Game Thread: Toronto Argonauts @ Edmonton Elks

[AngeloV]

The trio of Ouellette, Harris and Adeboboye was effective at RB rushing 31 times for 165 times.

Also of note, the Argos two leading receivers were David Ungerer III and Dejon Brissett who are both Canadians. Way to step up for Kurleigh guys.

Ungerer did not surprise me. I was really happy when the Argos signed him. He’s also a good returner, and I think the Argos should give him a shot there. Brissett has so much talent, and can be a great receiver. I think the only thing holding him back are mental mistakes. Kelly should have had a TD pass to him on a short crossing route near the goal line, but Brissett stopped and sat in the hole. Kelly looked pissed coming off the field. He also seemed to lose the ball on an early corner route which was a great throw. If he can eliminate these types of mistakes, he can be a star.

[paulwoods13]

Not sur if Giffen has surpassed MacKellar. I think it all had to do with where they practice, with Giffen practicing at RG and MacKellar at LG. With Nicastro moving to C from RG, Giffen drew in.

That is absolutely a possibility. Whatever the circumstance, IMO the line played better last night than any game I can remember in recent years, and the interior seemed particularly strong. For what it's worth, when Cage got hurt, they bumped Hunter out to LT and put Mackellar in at LG. For the record, Ciraco's game-time scratch meant Brayden Noll moved off the PR and will get a game cheque.

[Shatto]

It does now appear Oakman was a healthy scratch. Both Brinkman and Hendrix are excellent DTs but IMO Oakman has superior athletic skills. Perhaps he takes the occasional snap off --who knows but it was apparently a ratio issue.

If Williams and Smith are unable to play in the upcoming game, the team will have to do some juggling for sake of the ratio.

[Will]

Oakman got banged up in the Hamilton game, but returned to that game.

Ben Grant explained on his podcast that Oakman's absence had something to do with the Gittens injury.

[paulwoods13]

It does now appear Oakman was a healthy scratch. Both Brinkman and Hendrix are excellent DTs but IMO Oakman has superior athletic skills. Perhaps he takes the occasional snap off --who knows but it was apparently a ratio issue.

If Williams and Smith are unable to play in the upcoming game, the team will have to do some juggling for sake of the ratio.

If it was solely a ratio issue, they could have sat Barlow. That would have still left two backup/rotation DEs in Smith and Marion. Luckily Barlow was dressed and made a sack. DT is a position of great depth, with the three Americans plus Acheampong and the increasingly impressive Knight. It did appear to me that at least one NAT (mostly Acheampong or Knight) was in on every snap most of the night, which reinforced my belief Williams was out of the game. Someone reported on Twitter that the Argos had put up their injury tent, I'm guessing that was for either Williams or Smith.

[paulwoods13]

Oakman got banged up in the Hamilton game, but returned to that game.

Ben Grant explained on his podcast that Oakman's absence had something to do with the Gittens injury.

Oakman seemed to get his eye poked against Hamilton, but possibly suffered another injury on the same play -- he was down on the ground for a while.

[OV Argo]

Oakman got banged up in the Hamilton game, but returned to that game.

Ben Grant explained on his podcast that Oakman's absence had something to do with the Gittens injury.

Zero reason for this Argo team to have any ratio problem issues. And why on earth would any coaching staff sit proven Oakman over lesser DTs unless it was a discipline issue or he is injured and not 100% ? "Gittens injury" ??? - would have zero real reason to do with sitting Oakman

Cassar could easily start at MLB; yesterday proved they were fine with 2 Canadian receivers and could easily go 3 when Gittens returns; Hunter could kick-out to OT with Gifffen, MacKellar (Bladek) capable of manning the interior along with Nicastro & Ciraco; 4 experienced now Canadians to play in the D-line rotation. Harris & Adeobobye at RB.

This Argo team could easily start 10 or 11 Nationals and beat up on some weak CFL teams who do like to bleat about possible "ratio problems"/ excuses and see 7 only need apply thinking.

[ArgoRavi]

If it was solely a ratio issue, they could have sat Barlow. That would have still left two backup/rotation DEs in Smith and Marion. Luckily Barlow was dressed and made a sack. DT is a position of great depth, with the three Americans plus Acheampong and the increasingly impressive Knight. It did appear to me that at least one NAT (mostly Acheampong or Knight) was in on every snap most of the night, which reinforced my belief Williams was out of the game. Someone reported on Twitter that the Argos had put up their injury tent, I'm guessing that was for either Williams or Smith.

I asked Ben Grant about Williams and Smith. Ben said that Smith was rotated in throughout the entire game so he isn't aware of any injury there. Williams, on the other hand, was injured on the first Edmonton TD and tried playing a couple of special teams snaps after that before sitting out the remainder of the game.

[Rich]

would have been a good opportunity to give Scott some playing time. (Even when they did score, it might have still been a good opportunity.)

Cam Dukes is listed 2nd on the depth chart, plus he inexplicably is replacing Kelly on short yardage, looks like he’s next man up right now.

[Rich]

Love the way Chad Kelly is playing. He looks like a keeper.

I thought Kelly gave a MBT-like performance against the Elks, some beautiful passes, some terrible passes, and a lot of grit.

But not too many QBs on the planet have the combination of strength, speed, vision and touch that Kelly showed on that Ungerer TD.

I think Kelly will get a lot better, but if he doesn’t, I’ll take a few terrible passes in exchange for some spectacular plays like that.

[paulwoods13]

I asked Ben Grant about Williams and Smith. Ben said that Smith was rotated in throughout the entire game so he isn't aware of any injury there. Williams, on the other hand, was injured on the first Edmonton TD and tried playing a couple of special teams snaps after that before sitting out the remainder of the game.

That's good to hear re Smith altho he sure wasn't visible on TV. Williams would be a big loss.

[paulwoods13]

Cam Dukes is listed 2nd on the depth chart, plus he inexplicably is replacing Kelly on short yardage, looks like he’s next man up right now.

I doubt that. Dukes was also the short-yardage guy in Week 1 when he was listed as third on the chart. Teams traditionally and typically use third-stringer on sneaks, going back at least as far as 2017 when Fajardo held that role for Argos. I firmly believe the org is higher on Scott than on Dukes, although presumably neither guy gets a lot of reps in practice.

[AngeloV]

But not too many QBs on the planet have the combination of strength, speed, vision and touch that Kelly showed on that Ungerer TD.

I am very happy with the way Kelly has played, but the TD to Ungerer had nothing to do with touch. He was so wide open Kelly just lofted it up so as not to miss him as well he should have. Ungerer had to wait for the ball.

[ArgoGabe22]

When was the last time we had such a balanced offence with an actual run game?

[OV Argo]

When was the last time we had such a balanced offence with an actual run game?

More run play calls than pass plays in a game is mind-boggling in the modern CFL and to GOB offence minds; mind you, the excuse is going to be that the Argos had a decent lead and so would want to run more to grind the clock or control the ball, but that's total B$ excuse, as the same thing would apply in a close game even if you were behind some. We shall see if the strong ground game continues; AJO is a beast; Harris still can do it; and Adeboboye is another ground weapon and change of pace different style back. Run sets up the pass too.

[paulwoods13]

When was the last time we had such a balanced offence with an actual run game?

Maybe at times in late 2017 when Wilder was going, and before that maybe when Jenkins was here. But yeah, it's extremely rare.

[Rich]

the TD to Ungerer had nothing to do with touch. He was so wide open Kelly just lofted it up so as not to miss him as well he should have. Ungerer had to wait for the ball.

Kelly was running forward which is great if you want to haul off a bomb or fire a bullet, but makes it harder to float one in. It looks like he takes a little leap while running to get enough loft on the throw, and that’s got at least something to do with touch.

[Rich]

I doubt that. Dukes was also the short-yardage guy in Week 1 when he was listed as third on the chart. Teams traditionally and typically use third-stringer on sneaks, going back at least as far as 2017 when Fajardo held that role for Argos. I firmly believe the org is higher on Scott than on Dukes, although presumably neither guy gets a lot of reps in practice.

I think most of us agreed that Scott looked better in the preseason, so that’s a good reason to believe that he’s the #2 guy. But shouldn’t the short-yardage QB be the guy best physically suited for the job? That was #3 Fajardo in 17 and #2 Kelly in 22. Do we really want to blow a short yardage play at a crucial time this year without our best short yardage guy in there?

[paulwoods13]

I think most of us agreed that Scott looked better in the preseason, so that’s a good reason to believe that he’s the #2 guy. But shouldn’t the short-yardage QB be the guy best physically suited for the job? That was #3 Fajardo in 17 and #2 Kelly in 22. Do we really want to blow a short yardage play at a crucial time this year without our best short yardage guy in there?

I agree. Dukes looks like a creative runner, but he is too small IMO for the short-yardage role. I don't want Kelly taking unnecessary hits, so it should be someone else. The problem with using Scott (assuming he's physically suited to the task) is that it exposes him to injury risk, which is less than ideal since he's our best hope if Kelly were to get hurt. Ideally we'd bring in someone better equipped for short yardage, and let Dukes marinate for a year on the practice roster. It's worth remembering that last year the Argos started with Austin Simmons as the short-yardage guy, until that failed in Game 2. And after that, it was several more weeks before Kelly took over from MBT on short yardage.

[Argo57]

Maybe at times in late 2017 when Wilder was going, and before that maybe when Jenkins was here. But yeah, it's extremely rare.

I would add Chad Kackert to that list, he ran very effectively for the Argonauts after taking over from Cory Boyd.