No arguments about those being great multi-year teams, but IMO the discussion is and should be about single-season performance. We are not talking about the 2022-23 Argos, or the 2023-2027 Argos, but about this year's team. The 1996 and 1997 Argos had many common elements, as did the 1978-82 Eskimos, but they also had lineup changes every season. IMO the 1997 Argos were a much stronger team than the 1996 Argos, even though they had identical records.
Year of the Rocket: John Candy, Wayne Gretzky, a Crooked Tycoon, and the Craziest Season in Football History (https://sutherlandhousebooks.com/pro...of-the-rocket/)
Bouncing Back: From National Joke to Grey Cup Champs (https://bit.ly/3fvip5x)
YOTR YouTube https://bit.ly/37jtG4f
BB YouTube https://bit.ly/2TSYPs7
Ok, so I'd go with the 68 Ottawa Rough Riders, 84 Bombers, 82 EE, & 97 Argos as single best single season teams - all GC winners and each team loaded with all-star or HOF type talent - and these twin factors are the best markers IMO.
If it was just about measuring wins in total on the season, then this 16 & 2 team if it wins the East & GC would be 18 & 2 in total, and thus gets the award ? I just don't see this Argo team (especially with some key players out with injury/whatever) as anywhere near as proven talented as those teams I list above.
Doesn't this make what the Argos have done (so far) this year even more impressive?
One thing I will say unequivocally is that this is the deepest team I have ever seen in Canadian professional football, regardless of what happens in the post-season. Of course, roster size is much larger today than it was back in the 1980s or 1990s but it's still amazing to see how deep this Argos team is.
Cameron Dukes + Dan Adeboboye + Kevin Mital + David Ungerer + Damonte Coxie + DaVaris Daniels + Dejon Brissett = Unstoppable Force
This Argo coaching staff is just far superior to those on most other teams in the league IMO; and that, much more than talent or depth on the roster, is what makes them league best, IMO. The factor of coaching smarts: game plans, play-book & calling, adjustments AND roster selection/deployment - is just not appreciated enough for the game of football, IMO. Dinwiddie & Mace, and co. over-match/dominate all other teams (except maybe the Bombers) in football smarts.
As good as the Argos are, I have to say that the rest of the league has just not been very good this season. Aside from Winnipeg and B.C. the rest of the teams were really bad. Amazing the depth on this Argo team though. The real season begins in two weeks and then we'll see if they are contenders for the best Argo team ever.
Pardon the self-quote.
I hereby rescind my prior outrage at the thread topic.
We've done 16-2 and now face 2 do-or-die games. If we win both, then yes it is the single greatest season in CFL history.
That's what is on offer here. A season for the ages. My stress level will be sky high from here until our final snap is played out.
#MAKEARGONAUTSGREATAGAIN
Will pointed out recently that this season is not dissimilar to 1983. Toronto, BC, and Winnipeg were the only winning teams in the league that year with Ottawa, Edmonton, and Calgary all coming in at .500. The Argos faced 5-10-1 Hamilton in the East Final in what was, arguably, the greatest game ever played.
Cameron Dukes + Dan Adeboboye + Kevin Mital + David Ungerer + Damonte Coxie + DaVaris Daniels + Dejon Brissett = Unstoppable Force
Please avoid starting these stupid threads in future.
TORONTO ARGONAUTS FOOTBALL CLUB
GREY CUP CHAMPIONS: 1914, 1921, 1933, 1937, 1938, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1952, 1983, 1991, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2012, 2017, 2022
The question has been answered.
So what’s a better season? 2023 unbelievable season record and cleaning up on the player awards or just winning the damn thing in 2022 regardless of what happened in the season?
Argos Season Ticket Holder 2016-2021.
Winning the championship is all that matters, especially when going 16-2 in the regular season.
I didn’t feel any sense of moral victory walking out of BMO last weekend.
Toronto Argonauts
18 Time World Champions
But I had more fun watching the games this season than last season. So although we won the Grey Cup last year, with the exception of the Eastern Final this season, for me personally it was more fun to watch the Argos!! The depth and the talent of the team this year was outstanding and even though they won 16 games, many of the games were very competitive and really fun matches to watch!
Last edited by kellynjk; 11-18-2023 at 09:35 PM.
I personally had way more fun in 2022. This year was absurdly stress-free, which means way too little emotion was generated or needed. And winning the Grey Cup after some of the early-season turmoil last year was about as satisfying as it gets, for me at least.
Year of the Rocket: John Candy, Wayne Gretzky, a Crooked Tycoon, and the Craziest Season in Football History (https://sutherlandhousebooks.com/pro...of-the-rocket/)
Bouncing Back: From National Joke to Grey Cup Champs (https://bit.ly/3fvip5x)
YOTR YouTube https://bit.ly/37jtG4f
BB YouTube https://bit.ly/2TSYPs7
The Argos have been historically boom and then bust. If it wasn't for Terry Baker having a bad game in 97, the Argos could have very realistically lost the Eastern Final that year too and then still lose a lot of their talent to free agency afterwards. That team was loaded with talent but needed a little luck as well but they were the only team in my lifetime to follow a championship season with another strong performance. For me, it was huge for the Argos to have an excellent season following a Grey Cup win. 1992 and 2018 were especially bad seasons following a championship. 2005 was good as was 2013 but the Argos went from good to great after last year's win. Obviously the Grey Cup is even better but I was just so happy to see them become a way better team this year. I agree that they didn't face enough adversity along the way and Kelly came unglued when it mattered most. We'll see if he has the mental toughness in the future.
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