The Dirty Dozen - your all-time fave Argo defensive team

[OV Argo]

Ok, sorta inspired by the 12 days of Christmas ...

... your all-time fave Argo D players - guys you've seen play - based on mostly talent, but also Argo service, leadership, grit, etc.

Mine:

DE - Jim Corrigall, Ed Harrington

DT - Jim Stillwagon, Bruce Clark

MLB - Mike O'Shea

OLB - Wille Pless, Don Moen

CB - Eric Harris, Reggie Pleasant

D-half - Carl Brazley, Don Wilson

Safety - Marv Luster


Roast your chestnut picks on an open fire.

[ArgofanIan]

Zac Henderson and Granny Liggins.. Would be on my team... or are two of my all time favorite ARGO players...the list above is good but gotta find a spot for Granny and Zac.... LOL

[AngeloV]

DE: Jim Corrigal,Rodney Harding
DT: Harold Hallman, Shawn Oakman
LB: Pless, O'Shea, Martvious Houston
CB: Reggie Pleasant Ed Berry
HB: Carl Brazley; Kenny Wheaton
Safety: Lester Smith

Note:ruce Clark may have been the best interior lineman I have ever seen, but he wasn't here very long.

Lots of great ones, and I'd bet if I thought about it for another day, I would change my list.

[OV Argo]

Coulda been a few others at DE besides Harrington; Eiben could maybe replace Moen, but still love Donnie as an all-time Argo; McManis could take that spot too if he keeps playing for the Argos and Martavious Houston is up there too IMO. Harding played longer for the Argos (mostly at DT but also some DE ?), but Clark & Stillwagon for pure DT talent. Zac Henderson had the one huge season as an Argo safety, but Luster was superb and a long-time Argo.

[AngeloV]

Coulda been a few others at DE besides Harrington; Eiben could maybe replace Moen, but still love Donnie as an all-time Argo; McManis could take that spot too if he keeps playing for the Argos and Martavious Houston is up there too IMO. Harding played longer for the Argos (mostly at DT but also some DE ?), but Clark & Stillwagon for pure DT talent. Zac Henderson had the one huge season as an Argo safety, but Luster was superb and a long-time Argo.

I don't remember watching Stillwagon., but have heard others with the same point of view. I tried to keep it to guys I not only saw play, but also remember quite well. Corrigal was not only there when I first started watching in the late 70's, but also when I really started to understand what I was watching. I was born in 68, so I believe 1978 and on is when I really started paying attention.

[Will]

Great idea for off-season!

DE -- Jim Corrigall, Rodney Harding
DT -- Harold Hallman, Cleyon Laing
LB -- Mike O'Shea, Michael Fletcher, Kevin Eiben
CB -- Jamal Peters, Reggie Pleasant
HB -- Donnie Wilson, Ken Wheaton
S -- Orlondo Steinauer

[Shatto]

I can't argue with anyone's choices. They are all outstanding players. Personally, since I saw him play live, I would add Tricky Dick Thornton at DG.

[Shatto]

Whoops --meant DB

[ArgoRavi]

I don't remember watching Stillwagon., but have heard others with the same point of view. I tried to keep it to guys I not only saw play, but also remember quite well. Corrigal was not only there when I first started watching in the late 70's, but also when I really started to understand what I was watching. I was born in 68, so I believe 1978 and on is when I really started paying attention.

I was born a year after you, AV, and have a similar timeline. Corrigall was still a solid player by the late 1970s and early 1980s. Stillwagon was before my time also.

[OV Argo]

Wish I could name more Argos from the current century for this team - for the youngsters out there - but no can do (a few guys pretty close likely though).

[Argo57]

I was born a year after you, AV, and have a similar timeline. Corrigall was still a solid player by the late 1970s and early 1980s. Stillwagon was before my time also.

My father was a huge Jim Stillwagon fan, he was a dominant player who was never the same after injuring his knee taking part in “All Pro Countdown” a CFL skills competition featured on telecasts in the 1970’s.

[OV Argo]

Half of the picks on my D team there were drafted in the NFL - Luster, Corrigall, Stillwagon, Harris, Clark & Pleasant. And Don Wilson (safety and main kick returner for the Bills) and Brazley also played in the NFL. Pless was likely NFL written-off (a couple of try-outs I recall?) due to his size for a LB but could have easily played and helped a team there.

[ArgoRavi]

My father was a huge Jim Stillwagon fan, he was a dominant player who was never the same after injuring his knee taking part in “All Pro Countdown” a CFL skills competition featured on telecasts in the 1970’s.

I remember All Pro Countdown in the 1970s! That was entertaining. I guess they would tape it during the same week the pre-season all-star game would be played.

[OV Argo]

I remember All Pro Countdown in the 1970s! That was entertaining. I guess they would tape it during the same week the pre-season all-star game would be played.

There was also some sort of all-star events challenge into the 80s? I recall arm wrestling: Dieter Brock won the smaller guys (RBs, receivers, DBs) event; then went on to win the next round against bigger guys (LBs, fullbacks. etc.); but declined to try to take on the winner of the big guys category (linemen) - didn't want to get his throwing arm maybe broke; there was also QBs throwing into a moving target (basket mounted on a moving vehicle); some sort of races for fast guys too? . Fun stuff, that they could maybe try again ?

[Rich]

2nd in all-time Argo interceptions. You can’t leave Adrion Smith off this list.

[OV Argo]

2nd in all-time Argo interceptions. You can’t leave Adrion Smith off this list.

He was a better corner over Eric Harris, Pleasant, or Berry ?

[bluto]

2nd in all-time Argo interceptions. You can’t leave Adrion Smith off this list.

He was a better corner over Eric Harris, Pleasant, or Berry ?

I just always remember being awed by Byron Parker's athleticism. I'd always want him in my 12 somewhere.

[AngeloV]

He was a better corner over Eric Harris, Pleasant, or Berry ?

Agreed. Interceptions don't necessarily tell you how good a DB is. Even on the 96-97 team, I would say Donald Smith was the better CB. He never got beat.

[Will]

Agreed. Interceptions don't necessarily tell you how good a DB is. Even on the 96-97 team, I would say Donald Smith was the better CB. He never got beat.

Johnnie Harris was no slouch in that secondary as well.

[OV Argo]

And now for the Argo dirty dozen - Canadian edition:

DE - Corrigall & Glenn Kulka

DT - Noah Cantor & Cleyon Laing

LBs - O'Shea, Moen, Eiben

DBs - Ed Learn, Chip Barrett, Paul Bennett, Wayne Shaw, Jermaine Gabriel (note - the Argo D-backfield has featured some all-time great Canucks: John Wydraney - all-time great CFL safety started an Argo before going on to be a CFL all-star with the Esks: Laurent DesLauriers & Ken MacEachern played one Argo season after being CFL all-stars out West - pure talent wise all 3 would be on this team, but I'm going by more Argo valuable service)