Game Thread: Edmonton Elks at Toronto Argonauts

[ArgoRavi]

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.

I suspect they let McMahon walk because he had a difficult time staying healthy. I don't believe pass blocking was ever an issue for him.

[Unplayable]

I had to record the game. The last quarter was a nail biter even though I knew the Argos had won.

The offence looked good in the first half, mainly because Kelly had just enough time to get most of his throws off. He was pressured a lot in the second half, and it didn’t go as well. He took a lot of hits over the course of the game.

As everyone has noticed the lack of any kind of a running game against a good defence is not good. I am sure everyone noticed the contributions of a good middle linebacker like Nick Anderson compared to the Argos.

While the defence supposedly stepped up in the second half, the Elks still moved the ball and could have won the game except for some dumb plays.

I wonder how the Argos will play the next few games since they have a playoff spot and 1st place is pretty unlikely. On to Winnipeg.

[AngeloV]

I had to record the game. The last quarter was a nail biter even though I knew the Argos had won.

The offence looked good in the first half, mainly because Kelly had just enough time to get most of his throws off. He was pressured a lot in the second half, and it didn’t go as well. He took a lot of hits over the course of the game.

As everyone has noticed the lack of any kind of a running game against a good defence is not good. I am sure everyone noticed the contributions of a good middle linebacker like Nick Anderson compared to the Argos.

While the defence supposedly stepped up in the second half, the Elks still moved the ball and could have won the game except for some dumb plays.

I wonder how the Argos will play the next few games since they have a playoff spot and 1st place is pretty unlikely. On to Winnipeg.

What’s wrong with Darkangelo in your opinion. Led the league in tackles coming into this week. Held a good back in Rankin to 4.2 yards per carry. IMO, he’s played better than Wynton this year, and I love Wynton. Is it personal why you always take shots at Darkangelo?

[ARGO57]

I had to record the game. The last quarter was a nail biter even though I knew the Argos had won.

The offence looked good in the first half, mainly because Kelly had just enough time to get most of his throws off. He was pressured a lot in the second half, and it didn’t go as well. He took a lot of hits over the course of the game.

As everyone has noticed the lack of any kind of a running game against a good defence is not good. I am sure everyone noticed the contributions of a good middle linebacker like Nick Anderson compared to the Argos.

While the defence supposedly stepped up in the second half, the Elks still moved the ball and could have won the game except for some dumb plays.

I wonder how the Argos will play the next few games since they have a playoff spot and 1st place is pretty unlikely. On to Winnipeg.

I noticed a Argo middle linebacker who is right at the top of the league in tackles and along with Pickett have anchored a D that is playing at a high level right now.

[TrueBlueGuy]

had a great time at the nail-biter, big win for our team but man, we had horse-shoes in our pockets.
To me it came down to Elks missed FG. If he made that one, then they kick an easy chipshot FG in last 30 seconds to win it by 1 pt.
No need to make that desperation endzone pass for a winning TD (which of course backfired)

PLAY OF THE YEAR though was the Kelly scramble and TD throw to D. Miller, that was truly amazing. Wow.
And so cool to watch big Ralph rumble 55 yds for a TD.
Two hilite plays to remember from this one.
As usual, IMO our best player on D remains #6, a true baller game after game, Mr. Pickett keep it going.
He deserves an Eastern all-star nod IMO, as do Coxie and Ungerer.
On to Winter-Peg.

[ARGO57]

had a great time at the nail-biter, big win for our team but man, we had horse-shoes in our pockets.
To me it came down to Elks missed FG. If he made that one, then they kick an easy chipshot FG in last 30 seconds to win it by 1 pt.
No need to make that desperation endzone pass for a winning TD (which of course backfired)

PLAY OF THE YEAR though was the Kelly scramble and TD throw to D. Miller, that was truly amazing. Wow.
And so cool to watch big Ralph rumble 55 yds for a TD.
Two hilite plays to remember from this one.
As usual, IMO our best player on D remains #6, a true baller game after game, Mr. Pickett keep it going.
He deserves an Eastern all-star nod IMO, as do Coxie and Ungerer.
On to Winter-Peg.

Brutal PI call helped give Edmonton that chance near the end of the game.
Pickett has indeed been incredible this season, hopefully he sticks around this time.

[OV Argo]

I had to record the game. The last quarter was a nail biter even though I knew the Argos had won.

The offence looked good in the first half, mainly because Kelly had just enough time to get most of his throws off. He was pressured a lot in the second half, and it didn’t go as well. He took a lot of hits over the course of the game.

As everyone has noticed the lack of any kind of a running game against a good defence is not good. I am sure everyone noticed the contributions of a good middle linebacker like Nick Anderson compared to the Argos.

While the defence supposedly stepped up in the second half, the Elks still moved the ball and could have won the game except for some dumb plays.

I wonder how the Argos will play the next few games since they have a playoff spot and 1st place is pretty unlikely. On to Winnipeg.

I noticed a Argo middle linebacker who is right at the top of the league in tackles and along with Pickett have anchored a D that is playing at a high level right now.

Pickett was awesome yesterday, and is one of the best D players in the league IMO.

You'd expect any 2 interior LBs to be amongst league tackle leaders; noticed Darkangelo as guy a with motor and lots of tackling range from his first Argo rookie/ ex. game; he is Ok as the Argo MLB starter, but not a top play-making MLB either IMO - big run stuffs in the hole, blitzing the QB and getting home, making picks or knock-downs in pass coverage = what can be seen from an outstanding MLB type. But Quick maybe really likes his role & play in the Argo D.

The Argo D is maybe getting better each week and some new young guys have had an impact - Ceasar, Bolden, Teubner = good finds; Kongbo & old guy Lemon (i was dead wrong in thinking his signing was iffy or not worth it) have been good adds as well getting good pressure as rush ends (but seems both are on the field most of the time as the D-line rotation is mostly DTs in and out - wonder if Chatfield or Ojo can return?; and why not give young Maissoneuve a few reps to see what he can do -getting the Ojo treatment of last year?) The Argo D at full strength (Judge and Chatfield returning) and with more experience and gelling could be a force needed to go with the explosive Kelly O?

NO CFL team has shown it can play defence this season (including the rated highly Als or EE units) - and IMO not even close to a real powerhouse, tough, overall D is anywhere to be seen. Wonder if the Argos unit could step-up there when it matters most, late in the season?

[paulwoods13]

I wonder how the Argos will play the next few games since they have a playoff spot and 1st place is pretty unlikely. On to Winnipeg.

I bet this is the first time in CFL history that not one but two teams in the same division are essentially locked into their playoff spots with four games remaining. Toronto was in this position in 2023 (which obviously worked out badly) but I don't recall both a first- and a second-place team that could basically lose every game for a month without going up or down in the standings. (I know Toronto could still catch Montreal, but the chances are so slim as to be almost non-existent.) It's gonna be interesting (and potentially quite weird) to watch how both teams handle this long series of meaningless games.

[Don_from_Dryden]

had a great time at the nail-biter, big win for our team but man, we had horse-shoes in our pockets.
To me it came down to Elks missed FG. If he made that one, then they kick an easy chipshot FG in last 30 seconds to win it by 1 pt.
No need to make that desperation endzone pass for a winning TD (which of course backfired)

PLAY OF THE YEAR though was the Kelly scramble and TD throw to D. Miller, that was truly amazing. Wow.
And so cool to watch big Ralph rumble 55 yds for a TD.
Two hilite plays to remember from this one.
As usual, IMO our best player on D remains #6, a true baller game after game, Mr. Pickett keep it going.
He deserves an Eastern all-star nod IMO, as do Coxie and Ungerer.
On to Winter-Peg.

No doubt if they made the tickets a bit more affordable every game would be well attended as it always seems like so much fun. Next best thing to the Rocky Horror Picture Show with the costumes and all. It's actually a bonus to not be packed in like sardines imo.

To add to the schedule controversy, it seems strange after already playing one of their home games in Winnipeg the Argos would be travelling back again when they could have hosted.

The short week and travel with Winnipeg coming off a bye gives the Bombers a big advantage the CFL should do something about. That and the back to backs hurt the league imo

[Unplayable]

I looked up Darkangelo's stats before the Elks game, and he was listed as having something like 80 tackles, at least 10 more than any other middle linebacker. I don't believe that stat, and someone is being very very generous to him. If he is the primary tackler, it is almost always past the line of scrimmage.

How many tackles for a loss have you seen? He has a problem getting off blocks. How many missed tackles (some were obvious in the Elk's game)? How many passes defended? He is not fast enough to cover tight ends or RBs across the middle of the field unless they run right at him. How many successful blitzes? And so on.

I found it amusing that before the start of the game the announcers were saying what a great MLB he was, with all those tackles he supposedly has made. He is apparently well liked by his team mates, but he is not a difference maker on defence.