Pre-Season Game # 1 Thread: Toronto Argonauts @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats

[Will]

Depth Chart

https://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/05/Preseason-1-%40-Hamilton-May-27-PDF.pdf

[Rich]

Better to roll with young guys, Kelly included, and be willing to take a learning/developing season and hope at least one or two of the QBs pan out. Too bad they were so limited in their recruiting though to only come up with DIV III or NAIA level QBs and guys who have zero understanding of the Canadian game.

Ya it’s disappointing we haven’t signed a top-level QB prospect yet, but I bet it’ll still happen. Fred Payton is a real good-looking dual-threat prospect on our neg list and afaik still a FA. I know I’d feel better about the QB situation if we had a groomable stud at #2. Although hearing interesting things about Bryan Scott.

[ArgoRavi]

I think the more experience Kelly gets now, the better equipped he’ll be to avoid taking a devastating hit once the season starts.

I also believe the team has a plan if Kelly goes down with a serious injury, and that plan involves prying either Evans or Arbuckle loose.

I can't see any reason why Ottawa or BC would trade away their primary backup QB to Toronto. I truly believe the plan is to go with what they have and hope for the best. There are really no other viable options out there.

[RB957]

Just a side note for those who will be watching the game on the CFL Preseason Live stream. McLeod Bethel Thompson and the New Orleans Breakers are on FOX today at 4 pm vs. Birmingham. The beauty is you don't have to switch back and forth between games. Looking forward to seeing MBT play, but not as much as getting a look at the Argos in their first game action. Enjoy the game everyone.

[Rich]

I can't see any reason why Ottawa or BC would trade away their primary backup QB to Toronto.

Why did the Bombers trade their primary backup QB to the Argos in 2016?

[AngeloV]

Why did the Bombers trade their primary backup QB to the Argos in 2016?

Because they had given up on him, and saw a desperate Argos team looking for someone with experience. Michael O’Connor might be the best available option out there right now.

[gilthethrill]

Because they had given up on him, and saw a desperate Argos team looking for someone with experience. Michael O’Connor might be the best available option out there right now.

I still expect Dom Davis to be the odd man out in BC. Would he be an upgrade over the youngsters backing up Kelly? I don’t know. Nick Arbuckle? No thanks.

[ArgoZ]

Argos are wearing dark blue socks for todays game. They look good.

[Waffle]

The Argos may look stylish, but so far they have not been very good, esp on offence. In the first quarter with Holmes at QB, they had four possessions with two punts and two interceptions. A kick returner dropped one kickoff, and then kicked another backwards leading to a poor return. Early in the second quarter they have given up a TD on a punt return. Its now 17-0 for Hamilton. Holmes does not look very accurate, and they have basically no running game. Good thing it is only exhibition.

[Argo57]

Let’s get a look at one of the other QB’s, I’ve seen enough of Holmes today.

[Argo57]

Tough watch at times today but that’s CFL pre-season football.
Both Bryan Scott and Cameron Dukes badly outplayed Ben Holmes (who looked horrible IMO).
RB Deonta McMahon showed some nice moves and quickness and looks like a good change of pace player.
Hopefully Kurleigh Gittens is ok.

[ArgoRavi]

Tough watch at times today but that’s CFL pre-season football.
Both Bryan Scott and Cameron Dukes badly outplayed Ben Holmes (who looked horrible IMO).
RB Deonta McMahon showed some nice moves and quickness and looks like a good change of pace player.
Hopefully Kurleigh Gittens is ok.

BJ Byrd had an impressive game too. I was disappointed in Holmes but he was facing the starting Hamilton defence and he was stuck with bad field position on at least a couple of occasions. Is that enough to save him though? I don't know.

[ArgoGabe22]

Receivers and running backs are always a dime a dozen. Some good ones with have to get cut or be put on PR/IR

[Stevoman]

I liked what I saw from Cameron Dukes. A good athlete and able to improvise. From what I saw, he was the highlight today.

I'm glad to see that they still have the Oxford socks. It looked better than all Cambridge. I really don't like that font for the numbers though and seeing them in game action re-confirmed that for me.

["Issues"Mcgee]

Cameron Dukes and Bryan Scott both looked good today. Scott looks like a human cannon, but Dukes was more mobile and seemed to me like the better QB all around.

[ArgoFan1]

The Argo uniforms are a disaster !!! I like the light blue, which they used a few years ago in some games, but the dark blue numbers with white outline were totally un-readable from my section. I had no clue who any of the guys were on the field, not even a number to follow. Would have been much better with white numbers and dark blue outline.

[Rich]

I liked what I saw squinting into my ipad. Man there is some kind of depth on this offence. Brissett had two great plays, I loved the jet sweep so well executed and he looks like he’s bulked up a little bit, great play I hope we see it a lot. And his catch in the endzone was sensational. I think he’s ready for the bright lights.

I was impressed by both BJ Byrd and Rajae Johnson, Byrd such a smooth player and Johnson at 6’4 220 pretty promising as a possession target. And Ungerer was a real surprise — but is there room for him and these other guys on the roster? What about McMahon, he’s got exceptional quickness inside, I’d love to watch this guy play this year, but will he have to beat out Leake to make the team?

The D looked a little soft, but I’m not worried about it. It’s a different unit when Muamba and Oakman are doing business. Stiggers is an intriguing prospect, that’s for sure.

[Will]

Upon seeing the jerseys up close at Real Sports and seeing them on the field, I am more than fine with them.

As for the game itself:

Kelly did not play due to elbow soreness, which the Coach says is nothing to worry about, but we fans are "paid" to worry about that type of stuff so have at it...this thrust Ben Holmes into taking the starter reps and he obviously didn't look great. He got Gittens hurt on a hospital ball and threw a couple of bad INT's. It might be nerves, but Dukes and Scott acquitted themselves better, albeit against Hamilton's depth players.

[Argo57]

Chad Kelly experiences tightness in his throwing arm before yesterdays pre-season game, major cause for concern considering their lack of experience and depth at that position.

https://3downnation.com/2023/05/28/e...to-the-ticats/