Game Thread: Toronto Argonauts @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats

[paulwoods13]

They look like they are already motivated by trying to have one of the greatest seasons in League history, as they should be.

If that was truly a group priority, don't you think they'd step on the throats of opponents when they are down, rather than easing off the gas for two quarters? Also, wanting a historic won-loss record seems distinctly at odds with the oft-stated "1-0" mantra.

[OV Argo]

They look like they are already motivated by trying to have one of the greatest seasons in League history, as they should be.

Yeah ! - love to see it.

They are being challenged by some injuries - like Brinkman and in the secondary. But they can still look to play great football and possibly go a season with just one or two losses. Lots of depth on this team - receivers, O-line, RB - so work that smartly and still play at a very high level. Not sure what the story is on Henoc, but if he could come back, and sooner than later, that adds a key, veteran player to help make the D even better for down the stretch. Coasting into first place would be nice, but resting too many guys and not maintaining the edge as a dominant team might not be good for the play-offs. But I would definitely sit Kelly and a bunch of other key starters for the last reg. season game if it is meaningless in the standings. Looking forward to a back-to-back smack down of an average at best Als team.

[Waffle]

No one seems too worried that bye weeks take away the "winning edge" from teams and I have never seen any stats that suggest teams coming off bye weeks do more poorly than teams playing several games in a row. Everyone knows that the Argos will be playing several weekly games without a break to end the season.

I don't think anyone has suggested that the Argos rest all their starters for a game or more, only "strategically resting" a player or two here and there. Apparently the hot weather is supposed to persist in southern Ontario, and some of the Argos linemen looked pretty tired out at the end of the Hamilton game so I wonder how much will be taken out of them if the Montreal game is that hot.

[Stevoman]

So great to see this team go 9-1. Also happy to see this uniform combo. Probably my favourite of the season so far (except for all the players not wearing socks...but I get it...it was hot!)

[Rich]

If that was truly a group priority, don't you think they'd step on the throats of opponents when they are down, rather than easing off the gas for two quarters?

I think if they could step on opponents’ throats they would, but they’re not quite there yet. Becoming a dominant team takes time and I’m sure they’re working on closing games better and faster.

[Rich]

So great to see this team go 9-1. Also happy to see this uniform combo. Probably my favourite of the season so far (except for all the players not wearing socks...but I get it...it was hot!)

I agree completely, its was a classic old-school look, and we’ve all seen them get killed on LD wearing unis similar to those, making this win just that little bit sweeter.

[Rich]

No one seems too worried that bye weeks take away the "winning edge" from teams and I have never seen any stats that suggest teams coming off bye weeks do more poorly than teams playing several games in a row. Everyone knows that the Argos will be playing several weekly games without a break to end the season.

No but you can’t lose a game in a bye week, and losing a game puts a dent in your “winning edge”.

I agree with the idea of strategically resting players. I just don’t agree with the idea that wins and losses don’t matter if we clinched 1st, and I would bet that many players and fans don’t agree either.

Every athlete grows up dreaming about being on a team that wins all its games. For the players it’s a once-in-a-career chance to not just live the dream, but to leave a mark in the record books for all time.

As a fan of this team for many, many years — watching many, many shitty Argonaut seasons — it would make me very very happy to see the most wins by an Argonaut team ever. And of course another Cup. ;-)

[Waffle]

The Argos have won all their games after a bye week. They didn't loose their winning edge after they lost in Calgary.

The Argos have rotated players into and out of the lineup all year, so some players have sat out games already.

I do agree that sitting out some players is bad for the fans, but if some guy is nicked up and an extra week of less contact will get them healthier for championship games, I would not be disappointed about it. I would certainly agree that sitting out players in the division final in anticipation that you are going to be in the Grey Cup game would be a terrible idea.

If the Argos continue to be successful it will be interesting to see how the coaches handle it.

Long time Argo fans haven't forgotten 1982 (Argos finished first and lost the Grey Cup game).

[paulwoods13]

I agree with the idea of strategically resting players. I just don’t agree with the idea that wins and losses don’t matter if we clinched 1st, and I would bet that many players and fans don’t agree either.

I guarantee that even when/if they start resting guys because first place is clinched, Dinwiddie and staff will be expecting players to play to win, and players themselves will feel the same way. No matter who's in the lineup, and with the talent and depth this team has, there's no reason they can't play to win even when giving a few guys a rest.

It's also worth noting that of the five really dominant regular-season teams in the past five decades, only two of them won the Eastern Final easily. They were life and death to win in 1983 and 1997, and lost in 1988.

[argolio]

Thanks again for having us. It was a great get together as always, made even better with the affection from your beautiful puppy Luna.

^ What he said.

Dog beat me two out of three falls.

[AngeloV]

Every athlete grows up dreaming about being on a team that wins all its games. For the players it’s a once-in-a-career chance to not just live the dream, but to leave a mark in the record books for all time.

Kind of a moot point, since they can't win all their game this year, no?

Anyway, I am glad their last 2 games are on the road. This way, it won't sting so much when they sit a lot of their starters should they clinch early. Always sucks when that happens at a home game.

[Rich]

Kind of a moot point, since they can't win all their game this year, no?
.

Losing one, or even two games, is still quite historic and a once-in-a-career thing, no?

[AngeloV]

Losing one, or even two games, is still quite historic and a once-in-a-career thing, no?

Of course it would be nice, but I would rather lose 4 or 5 and win the Cup. I'm sure the Bombers would have made that trade last year.

[bluto]

Of course it would be nice, but I would rather lose 4 or 5 and win the Cup. I'm sure the Bombers would have made that trade last year.

Boy howdy!

[AngeloV]

Boy howdy!

And Hamilton in 2019, but that would have destroyed our taunts of them not winning this century.

[bluto]

And Hamilton in 2019, but that would have destroyed our taunts of them not winning this century.

Flutie forbid.

[Mocha]

Our three guys who came out on top of the Pro Stats Canada rankings for Week 13:

[ArgoRavi]

And Hamilton in 2019, but that would have destroyed our taunts of them not winning this century.

It's amazing that the Ticats were 15-3 with Dane Evans at QB for most of the season.

[Will]

It's amazing that the Ticats were 15-3 with Dane Evans at QB for most of the season.

He played well that season.

[ArgoRavi]

He played well that season.

He was supposed to be the next big thing at QB.