East Semi Final Thread: Ottawa Redblacks @ Toronto Argonauts

[Scooter McCray]

Now that theToronto FC season is over the grounds crew has the next week to get the pitch perfect once again for one last football match for their primary tenant.
It would be nice to have the boat logo at midfield for real rather than just the TV hologram. But if it affects the Turf quality don't bother.
Watching November football in the 70s in Ottawa they had some muddy fields to play on at Lansdowne.
Field management has come a long way thankfully.

[Scooter McCray]

The Argos are well coached so I don't expect the team is looking past Ottawa.
The Redblacks picked up where they left off on the 4th quarter vs. Toronto against Hamilton last night. Put on an offensive show.
Please don't sleep on this team. Ottawa does not quit. Put in a 60 minute effort next week.
I think we're in for a very good game.

[paulwoods13]

In his last five quarters of action, Dru Brown has thrown for about 700 yards. The defence better be ready.

[Will]

The Argos finished 10-8 and by my rough count there were only 3 wins by more than 10 points. Furthermore, I think only 2 losses were by more than points

This suggests to me that this will be a close game and that nobody can look past Ottawa.

[ArgoRavi]

The Argos finished 10-8 and by my rough count there were only 3 wins by more than 10 points. Furthermore, I think only 2 losses were by more than points

This suggests to me that this will be a close game and that nobody can look past Ottawa.

I expect Chad Kelly to be a man on a mission after last year's playoff debacle. If it takes 40 points to win this game, I have full confidence that the offence can do it.

[OV Argo]

In his last five quarters of action, Dru Brown has thrown for about 700 yards. The defence better be ready.

Yep; and it's all same old simple offence - very little deep throws, mostly dink & dunk with a few intermediate throws; no real applied ground game. But Brown is efficient mostly and has some good receiver talent (that Pimpleton rookie is a dangerous YAC yards guy, but drops too many).

The Argos pass rush should get to Brown some, but the back 8 has to make some plays - knock-downs, picks , bit hits; otherwise, Ottawa could score lots.

This game makes me nervous - Argos let them back in the game last week to run up yards and points; and Brown got another game in with 400 passing yards vs. the Ticats - if Ottawa is on some kind of roll.

[ARGO57]

I’m all for the Canadian game having unique rules but imagine a Grey Cup Championship being decided as the game was last night??

[OV Argo]

I’m all for the Canadian game having unique rules but image a Grey Cup Championship being decided as the game was last night??

I'm one for tweaking the rouge rule so that only balls that land in the end-zone (not ones that sail right thru) can result in a single point if it is not returned out.

However - the rouge / single point is a historic and key feature of the Canadian game and must not be abolished (because some NFL fan-boys and wannabes up here don't get it and only get American football, so they mock & whine); it also is another feature that makes the Canadian game more complex and interesting than the simpler American version. EE could have gone for the FG but also had the punt single option, and it's kinda fitting IMO that a punter with a booming leg (Julien) who set the pro football all-time single season punting average mark this year, could win the game with a walk-off rouge; likely the only punter in the league who could have done if from that distance (and BTW why would the Argo coaching staff not understand that a punt close to going out could be knocked down and then returned out - why was short little David Ungerer back as the return guy and not the tallest, best vertical jump receiver in to maybe do the job ???)

[Scooter McCray]

MLSE have Raptors games Monday & Friday, as well as Leafs on Thursday. Great opportunities to promote East Semi Final. They should be trying to sell tickets at the 3 games this week. That always seems to be the extent of MLSEs promotion of the Argos each year. Maybe with Pelley we see it get more attention, effort?

[Scooter McCray]

Lower Bowl looks to be almost done. Hopefully upper deck is opened up tomorrow for a full court press over the remaining 6 days. Weather looks good.