Who will be our starting tailback on June 26th?

[Wobbler]

A squad led by Ricky Ray will always be pass-first, but the RB position is still important on most downs. Kackert's health is unclear, and we have several new challengers this year in any case.

[Argocister]

I dont know about June 26th ..... but I bet its Coombs in Winnipeg for the pre-season. (which I'm hoping gets played as it looks like the earliest they can walk in alberta is the 10th?)

[ArgoRavi]

I am pretty sure it won't be Kackert.

[Wobbler]

The correct answer is (2) Curtis Steele.

[Argo57]

Wouldn't be surprised if Kackert misses the whole season.

[gilthethrill]

Steve Slaton...Jeremiah Johnson will beat out Curtis Steele for a roster spot...Coombs will be on the active roster and contributing. Kackert's injury will keep him out most of the season.

[Argo57]

Steve Slaton...Jeremiah Johnson will beat out Curtis Steele for a roster spot...Coombs will be on the active roster and contributing. Kackert's injury will keep him out most of the season.

Agree with you regarding Steele, durability a major question mark with him.

[gilthethrill]

Agree with you regarding Steele, durability a major question mark with him.

I thought Steele played well on special teams, but other than having a good game against BC, he looked average at best.

[ArgoGabe22]

Kackert's injury is the biggest mystery. I haven't heard anything though my brother missed the perfect opportunity when he sat in the sauna with Kack.

[Argo]

Steve Slaton...Jeremiah Johnson will beat out Curtis Steele for a roster spot...Coombs will be on the active roster and contributing. Kackert's injury will keep him out most of the season.

... +1 ...

[gilthethrill]

... +1 ...

Thanks for the support Argo...but please bear in mind that my track record of player predictions is approximately 4 percent correct....meaning I am incorrect 96 percent of the time!!!

[OV Argo]

Argos have a bunch of smaller type tailbacks (short guys but farily stout - in the 200 pound range), in the same mold as Kackert; Slaton and Johnson are hardly big power back types; Coombs is a smaller type tailback; might have been nice to have a bigger bull of a tailback in the mix; Anthony Woodson is the big guy of the group at 215.

I'll guess that it is between Johnson & Slaton - whoever shows most at TC - to start till Kackert is ready. Gillanders and Woodson, along with Coombs, were very good, productive CIS tailbacks - be nice to see them get a shot at some playing time; even as part-time, change of pace or spell the starter types - with 2 or 3 of those guys available on the game roster, can't see any need to carry 2 import backs, unless they are both outstanding.. Hope there is some commtitment to a ground game this year.

[Johno27]

We now know it won't be Chad Kackert...ever...He has retired to become the new Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Argos. He will be missed on the field!

http://www.argonauts.ca/article/toronto-argonauts-name-chad-kackert-strength-conditioning-coach

[Argo]

Thanks for the support Argo...but please bear in mind that my track record of player predictions is approximately 4 percent correct....meaning I am incorrect 96 percent of the time!!!

Mutual Fund Disclaimer: "Past performance does not guarantee future results..."

[Argo]

Kackert's retirement is anything but surprising.

[Argo57]

We now know it won't be Chad Kackert...ever...He has retired to become the new Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Argos. He will be missed on the field!

http://www.argonauts.ca/article/toronto-argonauts-name-chad-kackert-strength-conditioning-coach

Pretty short but successful career!!
Humble guy will be missed on the field.
Class move by the Argonaut organization to keep involved with the team.

[Stevoman]

Disappointed that his career is done but I agree that this was a classy move by the Argos to hire him in some capacity. His "do what it takes to help the team" attitude will hopefully still be instilled in the players around him but unfortunately only from the sideline.

[Will]

Curtis Steele was taking first team reps at tailback today, but it is only day #1 of course.

[Bleeds Double Blue]

You guys are much closer to the team than I am both physically and otherwise but has the club had a Strength and Conditioning Coach in the past or is this a position created specifically for Chad? It's a first class move by the organization either way.

[1argoholic]

The huge surprise Canadian in Coombs. He'll be the talk of the league and lead the race for Rookie of The Year from start to finish. The door was opened by Harris and Cornish and now Coombs will rip the door off it's hinges.

[ArgoGabe22]

You guys are much closer to the team than I am both physically and otherwise but has the club had a Strength and Conditioning Coach in the past or is this a position created specifically for Chad? It's a first class move by the organization either way.

I don't remember them having one recently in the past but may have before Milanovich??? Someone may have also taken dual roles but was never listed.

[1argoholic]

Just flipped from here to the Argo Site to read this info.

SAD! that he's had to retire. Well the doors are open for a new starter, Coombs? haha

Glad he could stay on.

[1argoholic]

They had to have had this positioned filled before but it's a sad day to hear the news about Kack. I'm so sad that we won't be able to witness him scamper like nobodies business. Too short of a career but a very smart move by Kack and the team. This could open up many doors down the road and a new long career.

[doubleblue]

I will be surprised if they don't go with Johnson and Slaton now that Kack is out of the picture. They are both listed at 5'9 with Johnson 210 to Slaton 200 lbs. I would say Slaton is closer to 5'8 and Johnson is at least 5'10. I never was to excited about Steele as a RB, except he was good on special teams. So it will probably come down to who can first block the best for Ricky, and still be a force running the ball and catching out of the back field.
Coombs looks like he can be an exciting player along the lines of Andre Durie. He's listed at 200 lbs but seeing him and Slaton side by side, if Coombs is 200 then Slaton goes about 220. Coombs looks about 5'9 180-185. Maybe he used an old trick and put lead in his jock strap for the weigh in.

[OV Argo]

I will be surprised if they don't go with Johnson and Slaton now that Kack is out of the picture. They are both listed at 5'9 with Johnson 210 to Slaton 200 lbs. I would say Slaton is closer to 5'8 and Johnson is at least 5'10. I never was to excited about Steele as a RB, except he was good on special teams. So it will probably come down to who can first block the best for Ricky, and still be a force running the ball and catching out of the back field.
Coombs looks like he can be an exciting player along the lines of Andre Durie. He's listed at 200 lbs but seeing him and Slaton side by side, if Coombs is 200 then Slaton goes about 220. Coombs looks about 5'9 180-185. Maybe he used an old trick and put lead in his jock strap for the weigh in.


Coombs weighed in at 190 at the CIS East-West game combine in spring of 2013; the CFL Combine this year did not (that i could find) list the players' height & weight measurements (their site does not put together a spread sheet type list of all player measurements and testing #s for their Combine = dumb or lazy IMO). Coombs may have lost weight to add more speed perhaps for the pros, but I doubt it - more like he could probably put on another 5 or 10 pounds if he wanted to for the pros.

[ArgoRavi]

I don't remember them having one recently in the past but may have before Milanovich??? Someone may have also taken dual roles but was never listed.

I remember Chris Gaines filling this role but that was back in 1992. Did former sprinter Desai Williams officially fill this role at some point for the Argos more recently?

[jerrym]

The huge surprise Canadian in Coombs. He'll be the talk of the league and lead the race for Rookie of The Year from start to finish. The door was opened by Harris and Cornish and now Coombs will rip the door off it's hinges.
I'm not sure if Coombs will be the starting running back in his first season. Neither Harris nor Cornish, who was a star NCAA running back, played as first stringers in their first season. In addition Coombs could end up replacing Durie more as receiver than RB in time. However, I do agree that he is likely going to be a star.

[OV Argo]

I'm not sure if Coombs will be the starting running back in his first season. Neither Harris nor Cornish, who was a star NCAA running back, played as first stringers in their first season. In addition Coombs could end up replacing Durie more as receiver than RB in time. However, I do agree that he is likely going to be a star.

Cornish had to bide his time as a back-up behind a good proven vet in Joffrey Reynolds; Harris - a Junior ball phenom - was thought of by good ole boy Wally as a safety or slotback "project" player till it somehow dawned on somebody to do with personnel there that the guy was a real deal at tailback.

Coombs comes to the Argos with a huge opening at tailback with Kackert out of the picture; wether Coombs is viewed as a tailback who will get a shot to compete there by this Argo braintrust, I do not know; I agree with those here who feel Coombs is going to be a Durie understudy who could take over at slotback eventually, plus maybe return some kicks or be a utility guy who plays some at RB too. However, he could prove to be a starter at his natural position - tailback; just like Cornish, or Andrew Harris or Messam showed they could play there and are easily better than numerous import starting RBs of the past number of years.

[paulwoods13]

The starting tailback will be whichever guy combines good pass-blocking with a legitimate threat as a runner and a receiver. I am a bit skeptical that any of our guys are big enough to block effectively AND fast/sure-handed enough to run/catch effectively. I hope I'm wrong and that someone emerges who is as good as Kackert was in those diverse roles.

[OV Argo]

The starting tailback will be whichever guy combines good pass-blocking with a legitimate threat as a runner and a receiver. I am a bit skeptical that any of our guys are big enough to block effectively AND fast/sure-handed enough to run/catch effectively. I hope I'm wrong and that someone emerges who is as good as Kackert was in those diverse roles.

A smart offence, IMO, is one that often shows diversity and different looks or packages, with some faith in back-ups or role players = they could have a main starting tailback - best pure runner who gets run plays, but can also catch some and hopefully a decent blocker too - bud don't depend on that function; but you could put in your best blocking back (even a big fullback like draft pick Dupuis) for obvious passing situations yet still have the option for a run call with Durie avaliable to take a hand-off out of slotback, or use a jet sweep/end around type play, or, gasp - pound the big fullback with surprise power run play.

[argotom]

With Kack gone this is yet another position of uncertainty in a year full of roster changes.
It does not bode well and this team as difficult to handicap at this point.

[Wobbler]

Steele knows our offense, which is an obvious plus. His blocking was unremarkable last year, but I liked the way he carried the ball in the two games he actually got meaningful touches. Slaton has a better resume, but it remains to be seen how effective he (and Johnson and Coombs) will be. Based on what Milanovich has been saying, the job will go to the guy who is the most reliable blocker while still being able to contribute to the offense. Fortunately we don't have too many issues to address on offense, so there should be plenty of opportunity to pick the best candidate.

[Wobbler]

Schultz seems to think that either Slaton or Steele will be our guy (http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=454098): "With Chad Kackert retired, it appears to be a three-man competition between Steve Slaton, Curtis Steel, and Anthony Coombs. Can Coombs be an 18 game starter? Very unlikely, but possible."

(I realize that that quote refers to a three-way competition, but we're not going to declare a guy our #1 unless we think he can carry the load the whole year)

[Argocister]

Now last year we didn't carry 2 RBs on the game day roster because of NI/I ratio.
Could we carry 2 RBs if one is a non- import?

[OV Argo]

Now last year we didn't carry 2 RBs on the game day roster because of NI/I ratio.
Could we carry 2 RBs if one is a non- import?


They need a back-up tailback, obviously; last year - i think they often had a back-up import RB - maybe as a DI? - which showed little faith in Jeff Johnson or perhaps Woodson to carry the load, if the starter went down. Maybe Coombs can actually win the starting RB job (doubtful IMO) and they could still carry an import RB as a back-up and a DI? OR - an import RB is the starter and Coombs is considered a quite capable back-up? Be nice if the DIs were guys who can go in and play a specific position on O or D, plus be very good special teams gunners/blockers - not sure a back-up import RB as a DI is going to be a force on special teams, but maybe.

[gilthethrill]

Now last year we didn't carry 2 RBs on the game day roster because of NI/I ratio.
Could we carry 2 RBs if one is a non- import?

I am positive Norwood started at RB & Curtis Steele was on Special Teams. With 2 more roster spots being created, I see no reason 2 Import Rb can't be on the game day roster...however, I think Coombs may prevent that from happening.

[ArgoRavi]

I am positive Norwood started at RB & Curtis Steele was on Special Teams. With 2 more roster spots being created, I see no reason 2 Import Rb can't be on the game day roster...however, I think Coombs may prevent that from happening.

What, there are two more roster spots now? That means that the roster for games will now be 44?

[gilthethrill]

What, there are two more roster spots now? That means that the roster for games will now be 44?

I believe that will be announced in the new agreement, no?

[ArgoRavi]

I believe that will be announced in the new agreement, no?

I haven't seen anything about that in all of the reports that I have read.

[gilthethrill]

I haven't seen anything about that in all of the reports that I have read.

I thought I read it a couple of times. I guess we wait & see when the details of the agreement are made public.

[AngeloV]

I thought I read it a couple of times. I guess we wait & see when the details of the agreement are made public.

I think they are adding 3 practice roster spots, but the actual roster remains the same.

[Wobbler]

After the first pre-season game I'm comfortable that we can't go too far wrong, but my favourites are Slaton and Steele. Slaton didn't get too many handoffs but he looked terrific as a receiver. Conversely Steele was only thrown to once, but I thought he carried the ball with confidence. Johnson was OK overall, but made two mistakes (the fumble and a no-gain that he turned into a 7 yard loss) that detracted from his good plays. Coombs was OK and deserves to be on the roster, but doesn't look ready to be our feature back yet.

Hopefully we can switch things up a bit in the next game and give Slaton more handoffs and Steele more passes, to get a more complete assessment. I wasn't paying attention to anyone's blocking, but I don't think any of the RBs made horrible errors; one of the two sacks we gave up was the RG's fault (he was slow to read a stunt) and I think the other was the QB's fault.

[Rich]

After the first pre-season game I'm comfortable that we can't go too far wrong, but my favourites are Slaton and Steele. Slaton didn't get too many handoffs but he looked terrific as a receiver. Conversely Steele was only thrown to once, but I thought he carried the ball with confidence. Johnson was OK overall, but made two mistakes (the fumble and a no-gain that he turned into a 7 yard loss) that detracted from his good plays. Coombs was OK and deserves to be on the roster, but doesn't look ready to be our feature back yet.

Hopefully we can switch things up a bit in the next game and give Slaton more handoffs and Steele more passes, to get a more complete assessment. I wasn't paying attention to anyone's blocking, but I don't think any of the RBs made horrible errors; one of the two sacks we gave up was the RG's fault (he was slow to read a stunt) and I think the other was the QB's fault.

Pretty much the way I saw it too, although I thought Johnson looked really good a couple of times too. Slaton is such a smooth runner, and is probably the fastest and the best receiver of the three, but he's not such a good blocker, and not so good on the 2nd and 3 carries. Steele is more powerful and a better blocker. If we didn't have Coombs I'd say we should try to keep both on the gameday roster. But one of them will still be kept on the inactive roster.