2022-2023 Offseason Hopes and Transactions

[paulwoods13]

What’s with all the negativity from you regarding all the Argos departures the last couple of years?

This was not in your original post, hence I did not reply to it above.

I assume you mean over the past year, since I don't recall making a lot of negative comments about personnel decisions two years ago. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) There are a number of factors for any criticisms I've made, including wanting to field the best possible lineup, impact of moves in the locker room, and other factors. I happen to believe some bad personnel decisions were made, and sometimes for the wrong reasons. Some of my judgments have been borne out by subsequent events, others have not. Regardless, I don't believe mgmt and coaches are exempt from criticism, even from diehard fans.

[OV Argo]

Don't sleep on Ali Fayed, either. I think he could be something special. That has the makings of an amazing DE rotation.

Yeah, forgot about him, and his superb resume, plus got some CFL experience last year. Love to see all 4 of those guys pan-out in the DE rotation; and maybe Dionte Knight beefs up and is just at DT.

[paulwoods13]

Re: Ciraco

Maybe the Argos will slide Hunter out to LT and play either Nicastro or Ciraco at LG. This starts 4 Canadians, but the Argos also re-signed Tate and Cage earlier in the offseason.

I hadn't identified the interior of our line as a need.

Hunter at tackle would certainly create some major roster flexibility. I've always had a preference for tall, lean OTs so at 6-3 he's not my ideal body type for the position. But that might not be the right way of looking at it. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing what he could do at tackle.

[paulwoods13]

Yeah, forgot about him, and his superb resume, plus got some CFL experience last year. Love to see all 4 of those guys pan-out in the DE rotation; and maybe Dionte Knight beefs up and is just at DT.

It's gong to be interesting to see where Knight ends up, but I do think tackle is a distinct possibility.

[Tobin Rote]

Hunter at tackle would certainly create some major roster flexibility. I've always had a preference for tall, lean OTs so at 6-3 he's not my ideal body type for the position. But that might not be the right way of looking at it. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing what he could do at tackle.

Which of our INTs is going are be re-classified to Canadian this season?

[paulwoods13]

Which of our INTs is going are be re-classified to Canadian this season?

Great question. I guess we'll need to look at the roster and see who meets the criteria.

This is the rule, as I understand it: "By definition, a nationalized American is a player starting his sixth season in the CFL or fourth with his current club. Most of them are already starters."

https://torontosun.com/sports/footba...rgaining-issue

On the current roster, I think only Cage, Daniels and Ouellette would qualify.

[Tobin Rote]

Great question. I guess we'll need to look at the roster and see who meets the criteria.

This is the rule, as I understand it: "By definition, a nationalized American is a player starting his sixth season in the CFL or fourth with his current club. Most of them are already starters."

https://torontosun.com/sports/football/cfl/canadian-football-leagues-roster-ratio-stood-out-as-contentious-bargaining-issue



On the current roster, I think only Cage, Daniels and Ouellette would qualify.

The would be a big advantage in making the final roster for any of those guys right? I remember seeing the great Mark Luster playing for the Argos as a "naturalized" Canadian.

[AngeloV]

This was not in your original post, hence I did not reply to it above.

I assume you mean over the past year, since I don't recall making a lot of negative comments about personnel decisions two years ago. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) There are a number of factors for any criticisms I've made, including wanting to field the best possible lineup, impact of moves in the locker room, and other factors. I happen to believe some bad personnel decisions were made, and sometimes for the wrong reasons. Some of my judgments have been borne out by subsequent events, others have not. Regardless, I don't believe mgmt and coaches are exempt from criticism, even from diehard fans.

Sorry, I meant last off season and this off season. Yes 1 calendar year, but separate seasons.

[AngeloV]

I shouldn't reply to your posts on this subject?

I didn’t say that. I just feel you’re really overreacting about a player that contributed nothing to this team in what has been the best back to back seasons the Argos have had in quite some time.

[OV Argo]

Great question. I guess we'll need to look at the roster and see who meets the criteria.

This is the rule, as I understand it: "By definition, a nationalized American is a player starting his sixth season in the CFL or fourth with his current club. Most of them are already starters."

https://torontosun.com/sports/footba...rgaining-issue

On the current roster, I think only Cage, Daniels and Ouellette would qualify.

??? Cage & Ouellette have not been around long; Daniels only a few seasons an Argo, but has accumulated 6 CFL seasons. This Mickey Mouse rule is supposedly for teams to maintain veteran imports, as opposed to constant roster turn-over ? - to maintain some identity for fans perhaps ? It's more just a way for GOBs to get more of their guys playing time in over Canadian players. B$

[paulwoods13]

I didn’t say that. I just feel you’re really overreacting about a player that contributed nothing to this team in what has been the best back to back seasons the Argos have had in quite some time.

I'm tempted to say "Let it go," but that would make me a copycat, wouldn't it?

I don't think anyone who was with the team the past two years contributed nothing, for the record. I seem to recall a couple of TDs, one to open the 2021 season in a tough building, and one that helped Chad Kelly demonstrate his unique abilities. Even without those, teams don't finish first twice and win the Grey Cup once without contributions from everyone on the roster, even those who get buried for whatever reason.

[paulwoods13]

The would be a big advantage in making the final roster for any of those guys right? I remember seeing the great Mark Luster playing for the Argos as a "naturalized" Canadian.

I don't see it as a huge advantage for Daniels and Ouellette -- they are likely to be on the roster and to start/rotate even if they aren't classified as the eighth NAT. Cage might find NAT designation helpful to being rostered. If, for instance, he wasn't able to beat out Hunter to start at tackle, but was better than all the backup NAT linemen.

[paulwoods13]

??? Cage & Ouellette have not been around long; Daniels only a few seasons an Argo, but has accumulated 6 CFL seasons. This Mickey Mouse rule is supposedly for teams to maintain veteran imports, as opposed to constant roster turn-over ? - to maintain some identity for fans perhaps ? It's more just a way for GOBs to get more of their guys playing time in over Canadian players. B$

Cage and Ouellette are entering their fourth season with the Argos.

Also, the rule now requires eight NATs, not the seven we have been accustomed to. So teams must either use a naturalized NAT like one of these three, or a "real" NAT for the eighth spot. That spot had been an INT position, now it's a NAT/naturalized NAT. So would increase playing time for real Canadians unless every team has a naturalized NAT available every game, which is far from a sure thing. Even a championship roster like ours has maximum of three such players.

[OV Argo]

Cage and Ouellette are entering their fourth season with the Argos.

Also, the rule now requires eight NATs, not the seven we have been accustomed to. So teams must either use a naturalized NAT like one of these three, or a "real" NAT for the eighth spot. That spot had been an INT position, now it's a NAT/naturalized NAT. So would increase playing time for real Canadians unless every team has a naturalized NAT available every game, which is far from a sure thing. Even a championship roster like ours has maximum of three such players.

You forgot to mention that the 2nd and 3rd new "National" can sub in for Canadian players and with a ludicrous keeping track of snaps played proviso. Guaranteed the GOBs will all be using this new rule to get more American players on the field in place of Canadian talent. The Argos - with all their Canadian talent now - could easily ignore the new American as Nationals rule and dress an extra Canadian player, but they won't. Just like all CFL teams now always max. out import spots on the roster when they could be dressing more Canadian players. ALL of them = same old B$.

[paulwoods13]

You forgot to mention that the 2nd and 3rd new "National" can sub in for Canadian players and with a ludicrous keeping track of snaps played proviso. Guaranteed the GOBs will all be using this new rule to get more American players on the field in place of Canadian talent. The Argos - with all their Canadian talent now - could easily ignore the new American as Nationals rule and dress an extra Canadian player, but they won't. Just like all CFL teams now always max. out import spots on the roster when they could be dressing more Canadian players. ALL of them = same old B$.

Considering how much actual playing time -- not dressing and playing specials, but time on offence and defence -- the Argos have given to NATs the past two seasons, I'm not worried about this. We have easily 10 NATs capable of playing regularly, and that doesn't include gobs of young talent like Adeboboye, Brissett, Cassar, Hoyte, Churchill, Hagerty, Hoyte, Knight, Mackellar, Nield and Sutton.

[OV Argo]

Considering how much actual playing time -- not dressing and playing specials, but time on offence and defence -- the Argos have given to NATs the past two seasons, I'm not worried about this. We have easily 10 NATs capable of playing regularly, and that doesn't include gobs of young talent like Adeboboye, Brissett, Cassar, Hoyte, Churchill, Hagerty, Hoyte, Knight, Mackellar, Nield and Sutton.

And they chose to dress that Brinkman guy (with so little experience in Canadian football) on the D-Line for the GC game over Dionte Knight; and Brandon Banks and his brutally bad under 50% catches to targets season, over Brescacin who had played well when given a chance in the end of season game. Is what it is with the GOBs - like I said: always max. number or Americans and minimum number of Canadians on their rosters.

[Argo57]

I'm definitely much less troubled by him playing for anyone other than Hamilton, but Sask does play us twice this year. I bet he has TD Atlantic circled as his first opportunity to show Dinwiddie he has more to offer than the coach seemed to think.

He may be on the 6 game by the time they play the Riders.

[AngeloV]

I'm tempted to say "Let it go," but that would make me a copycat, wouldn't it?

I don't think anyone who was with the team the past two years contributed nothing, for the record. I seem to recall a couple of TDs, one to open the 2021 season in a tough building, and one that helped Chad Kelly demonstrate his unique abilities. Even without those, teams don't finish first twice and win the Grey Cup once without contributions from everyone on the roster, even those who get buried for whatever reason.

You're reaching Paul. I'm also glad that you know 100% that he wasn't injured most of last season. Maybe he wasn't really injured most of '21 or '19 in Calgary either.
Seriously, as I said we're coming off the best back to back years this team has had in a long time. Show a little faith that they know what they are doing.

[ArgoRavi]

Throwing up 5 jump ball prayers in a big play-off game not a good recipe for success IMO; good patterns & QB reads see the throw hitting the guy in stride.

There are going to be contested catches in every game and you need your receivers to make plays on those in order to win, especially in big games. Receivers aren't always wide open.

[ArgoRavi]

Either that, or Hunter is going to be given a shot at OT, leaving Ciraco with Nicastro & Bladek for the interior. Ciraco is a very good O-Lineman.

This is what I think may be happening.