2023-24 off-season transactions

[Skilz]

I'll be shocked if the starting o-line is anything other than Cage-Hunter-Ciraco-Nicastro-Allen. As good a prospect as Giffen is, I don't see him replacing either Hunter or Nicastro at guard. And bumping Hunter out to tackle, while opening an INT spot elsewhere, would mean there's a need for a capable backup NAT tackle. I don't see one of those on the roster or on the horizon.

Impending problems require creative solutions. We all thought Nicastro would be back at Centre after missing the previous season with a knee injury. Ciraco was practically a bargain basement FA last year, and was a plug and play starting centre forcing Nicastro to Guard.

Don't underestimate the ability for the Argonauts to scour for a backup NAT Tackle, much like Ciraco possibly looking to boost his value on a 1 year deal. A lack of backup tackle today shouldn't preclude the team from at least considering Hunter at OT.

https://3downnation.com/2024/01/31/2...nsive-linemen/

David Knevel or Sean Jameison can be the reclamation projects at Tackle.

[OV Argo]

Impending problems require creative solutions. We all thought Nicastro would be back at Centre after missing the previous season with a knee injury. Ciraco was practically a bargain basement FA last year, and was a plug and play starting centre forcing Nicastro to Guard.

Don't underestimate the ability for the Argonauts to scour for a backup NAT Tackle, much like Ciraco possibly looking to boost his value on a 1 year deal. A lack of backup tackle today shouldn't preclude the team from at least considering Hunter at OT.

https://3downnation.com/2024/01/31/2...nsive-linemen/

David Knevel or Sean Jameison can be the reclamation projects at Tackle.

Als' Landon Rice was a CFL all-star OT before getting injured and losing his starting job last season; older guy now but maybe could be signed for fairly cheap. Philip Blake is still in the Riders' plans it seems.

And you have to replace any injured starter with a back-up and those guys are often not as good as the starter they are replacing; why it's such a worry to some CFL observers with regards to Canadian starters, I don't really get. Must be a "numbers game" thing? Who's the superstar import OT who is going to replace Allen or Cage if they get hurt ?

[AngeloV]

Als' Landon Rice was a CFL all-star OT before getting injured and losing his starting job last season; older guy now but maybe could be signed for fairly cheap. Philip Blake is still in the Riders' plans it seems.

And you have to replace any injured starter with a back-up and those guys are often not as good as the starter they are replacing; why it's such a worry to some CFL observers with regards to Canadian starters, I don't really get. Must be a "numbers game" thing? Who's the superstar import OT who is going to replace Allen or Cage if they get hurt ?

If either one gets hurt, Hunter slides to tackle and Giffen at guard. To me, this is the best scenario having Giffen as your #6 o-lineman. Great depth and flexibility.

[OV Argo]

If either one gets hurt, Hunter slides to tackle and Giffen at guard. To me, this is the best scenario having Giffen as your #6 o-lineman. Great depth and flexibility.

Argos are smart enough to dress 2 back-up O-linemen; be nice to have one of them with some OT ability; but having one of your starting OGs quite able to slide out to OT if necessary is nice; and Giffen was an all-star OT at Western.

[paulwoods13]

Argos are smart enough to dress 2 back-up O-linemen; be nice to have one of them with some OT ability; but having one of your starting OGs quite able to slide out to OT if necessary is nice; and Giffen was an all-star OT at Western.

IMO the priorities for backups are, in order, 1a tackle, 1b centre, and 2 guard. Once you have 1a and 1b covered (which the Argos do with Hunter and Nicastro), the next need is someone who can fill in at guard. That's Giffen and MacKellar. IMO Giffen can also play tackle in a pinch, but if either Cage or Allen were to get injured during a game, Hunter would be my first choice as replacement. Then Giffen or MacKellar could replace Hunter.