Game Thread: Edmonton Elks at Toronto Argonauts

[Unplayable]

Apparently Kelly's agent and the Argos have broken off extension talks till the end of the season. I wonder if this is the game where Kelly proves he is worth 10% or more of the salary cap, going against supposedly the best defence in the CFL. I hope the Argos can play mistake free football.

[OV Argo]

Argos should have a way bigger lead at half-time. 14 point swing likely after that Kelly pick in the end zone that had the EE respond with a TD; a safer play there, when you have a lead, would have been much wiser - like that screen to Smith on the next series.

D playing pretty solid still, but still not enough big plays (McFadden & Lemon both drop INTs they could have had), and missed sacks on Fajardo that should have been.

But WOW to Chad and his receivers and the deep ball; this Kahmann kid has been a great find - what a complete receiver with great hands; plus Coxie, Mital, Ungerer - should be 4 guys with 1000 yard seasons !!! Run game still disappointing though.

[Stevoman]

Looks like the Refs and the Argos run game tried to give this one to the Elks but credit the Argos D for closing the door in the 4th!

[IssuesMcgee]

15,991 according to Global News.

[ARGO57]

Looks like the Refs and the Argos run game tried to give this one to the Elks but credit the Argos D for closing the door in the 4th!

CFL officials continue to lower the bar, truly embarrassing!

[Don_from_Dryden]

Good game and a big win.

[shatto]

Offense played well in 1st half and Defense played well in 2nd. But the team must get the run game going. Perhaps bringing Hicks back might help.

[paulwoods13]

Offense played well in 1st half and Defense played well in 2nd. But the team must get the run game going. Perhaps bringing Hicks back might help.

Considering how Jones is being deployed (coming in on obvious passing downs, and mostly being kept in to block), I don't think that will happen. Miller has determined (correctly, in my view) that extra blockers are needed to protect Kelly. So Mital and/or Jones are often stationed in the backfield to pick up blitzers or help subdue the main pass rushers. Hicks is too small to do that IMO.

That said, there is zero doubt the team needs to be able to run for at least 75 yards a game. It looked to me yesterday like Edm's d-line was simply swallowing up any attempt at rushing. (I was super-impressed by both of their lines, actually -- they are a legit GC contender.) But Miller needs to find ways to overcome such challenges and get the ball in Smith's hands for positive yardage 10-15 times a game.

[Don_from_Dryden]

Offense played well in 1st half and Defense played well in 2nd. But the team must get the run game going. Perhaps bringing Hicks back might help.

I like Isaiah Smith and what he has done as a first year player. I think there is upside.

As for the Americans, Deonta McMahon had a nice 100 yd game for Calgary last night and has been sitting on their practice roster all season. I am guessing he was let go because of his blocking ability.

Also can't believe no one picked up William Stanback including Ottawa. He can block.

[OV Argo]

I think Miller has decided, or only gets that the Argos O will succeed & win by only passing, with Chad having big games throwing some deep strikes (even if that comes with some INTs).

And you can't just run 4 or 5 times a game, at obvious 1st down situations, and expect it to work or give up if it is not productive; any good RB will end up breaking some 5 or 10 plus yard carries if they get enough work; and the main ground game can be supplemented by some other stuff like jet sweeps, or having Chad take-off early in the game to put that fear in the defence.

Still, many Argo run attempts (with all 3 of the backs who have been tried) this season seem to get stuffed easily with D-lineman in the backfield before the back can get going. So, maybe they are tipping off the D that knows to look for an obvious run down; or - maybe the O-line is just not that good at run blocking - with 3 high paid vets in the interior? IMO might be worth a change - like to bump Shepley out to OT (where nobody there has been that consistently good), and give one of Kolankowski or Vrugdenhill or Piazza a shot to play in the interior and see if they can be better road graders to open up the run. Sticking with same stuff over & over again when it's not working ... but maybe Miller is resigned to the run game just being a token effort ?