ArgoRavi wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 5:48 pm
The Argos and Ottawa football teams have only played 3 times in the playoffs since 1970. How can that be? Those three occasions were 1977 in Ottawa and 1982 and 1990 in Toronto. Over the past 20 years that Ottawa has had a football team, the Argos haven't met them in the postseason until now. Conversely, the Argos have played the Bombers in the playoffs no fewer than 7 times since 1987. I am looking forward to this rare event on Saturday.
I'm gonna have to check my old CFL ticket stub collection to see if I went to that 77 game at Lansdowne (memory just very foggy on some things)
Rough Riders were coming off a GC win season and were led by Tom Clements at QB; and they had a big powerful rookie fullback - Mike Murphy - who had over 800 rushing yards + 400 receiving yards for a 1300 + yards from scrimmage season - by a fullback ! And their leading receiver was all-time great Tony Gabriel.
The Argos had Chuck Ealey at QB most of that season; and curiously as well, their leaders in yardage were big fullback Neil Lumsden and tight end Peter Muller in receiving.
The GOB mind boggles: imagine, Canadians at fullback and tight end being the leaders on a CFL offence. How the times have changed.
I remember watching that game, as a soon-to-be 8 year-old. I believe that Chuck Ealey and Clint Longley rotated at QB - something that Leo Cahill was partial to. I recall that the Argos were down by quite a bit but then staged a late 4th quarter comeback and had the chance to win the game in the final minute, scrimmaging inside the Ottawa 5 yard line. Then in typical Argos fashion for that era, Chuck Ealey dropped back to pass, was hit by Mike Fanucci, and fumbled the ball. It was heartbreaking.
That 77 Argo team had some superb talent on D too Ravi: Corrigall & Wayne Smith on the D-line; Ray Nettles at MLB; Eric Harris (went on to a nice NFL career) & Paul Bennett (one of the greatest rookie seasons in CFL history IMO) and ex- Sask.Rider star Lorne Richardson (last CFL season ?) in the D-backfield.
How did they manage to go just 6 & 10 ???; shoulda gone to the GC .
I'm gonna have to check my old CFL ticket stub collection to see if I went to that 77 game at Lansdowne (memory just very foggy on some things)
Rough Riders were coming off a GC win season and were led by Tom Clements at QB; and they had a big powerful rookie fullback - Mike Murphy - who had over 800 rushing yards + 400 receiving yards for a 1300 + yards from scrimmage season - by a fullback ! And their leading receiver was all-time great Tony Gabriel.
The Argos had Chuck Ealey at QB most of that season; and curiously as well, their leaders in yardage were big fullback Neil Lumsden and tight end Peter Muller in receiving.
The GOB mind boggles: imagine, Canadians at fullback and tight end being the leaders on a CFL offence. How the times have changed.
I remember watching that game, as a soon-to-be 8 year-old. I believe that Chuck Ealey and Clint Longley rotated at QB - something that Leo Cahill was partial to. I recall that the Argos were down by quite a bit but then staged a late 4th quarter comeback and had the chance to win the game in the final minute, scrimmaging inside the Ottawa 5 yard line. Then in typical Argos fashion for that era, Chuck Ealey dropped back to pass, was hit by Mike Fanucci, and fumbled the ball. It was heartbreaking.
That 77 Argo team had some superb talent on D too Ravi: Corrigall & Wayne Smith on the D-line; Ray Nettles at MLB; Eric Harris (went on to a nice NFL career) & Paul Bennett (one of the greatest rookie seasons in CFL history IMO) and ex- Sask.Rider star Lorne Richardson (last CFL season ?) in the D-backfield.
How did they manage to go just 6 & 10 ???; shoulda gone to the GC .
They were 6-6 at one point, with three victories over eventual Grey Cup winners Montreal, but faded down the stretch. Their defence was outstanding but the offence was absolutely dreadful.
I remember watching that game, as a soon-to-be 8 year-old. I believe that Chuck Ealey and Clint Longley rotated at QB - something that Leo Cahill was partial to. I recall that the Argos were down by quite a bit but then staged a late 4th quarter comeback and had the chance to win the game in the final minute, scrimmaging inside the Ottawa 5 yard line. Then in typical Argos fashion for that era, Chuck Ealey dropped back to pass, was hit by Mike Fanucci, and fumbled the ball. It was heartbreaking.
That 77 Argo team had some superb talent on D too Ravi: Corrigall & Wayne Smith on the D-line; Ray Nettles at MLB; Eric Harris (went on to a nice NFL career) & Paul Bennett (one of the greatest rookie seasons in CFL history IMO) and ex- Sask.Rider star Lorne Richardson (last CFL season ?) in the D-backfield.
How did they manage to go just 6 & 10 ???; shoulda gone to the GC .
They were 6-6 at one point, with three victories over eventual Grey Cup winners Montreal, but faded down the stretch. Their defence was outstanding but the offence was absolutely dreadful.
No real home run hitters on offence at tailback or receiver; don't recall much about that O-line but maybe they were a weak link? but still with a vet QB in Ealey (who was a dual threat) and that D (maybe most talented in Argo history) = shoulda done so much better, IMO.
paulwoods13 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2024 4:33 pm
Sorry, guys, but while he's no all-star (yet), IMO Brown is a pretty formidable QB. Dismissing him as mediocre could come back to haunt. Sure, he piled up big yards in garbage time against Argos and over a full game against Hamilton -- but he still hit on most of his throws, including a number of deep shots, and he made the right reads most of the time. I'm expecting this game to be close, and Brown to be a tough out.
Also watch out if Brown struggles, and Crum goes in, Crum has superior scrambling ability IMO and his style is a major change from Brown's.
Serious defensive adjustment would be required by the Argos. Can they respond (Kevin E?) Will they be ready?
And for sure our Special Teams better show us a significant improvement!
This is going to be a good one I think, teams were separated by just 1 point on the season.
no walk-over here, like the 2023 East Final.
IF Dru Brown falters or gets injured, there is next to zero chance Dyce & Condell turn to Crum first over a vet like Masoli.
And current CFL offensive thinkers just don't get - game planning or play-calling - what dual threat QB who can run lots could do.
Tre Ford or Nathan Rourke - both superb running QBs (even Alexander with the Als perhaps or even a Crum or Dukes as change of pace guys) with an OC who gets diversity and a dual run threat QB, could do serious damage to CFL defences now IMO. Not gonna happen with the current clique.
I remember watching that game, as a soon-to-be 8 year-old. I believe that Chuck Ealey and Clint Longley rotated at QB - something that Leo Cahill was partial to. I recall that the Argos were down by quite a bit but then staged a late 4th quarter comeback and had the chance to win the game in the final minute, scrimmaging inside the Ottawa 5 yard line. Then in typical Argos fashion for that era, Chuck Ealey dropped back to pass, was hit by Mike Fanucci, and fumbled the ball. It was heartbreaking.
That 77 Argo team had some superb talent on D too Ravi: Corrigall & Wayne Smith on the D-line; Ray Nettles at MLB; Eric Harris (went on to a nice NFL career) & Paul Bennett (one of the greatest rookie seasons in CFL history IMO) and ex- Sask.Rider star Lorne Richardson (last CFL season ?) in the D-backfield.
How did they manage to go just 6 & 10 ???; shoulda gone to the GC .
They were 6-6 at one point, with three victories over eventual Grey Cup winners Montreal, but faded down the stretch. Their defence was outstanding but the offence was absolutely dreadful.
The Argos were #1 in yards allowed in 1977. They were tops against the run allowing 109.2 yards per game and were 3rd against the pass at 185.2 yards per game, however, on offense they were dead last at #9 in yard gained. They were actually the #1 rushing team in the league at 159 yards per game, but dead last at 135.1 yards passing.
My source was pro football archives so a grain of salt should be taken as I have identified mistakes in their data for other seasons. The league itself has not made the information available.
My rep told me this morning that they will not be opening the Upper East Side Stands to ticket sales. That is too bad, and an indication on Tuesday that they do not anticipate enough sales to warrant it, and that there are still enough lower bowl, north endzone seats that the anticipated demand will not use all of that up.
This means lower attendance for the playoff game vs. Ottawa, than the last regular season game vs. Ottawa. Not sure what to make of that.
Wynton McManis was at the Raptor game last night. But obviously for MLSE to make the decision to keep the upper east side closed they are not planning any kind of ticket push or campaign.
Scooter McCray wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2024 11:57 am
My rep told me this morning that they will not be opening the Upper East Side Stands to ticket sales. That is too bad, and an indication on Tuesday that they do not anticipate enough sales to warrant it, and that there are still enough lower bowl, north endzone seats that the anticipated demand will not use all of that up. This means lower attendance for the playoff game vs. Ottawa, than the last regular season game vs. Ottawa. Not sure what to make of that.
Wynton McManis was at the Raptor game last night. But obviously for MLSE to make the decision to keep the upper east side closed they are not planning any kind of ticket push or campaign.
I wouldn't make much of this. Divisional semi-final games have been notoriously difficult games to sell tickets to for decades in the CFL. For example, the last time the Argos faced Ottawa in the East semi-final at Skydome in 1990, they drew 24k to that playoff game a week after drawing 36K for the regular season finale versus the same Ottawa team (a nothing game for the Argos). Likewise, in 1989, the Argos drew 42k for their regular season finale against Hamilton and then less than 23k for their home playoff game against Winnipeg a week later.
They pretty much start from scratch in ticket sales for a playoff game and really haven't had enough time to market the game properly and sell tickets.
