --if anyone took it as a personal criticism, I apologize.

I didn't get the impression that Montreal eased off on the first recalled TD but rather eased off because the play was a completed TD, however even if that were the case, one can't deny, the second recalled TD and the dropped end zone pass, demonstrated Fajardo's ability to put the ball in the end zone, something that Matthew had not come close to achieving. I don't think it is overstating the case, to say that Fajardo played far better than Matthews and if he had started the game it might have resulted in an Argo win.

Completely agree with the comments that the Argo defense shows some real potential. The loss of high quality players is often hard to overcome but the D tonight, showed we can be guardedly optimistic about the defense we have.

[ArgoGabe22]

^ Apologize for what? No one right out disagreed with her comments, many posters shared her views. The repeated posts (25!) stating the same opinion over and over was the problem.

Can't just assume Shirley is a "she".

[Argo57]

I think this game actually raised more questions in regards to the young Argo QB's than it answered.
It's only one game but the "QB of the future" may not in fact currently be on the roster which in itself is concerning and confirms what many if not most suspected when this season started....it's Ricky Ray or bust this season (and maybe next).

[Topshelf]

Sign Manziel!
Seriously though Fajardo showed enough that he's worth a look.
But that isn't the Argos way. Other than Bishop, who have we really developed?
Argos will stick with Ray, then bring in another veteran after he's done.
The east is so poor this year we can pretty much coast til the playoffs.
I think Fajardo has the tools to be a cfl qb, but I don't see the Argos going with a young qb as anything other than a temp solution while Ray is injured.

[Argo57]

Sign Manziel!
Seriously though Fajardo showed enough that he's worth a look.
But that isn't the Argos way. Other than Bishop, who have we really developed?
Argos will stick with Ray, then bring in another veteran after he's done.
The east is so poor this year we can pretty much coast til the playoffs.
I think Fajardo has the tools to be a cfl qb, but I don't see the Argos going with a young qb as anything other than a temp solution while Ray is injured.

Collaros and Harris.

[R.J]

Matthews played pretty crappy as most expected, and while Fajardo can run around ane move the ball, he's not much of a passer IMO. He may develop into one if Trestman actually works with him, instead of giving Ray pretty much all the reps, and even splitting reps with Matthews, and he may not. Neither QB looks like the future as of right now, and the team is still keeping around Prukop and Bethel Thompson, so I wouldn't go so far as saying that the "QB of the future" isn't on the roster currently.

Personally I really like Prukop, but he needs to be developed, even if developed he may not be the guy either. One thing is for sure IMO, Trestman needs to change his ways, and ensure that he develops the next QB after Ray - we all know what happened in Montreal with Calvillo getting all the reps and playing every game.

[Shatto]

We all see things from our own perspective. Only time will tell whose opinion is more appropriate but let's agree to accept the value of each other's opinion. At least we all seem to agree that Matthews performed poorly. Personally, as I have stated before, I thought Fajardo played very well, as he did what any good QB does and took advantage of what the opposition gave him. The 2 recalled TD's and the dropped ball in the end zone were hardly his fault and with better luck, IMO, he could have pulled this game out of the fire.

The next game against Montreal is a big one. Hopefully Ray will be fit for the game. Would be nice to see a good crowd for this game.

[ArgoZ]

I like what I saw from Fajardo and I'm willing to give him a chance to start, like I was with Mathews before overly criticizing. Passing needs to be improved, of course, and you can see why they went with Mathews because of this. Too bad Mathews couldn't take advantage of this opportunity. Cody's final roll out, throw to the endzone reminded me of Dunigan.

The Argos didn't do themselves too many favors last night. Poorly timed penalties and dropped balls made life very hard for an unexperienced QB.

[ArgoZ]

Personally I really like Prukop, but he needs to be developed.

Admittedly, I don't know a lot about Prukop, except from game action. He's pretty darn fast and a good athlete. He made a great ST tackle last night.

[argonaut11xx]

Both Mathews and Fajardo were not impressive. In terms of back-up QB's these guys are about 50-60% as good as Harris and Collaros were as Argo backup QB's.

The latter were able to step up and win games when Ray was injured.

Mathews and Fajardo will only lose games, as they are not ready, and frankly not good enough.

Only hope the Argo's have to make the playoffs is a healthy Ricky Ray

[Neely2005]

Sign Manziel!
Seriously though Fajardo showed enough that he's worth a look.
But that isn't the Argos way. Other than Bishop, who have we really developed?
Argos will stick with Ray, then bring in another veteran after he's done.
The east is so poor this year we can pretty much coast til the playoffs.
I think Fajardo has the tools to be a cfl qb, but I don't see the Argos going with a young qb as anything other than a temp solution while Ray is injured.

Collaros and Harris?

[paulwoods13]

I guess not surprising that some people are prepared to write two QBs off based on half a game each. Neither guy has had anything like a chance to be "the guy." We know Trestman gives his No. 1 QB all the reps in practice (a method I fervently disagree with), but this past week the two guys apparently split reps. If one of them gets a sustained period of all/most reps AND plays a few full games, we'll have a better idea of what they are capable of.