How to play the final six games

[paulwoods13]

There has already been some discussion about what the Argos should do if they wrapped up first place early. Now that it has happened, seems time to expand that discussion.

Here's what I would do.

Anyone who has a semi-serious nagging injury at the moment gets next week (home against Hamilton) off. This assumes there is an adequate, healthy replacement waiting in the wings, of course. For a few positions (NAT receiver and INT DB) there is just about no one else available at the moment.

Play as much of our primary lineup as possible in Winnipeg. That's a statement game and we need all hands on deck.

The next two games (home vs. Edm and home vs. Ott) are when we should really roll out some replacements. There will be no competitive balance issues as those teams are out of contention anyway. Let starters (on O, D and ST) who have played most or all games this year get one week off. There are two games, so these strategic rests can be spread around without flooding the lineup with backups. Have Kelly play no more than a quarter in each game, and give both Dukes and Scott serious playing time. Let AJ sit for McMahon, let Pickett sit, let Flo sit, etc.

For the second-last game against Sask, dress and play as full a lineup as possible, but be prepared to go to backups if anyone gets even slightly nicked.

The final game against Ott, start the starters but play backups (including Dukes/Scott) for two to three quarters.

Do everything possible to get Priester and Carnell some playing time down the stretch. In theory, that should also apply to Bladek and Muamba. But my guess is that those two will be used only if we run into serious emergencies at their positions. We have now saved two-thirds of each guy's salary, and the team is 11-1 without them. Why not try to save the final third by keeping them on the six for the rest of the season? It would make them essentially unavailable for the playoffs, but the salary savings are significant and could be used as signing bonus for some guys we need to try to re-sign (like the young NATs coming to the end of their rookie contracts -- Cassar, Hoyte, Nield, Brissett, Giffen).

[Will]

I think they should try to field as full a lineup as possible against Edmonton, because it is the 150th anniversary game.

[AngeloV]

To me, it’s important to field their best healthy line up for all remaining home games. Got to take care of your paying customers. The only game I would sit healthy starters is the season finale in Ottawa.
It’s nice to not have the last game at home this year. It seems like this usually happens in seasons where they clinch first and May we never see another game like 2021 game against Edmonton

[paulwoods13]

The best healthy lineup might mean giving Kelly all of the snaps at QB. Is keeping fans happy really worth the risk of not having backup QBs who have faced live fire?

[ArgoRavi]

Salary cap considerations are important too and will come into play regarding just how much resting the Argos can do.

[Argo57]

The best healthy lineup might mean giving Kelly all of the snaps at QB. Is keeping fans happy really worth the risk of not having backup QBs who have faced live fire?

I would play Kelly for the first half of each game for the rest of the schedule, Dukes and Scott would play the second half.
Play Kelly just enough to stay sharp while minimizing the risk and provide some much needed playing time for Dukes and Scott.

[paulwoods13]

Salary cap considerations are important too and will come into play regarding just how much resting the Argos can do.

That's a big reason I don't expect we will see Muamba or Bladek before the Eastern Final (if at all). That's probably something like $300k in "savings" that can be applied elsewhere. The added cost in many cases is not gigantic. If you bump a guy from the PR to the roster for a game, he's going from whatever PR players get paid (let's say $1,000 a week) to about $4,000. So an increase of about $3,000 over what you were paying the two players when one was active and one was on PR.

[Waffle]

The Argos were over the salary cap last year by almost $50,000 and were fined that amount as I recall. As long as they don’t go over by $100K they don’t loose their place in the draft order as far as I know.


So, I think it would be important to look at areas where you might be thin, and try to get your injury list escapees and backups up to game speed there. To me that would be defensive backs and the offensive line, esp left tackle as who knows how healthy Cage will be.

[Scooter McCray]

I'd like to see them field their best lineup at the 150th game because I'm hoping there will be a large crowd. And also against Winnipeg and in their second to last game. Sit as many as possible in last game and in the other 2 games. So 3 games go for it, 3 games take a good look at younger guys.

[ArgoRavi]

That's a big reason I don't expect we will see Muamba or Bladek before the Eastern Final (if at all). That's probably something like $300k in "savings" that can be applied elsewhere. The added cost in many cases is not gigantic. If you bump a guy from the PR to the roster for a game, he's going from whatever PR players get paid (let's say $1,000 a week) to about $4,000. So an increase of about $3,000 over what you were paying the two players when one was active and one was on PR.

I was thinking about this today, after seeing this thread that you started, Paul, and came to the conclusion that we won't see Bladek on the field at all this season unless there is a run of o-line injuries. I also suspect now that we won't see Muamba either.

[paulwoods13]

We now know how they are approaching the first of the six games (vs. Ham): basically the regular roster minus Ouellette, Harris and Cage. The latter two both got injured vs. Mtl and likely would be out regardless; Ouellette may (hopefully) just be banged up after 12 games and need a week off.

We'll see if the Argos play the backup QBs at all tomorrow, but I doubt we will see that before the Edm game at the earliest. This week's game, and next week's, both have major implications in the standings (for other teams, not the Argos). By the Edm game, Elks might or might not be officially out of contention. Ott almost certainly will be by the time we play them in three weeks, so that game (and the season closer at Ott) will likely be a great opportunity to rest guys and give playing time to inexperienced players and backups. Sask might or might not have something to play for in Week 20, so we might want most hands on deck for that one.

It will be interesting to see how conservatively the Argos play starting tomorrow. They likely won't want to reveal their full playbook over the final six weeks, but it's tricky to balance that with trying to win and trying to get meaningful snaps for guys like Dukes and Scott.

[AngeloV]

We now know how they are approaching the first of the six games (vs. Ham): basically the regular roster minus Ouellette, Harris and Cage. The latter two both got injured vs. Mtl and likely would be out regardless; Ouellette may (hopefully) just be banged up after 12 games and need a week off.

We'll see if the Argos play the backup QBs at all tomorrow, but I doubt we will see that before the Edm game at the earliest. This week's game, and next week's, both have major implications in the standings (for other teams, not the Argos). By the Edm game, Elks might or might not be officially out of contention. Ott almost certainly will be by the time we play them in three weeks, so that game (and the season closer at Ott) will likely be a great opportunity to rest guys and give playing time to inexperienced players and backups. Sask might or might not have something to play for in Week 20, so we might want most hands on deck for that one.

It will be interesting to see how conservatively the Argos play starting tomorrow. They likely won't want to reveal their full playbook over the final six weeks, but it's tricky to balance that with trying to win and trying to get meaningful snaps for guys like Dukes and Scott.

I hope we don't see the back up QB's until the last 2 games of the season. They owe it to their fans to play their best for the home games.

[paulwoods13]

I hope we don't see the back up QB's until the last 2 games of the season. They owe it to their fans to play their best for the home games.

I would argue they owe it to their fans to maximize the chances of winning the championship. Look at 2004 -- they sat out almost everybody in the final home game and got crushed by Montreal, but two weeks later they upset the Als to get to the Grey Cup. I didn't like watching a bunch of scrubs surrender 58 points at home, but in the grand scheme it was the right decision.

[AngeloV]

I would argue they owe it to their fans to maximize the chances of winning the championship. Look at 2004 -- they sat out almost everybody in the final home game and got crushed by Montreal, but two weeks later they upset the Als to get to the Grey Cup. I didn't like watching a bunch of scrubs surrender 58 points at home, but in the grand scheme it was the right decision.

Right, but that was the last game of the year. I already am suggesting they use the last 2 games (on the road) to do this.

You can also argue they did this in 2021 against Edmonton and they were upset in the Eastern Final. There really is no exact science here. I stand by my feelings they need to play as close to their best at home. We only get 8 home games a year, and nobody wants to lose more than the one they already give up on a yearly basis.

[paulwoods13]

Right, but that was the last game of the year. I already am suggesting they use the last 2 games (on the road) to do this.

You can also argue they did this in 2021 against Edmonton and they were upset in the Eastern Final. There really is no exact science here. I stand by my feelings they need to play as close to their best at home. We only get 8 home games a year, and nobody wants to lose more than the one they already give up on a yearly basis.

You make valid points. On the other/other hand, doing it only for the last two games risks putting the team out of rhythm/kilter heading into the playoffs. I'd rather see a close-to-full lineup for at least part of the last game than use it for wholesale resting.

I still think they need to give a bunch of guys a game off, spread judiciously over the last five games (with Ouellette the only one being fully rested this wk) and make sure that the two young QBs get some real playing time before the season ends, preferably with a reasonably decent lineup around them.

[AngeloV]

You make valid points. On the other/other hand, doing it only for the last two games risks putting the team out of rhythm/kilter heading into the playoffs. I'd rather see a close-to-full lineup for at least part of the last game than use it for wholesale resting.

I still think they need to give a bunch of guys a game off, spread judiciously over the last five games (with Ouellette the only one being fully rested this wk) and make sure that the two young QBs get some real playing time before the season ends, preferably with a reasonably decent lineup around them.

I don't disagree with your last point. Sitting out Oulette this week is a start. I would sit McManis,Orimilade and Pickett for a game here or there as well, but not at the same time. You still should be trying to win your games. I just don't want to see a game like the season finale against Edmonton from '21 again, especially at home.

[Will]

I don't disagree with your last point. Sitting out Oulette this week is a start. I would sit McManis,Orimilade and Pickett for a game here or there as well, but not at the same time. You still should be trying to win your games. I just don't want to see a game like the season finale against Edmonton from '21 again, especially at home.

BMO Field has some awful hot chocolate.

[ArgoRavi]

I don't disagree with your last point. Sitting out Oulette this week is a start. I would sit McManis,Orimilade and Pickett for a game here or there as well, but not at the same time. You still should be trying to win your games. I just don't want to see a game like the season finale against Edmonton from '21 again, especially at home.

I still have nightmares over that game. I don't think a meaningless game has pissed me off more.

[kellynjk]

Interesting that the tv pundits covering the Toronto vs. Hamilton game tonight said that in talking to Dinwiddie he says that we'll see Chad Kelly playing 4 of the last 6 games (so who knows maybe one of the games against Ottawa and also Saskatchewan - I'd say Edmonton, but as others have noted, they'll probably want to put on a special game for the 150th). Dinwiddie also said that he'd rest and rotate others from game to game. So I think pretty much what people anticipated.

[ArgoRavi]

Interesting that the tv pundits covering the Toronto vs. Hamilton game tonight said that in talking to Dinwiddie he says that we'll see Chad Kelly playing 4 of the last 6 games (so who knows maybe one of the games against Ottawa and also Saskatchewan - I'd say Edmonton, but as others have noted, they'll probably want to put on a special game for the 150th). Dinwiddie also said that he'd rest and rotate others from game to game. So I think pretty much what people anticipated.

I suspect that Kelly won't play the final game in Ottawa - MBT sat the regular season finale in both 2021 and 2022. Which other game does Kelly not play? I think it will either be next week's game in Winnipeg or the final home game against Ottawa. Dinwiddie may be thinking that Ottawa won't have anything to play for in either game that the Argos play against them so it may just be the Ottawa games that Kelly sits.