2023-24 off-season transactions

[argolio]

My sources close to a team has told me that Ouellette will be signing with the Riders. I will believe it when I see it, however, a good source.

Not expecting him to return.

[paulwoods13]

Not expecting him to return.

I agree he's likely leaving. Don't sleep on the Argos going after Oliveira. He's the kind of personality Pinball would love to have here. That said, at the risk of sounding dismissive, I'm less worried about finding a new running back than I am about almost any other position. McMahon and Adeboboye are already on the roster, and we might be able to bring Leake back to play a role on offence. And there are a lot of good running backs coming out of colleges every year. Although there might be more blocking responsibility here, it's a position that should be relatively easy for an American to adapt to quickly.

[Rich]

I agree he's likely leaving. Don't sleep on the Argos going after Oliveira. He's the kind of personality Pinball would love to have here. That said, at the risk of sounding dismissive, I'm less worried about finding a new running back than I am about almost any other position. McMahon and Adeboboye are already on the roster, and we might be able to bring Leake back to play a role on offence. And there are a lot of good running backs coming out of colleges every year. Although there might be more blocking responsibility here, it's a position that should be relatively easy for an American to adapt to quickly.

Ah yes the old “dime-a-dozen” argument. If it was true, every team would have great backs like Ouellette and Oliviera. But not coincidentally, the two best teams had the two best backs.

Personally I’m intrigued by the prospect of Oliviera replacing AJ. Not only is it a ratio breaker, but I think Oliviera is a better back, and IMO even has the potential to become one of the all-time greats.

Oliviera is two years younger, is faster and evidently more durable than Ouellette.. He averaged almost 3 more carries per game, and behind this Argo O-line - including the run block specialist McKellar - I seriously think he could challenge 2000 yds rushing. No college rookie is ever going to come close to Oliviera’s proven level of production, and just imagine how that kind of production will open up Chad’s passing game even more.

As much as I love AJ, I would love even more to see Oliviera in double blue.

[ArgofanIan]

Ah yes the old “dime-a-dozen” argument. If it was true, every team would have great backs like Ouellette and Oliviera. But not coincidentally, the two best teams had the two best backs.

Personally I’m intrigued by the prospect of Oliviera replacing AJ. Not only is it a ratio breaker, but I think Oliviera is a better back, and IMO even has the potential to become one of the all-time greats.

Oliviera is two years younger, is faster and evidently more durable than Ouellette.. He averaged almost 3 more carries per game, and behind this Argo O-line - including the run block specialist McKellar - I seriously think he could challenge 2000 yds rushing. No college rookie is ever going to come close to Oliviera’s proven level of production, and just imagine how that kind of production will open up Chad’s passing game even more.

As much as I love AJ, I would love even more to see Oliviera in double blue.

I figure Montreal , Winnepeg and Toronto had Running games that in the end made them the superior teams. I felt bad for Crum and The BC quarterback last year... seemed like they were running for thier lives all year. Hope we can re sign AJ. Go ARGOS.

[AngeloV]

I figure Montreal , Winnepeg and Toronto had Running games that in the end made them the superior teams. I felt bad for Crum and The BC quarterback last year... seemed like they were running for thier lives all year. Hope we can re sign AJ. Go ARGOS.

Crumb had a 1,000 yard rusher in his back field. He ran for is life because he couldn't make quick reads, which is expected from a rookie. Probably made 1 read and if it wasn't there tucked the ball and ran.

[paulwoods13]

Ah yes the old “dime-a-dozen” argument. If it was true, every team would have great backs like Ouellette and Oliviera. But not coincidentally, the two best teams had the two best backs.

I don't know who said dime a dozen, but it wasn't me. But I do believe there are lots of good backs available every year. If memory serves, every CFL team had at least one decent one last year; some had two or even three of them. They're obviously not all at the level of Oliveira, but they don't have to be for a team to win a championship.

I would bet that the number of times the league's top two or three teams were also the top two or three rushing teams over the past 40 years is pretty low. Last year might have been the outlier.

And I do believe that of all positions on a football team, RB (along with long snapper and maybe punter) is probably the easiest to transition to from American football. Receivers and DBs have to adjust to the waggle and the wider spacing, linemen on both sides have to adapt to a yard off the ball, LBs have different coverage responsibilities in Canada, place-kickers have wider hashmarks, and of course QBs have all kinds of differences to get used to. I believe a new RB can be plugged in more easily than any other position.