SnowRogue gets his wish

[Will]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Canadian K/P Lirim Hajrullahu (<a href="https://twitter.com/Lirim_70">@Lirim_70</a>) agrees to 1-year deal with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Argos?src=hash">#Argos</a>, per <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFL?src=hash">#CFL</a> sources. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Toronto?src=hash">#Toronto</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFLFA?src=hash">#CFLFA</a></p>&mdash; Justin Dunk (@JDunk12) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDunk12/status/697135367535722496">February 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
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I hope he can rebound from his struggles at kicking FG's last year.

[AngeloV]

I love the deal too. I just wish they could have also signed Medlock.

[Will]

What do people see in him though? Didn't he lose his job last year?

[jerrym]

We had to get someone quickly or probably lose out on any experienced good CFL punter.

[R.J]

https://media.giphy.com/media/P5vjklHg5MqqY/giphy.gif

It's Christmas all over again. Now I just need Barker to sign Edem and I'm spent for the day.

[eiben35]

This is a great signing even if the injury prone Swayze Waters comes back. All good kickers have had mental blocks during their careers much like Liram had last season kicking field goals. Passaglia, Ozzie and Paul McCallum just to a few.

[Will]

All I know is that 68.75 FG% from last year had better improve.

[AngeloV]

What do people see in him though? Didn't he lose his job last year?

A lot of CFL kickers that went on to have great careers have had a bad season early in their careers. He was fantastic the previous season, and his punting was very good last season too. As I have mentioned many times, I don't think there is a better punter in the league at punting to the sidelines. I'll take that over a deep straight down the middle punt any day.

[R.J]

What do people see in him though? Didn't he lose his job last year?
Very good punter, one of the best directional punters in the league IMO. Is also a very good field goal kicker; who seemed to have lost his mojo. So, if he can regain form = a very good all round kicker.

[ArgoGabe22]

But when Waters loses his mojo......

[AngeloV]

All I know is that 68.75 FG% from last year had better improve.

take away Waters great season, and he is just 72% over his other 3 partial season with the Argos. Even including last year, Hajrullahu is still 79.5% over his 2 year career which is exactly the same as Waters over his career.

[R.J]

But when Waters loses his mojo......
???

[paulwoods13]

As noted above, many great kickers have had a bad season. Hajrallahu is young and talented and will almost certainly be kicking in the CFL for the next 10 or more years. If Waters is leaving, this is by far the best alternative we had.

[R.J]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I&#39;m extremely grateful to be joining the <a href="https://twitter.com/TorontoArgos">@TorontoArgos</a> organization and I can&#39;t wait to get on the field at BMO</p>&mdash; Lirim Hajrullahu (@Lirim_70) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lirim_70/status/697185637531807744">February 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
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[Argo]

I love the deal too. I just wish they could have also signed Medlock.

+++ 1 +++

[ArgoRavi]

So is Waters done as an Argo or could he be back, with a pay cut, just kicking FGs while Hajrullahu punts? Or is Hajrullahu our only kicker? The one potential landing spot for Waters is Hamilton with Medlock now gone.

[Will]

So is Waters done as an Argo or could he be back, with a pay cut, just kicking FGs while Hajrullahu punts? Or is Hajrullahu our only kicker? The one potential landing spot for Waters is Hamilton with Medlock now gone.

I can see Waters going to Hamilton. The Argos haven't split up K/P duties for quite a long time. Both Waters and Hajrullahu struggled with FG's last year.

[Wobbler]

I like Waters as a dual role guy; the only issue was is health. I don't think I'd sign him just to kick FGs.

If, however, the idea was to let Waters and Hajrullahu compete in camp for the dual-role job and go with whichever one looks better, that would be different.

[AngeloV]

I can see Waters going to Hamilton. The Argos haven't split up K/P duties for quite a long time. Both Waters and Hajrullahu struggled with FG's last year.

I can see him in Ottawa. After all, his holder is there now.

:p

[R.J]

I can see him in Ottawa. After all, his holder is there now.

:p
Don't get my hopes up AV.

[1argoholic]

WHAT? I can't believe this. I'd hate to lose Waters to Hamilton especially and it's way easier to say Waters.

[Rocket]

Very good punter, one of the best directional punters in the league IMO. Is also a very good field goal kicker; who seemed to have lost his mojo. So, if he can regain form = a very good all round kicker.

I think this is an awful signing from an Argos persepective. I remember reading an article in the Winnipeg sun about this guy how all of his teammates gave up on him at the end of the season and how he was kicking field goals all by himself during practice how nobody wanted to be close to him. I have watched CFL football for close to 30 years and don't remember a kicker that struggled as bad as this guy did last season I remember seeing him miss chip shots from 15-20 yards practically every bomber game that I saw. Should have went after Justin medlock and let go of swayze and not bothered with this guy. Or if they were so much to getting a Canadian they should have looked into getting a cis kicker and try to groom him into training camp.

[Argo57]

I can see Waters going to Hamilton. The Argos haven't split up K/P duties for quite a long time. Both Waters and Hajrullahu struggled with FG's last year.

I agree AF87, Hamilton make the most sense to me as well.

[Scooter McCray]

Swayze and Trevor are good friends. I can see him in Ottawa.

[AngeloV]

Swayze and Trevor are good friends. I can see him in Ottawa.

That was my thinking as well. I don't think Ottawa looks at Chris Milo as a top flight guy, and who really know how good Pfeffer is going to be (sorry SnowRogue)?

Besides, Hamilton already has Hugh O'Neil.

[Scooter McCray]

Eastern Division games are going to be dogfights this year. Lots more to come in free agency but the teams are shaping up to be quite competitive with each other. It will go down to the wire to make the playoffs and then win the conference to go to the Grey Cup. Nobody will be able to take a week off.

[AngeloV]

Eastern Division games are going to be dogfights this year. Lots more to come in free agency but the teams are shaping up to be quite competitive with each other. It will go down to the wire to make the playoffs and then win the conference to go to the Grey Cup. Nobody will be able to take a week off.

Maybe this will finally be the year of the East crossover.

[R.J]

That was my thinking as well. I don't think Ottawa looks at Chris Milo as a top flight guy, and who really know how good Pfeffer is going to be (sorry SnowRogue)?

Besides, Hamilton already has Hugh O'Neil.
I like: Waters to OTT; Pfeffer released and signed by Argonauts; Pfeffer kicking fg's and Hajrullahu punting. :)

[Scooter McCray]

Maybe this will finally be the year of the East crossover.

Out West there are no slouches either. Winnipeg will be much better and contend for the playoffs. Saskatchewan will be better because Chris Jones will beat all of the bushes for talent like always. BC might be the weaker team out there but not by much. BC will still be in the mix too. The West will be just as competitive as the East. Probably no crossovers at all in either division. Good teams in both divisions will miss the playoffs.

[AngeloV]

Out West there are no slouches either. Winnipeg will be much better and contend for the playoffs. Saskatchewan will be better because Chris Jones will beat all of the bushes for talent like always. BC might be the weaker team out there but not by much. BC will still be in the mix too. The West will be just as competitive as the East. Probably no crossovers at all in either division. Good teams in both divisions will miss the playoffs.

As of right now, on paper, looks that way. But we all know injuries can change things in a hurry.

[Will]

Maybe this will finally be the year of the East crossover.

I don't know if Winnipeg will leap frog past the Stampeders and Eskimos, but I do think they have a good shot at that 3rd spot in the West.

[Will]

I've moved the Trevor Harris posts to the appropriate thread (http://www.argofans.com/showthread.php?3833-Trevor-Harris-Negotiations-with-Argos-have-Picked-up). Let's try to keep this thread devoted to the signing of Lirim.

[paulwoods13]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and predict that the league will still have at least two teams (and maybe three) that are well below the contenders. At this point I would bet Montreal and B.C. will be two of them, not sure about the third. With everyone signing FAs it's easy to say "this team is really improved," but those judgments often ignore where teams were weak and what players they have lost. I'm not at all convinced Winnipeg is suddenly a playoff contender despite everyone proclaiming them the "big winner" of Day 1.

[1argoholic]

You can't just buy a contender, you have to bring along your own talent as well. I think Winnipeg is grasping at straws at this point since they have the longest Grey Cup Championship drought. Hopefully the stretch continues.

[R.J]

http://www.argonauts.ca/2016/02/10/lirim-hajrullahu-this-is-a-big-year/

[KCargosfan]

I think you can look at Calgary as possibly getting worse. They sure haven't gotten better the last two days.

And I think Montreal is a train wreck waiting to happen. No QB (Glenn doesn't count, he'll get injured at some point) and their OL has regressed.

[R.J]

http://www.thestar.com/sports/argos/2016/02/16/new-argonauts-kicker-lirim-hajrullahu-stepping-into-big-shoes.html

[Wobbler]

I really hope he finds some shoes that fit properly.

[Reggiemac]

If we had to go with two kickers Paul McCallum is probably still available. He was still great on FG's it was his kickoffs and punting that had tailed off.

[AngeloV]

If we had to go with two kickers Paul McCallum is probably still available. He was still great on FG's it was his kickoffs and punting that had tailed off.

He has no desire to play in the east. Personally, I would want nothing to do with him.

[R.J]

McCallum retired. Also his leg was finished; he couldn't kick over 40 yards anymore; not someone who I'd want kicking fields goals for us. Anyone remember Rogers last season ? Even with the wind at his back he couldn't kick over 40. Lirim is fine for now; his FG kicking last season was worrisome, so hopefully he can find his game - if he does we're fine. Quinn Van Gylswyk is someone I'd want the Argonauts to draft, but from what's been written the ticats will probably pick him in the first round.

[R.J]

http://www.cfl.ca/2016/05/20/milanovich-argos-all-in-on-hajrullahu/

The Argos are going all in with Lirim Hajrullahu, the only kicker currently on the roster who Milanovich says is expected to take on kickoff duties along with the role of place kicker and punter for the team in 2016.

While the 26-year-old had his struggles throughout last season, Milanovich has no qualms leaning on the veteran’s leg late in games this year.

“We’ve got some other things in mind, but Lirim’s our guy,” said Milanovich, asked about the Argos’ kicking game during a season preview teleconference earlier in the week. “That’s what I told him when we signed him in free agency.

“He doesn’t need to look over his shoulder.”

[AngeloV]

http://www.cfl.ca/2016/05/20/milanovich-argos-all-in-on-hajrullahu/

If his mental issues on FG's are behind him, I think he is very good at all the kicking duties.

[OV Argo]

Argos could have had an outstanding dual kicker prospect in Van Glyswick in TC to compete; but instead Barker chose to use a 2nd round pick on a converted D-lineman / O-line "project" in Sackey. That - I will never get - sorry bout that.

[Argo57]

Argos could have had an outstanding dual kicker prospect in Van Glyswick in TC to compete; but instead Barker chose to use a 2nd round pick on a converted D-lineman / O-line "project" in Sackey. That - I will never get - sorry bout that.

I'm no GM but I would have thought you use your early round picks on more proven talent and gamble a little more with your later picks.