Game Thread - June 6, 2025 - Argonauts at Alouettes

[gilthethrill]

Possibly the worst game by the offensive line since August, 2022? Ryan Hunter did not look very good at RT today, did he?

I think I counted 3 Procedure Penalties. Daniels had 2 Offsides and a huge drop. Constantly being driven back by these penalties put the Line in a tough situation while taking away the run game. Contrastly, Montreal was constantly in 2nd & short situations. OV has a point about Allen going out west to start while Varga was way down in the depth chart.

[paulwoods13]

Beaten badly in all three phases -- when was the last time we could say that? Maybe the 27-2 loss in Calgary in 2022, which IIRC was also the last time the o-line was ragdolled like last night.

It's too early to reach firm judgments, but at the moment, having ONE o-lineman in the same position as last year's Grey Cup lineup does not look like a smart use of all the assets we seem to have there. Letting Allen go to save money seems like foolish budget management. Hunter will likely be fine at RT eventually, but he struggled big-time (and his most recent game, the Grey Cup, was also a poor performance). I'm sure glad we kept Nicastro, given Ciraco's injury, but now the o-line looks a lot less deep, with a rookie (Bosse) likely to dress as the seventh next week.

The d-line looked better than I expected. The secondary had some busts and some decent plays. McManis was up to his usual form; Judge and Rutledge were largely invisible.

Daniels has to make that catch, and even the sure-handed Ungerer let a couple bounce off his hands. Coxie is by far our best weapon; Mital and Brissett need to be targeted more.

But again it comes back to the o-line. No RB (not even Carey) could have made yards with the lack of push we had last night.

[Will]

According to John Hodge, yesterday was the first regular season game since the game Paul is referring to in 2022 that the Argos have lost by more than 14 points.

[ARGO57]

Turnovers and penalties a key factor in last nights loss.
O-Line must improve and as others have mentioned dropped passes hurt their cause as well.

[shatto]

Now I'm over my negative rant and can look at the game more objectively, there were some positive elements in the game.
.Slywka demonstrated good range and speed at free safety.

.Parish at DE, looked aggressive; he had one sack but was close on several other occasions. With added experience he should be a very effective part of the defense.

.McManis had his usual excellent game and was all over the field making tackles.

.Coxie showed why he is considered one of the top WRs in the league. Ungerer also made some excellent catches some while closely guarded by a DB.

When Kelly and Grant return to the lineup and the obviously talented but in this game, underperforming OL, works itself out, the team should return to its winning ways. The next game should give the coaches a better idea of the team's real potential .

[ARGO57]

Now I'm over my negative rant and can look at the game more objectively, there were some positive elements in the game.
.Slywka demonstrated good range and speed at free safety.

.Parish at DE, looked aggressive; he had one sack but was close on several other occasions. With added experience he should be a very effective part of the defense.

.McManis had his usual excellent game and was all over the field making tackles.

.Coxie showed why he is considered one of the top WRs in the league. Ungerer also made some excellent catches some while closely guarded by a DB.

When Kelly and Grant return to the lineup and the obviously talented but in this game, underperforming OL, works itself out, the team should return to its winning ways. The next game should give the coaches a better idea of the team's real potential .

Can’t argue with anything you have posted.
TBH last nights performance wasn’t a surprise considering the number of changes this team has had this offseason.
Argonauts have a very good coaching staff that will figure things out.

[ArgoRavi]

Now I'm over my negative rant and can look at the game more objectively, there were some positive elements in the game.
.Slywka demonstrated good range and speed at free safety.

.Parish at DE, looked aggressive; he had one sack but was close on several other occasions. With added experience he should be a very effective part of the defense.

.McManis had his usual excellent game and was all over the field making tackles.

.Coxie showed why he is considered one of the top WRs in the league. Ungerer also made some excellent catches some while closely guarded by a DB.

When Kelly and Grant return to the lineup and the obviously talented but in this game, underperforming OL, works itself out, the team should return to its winning ways. The next game should give the coaches a better idea of the team's real potential .

Can’t argue with anything you have posted.
TBH last nights performance wasn’t a surprise considering the number of changes this team has had this offseason.
Argonauts have a very good coaching staff that will figure things out.

I agree. While I am annoyed with last night's loss, I am certainly not worried. The defence played decently - Anthony Lanier looks like he is returning to form - but the offence and special teams didn't have a great night.

Regarding Dejon Allen, that was a cap move, and I still have great confidence that this line will be fine. Offensive lines rely on communication as much as any group on the field and stability is important. I am sure they will be much better as the season progresses as there is simply too much talent in that grouping.

[paulwoods13]

Regarding Dejon Allen, that was a cap move, and I still have great confidence that this line will be fine. Offensive lines rely on communication as much as any group on the field and stability is important. I am sure they will be much better as the season progresses as there is simply too much talent in that grouping.

I appreciate your optimism, Ravi, although I'd sure like to know why losing Allen's salary was so essential to managing the cap. But while I agree with your point about o-line communication and stability, it's also a reality that the line consists of two individuals who have never played Cdn football before (and consequently we really have no idea how good they are, or might become), one guy who has been dominant but is learning a new position and has been manhandled in his last two games, one guy who was selected late in the draft and has yet to play a full season in the CFL, and one guy who's been an all-star but seemed to have lost his job until an injury happened. I'd love to think the line will get its act together, and I have a ton of faith in Bill Belichick's doppelganger Kris Sweet to coach them up, but there are suddenly a hell of a lot of unknowns in a group that has been the backbone of the club's success for the past two-plus seasons.

[OV Argo]

Regarding Dejon Allen, that was a cap move, and I still have great confidence that this line will be fine. Offensive lines rely on communication as much as any group on the field and stability is important. I am sure they will be much better as the season progresses as there is simply too much talent in that grouping.

I appreciate your optimism, Ravi, although I'd sure like to know why losing Allen's salary was so essential to managing the cap. But while I agree with your point about o-line communication and stability, it's also a reality that the line consists of two individuals who have never played Cdn football before (and consequently we really have no idea how good they are, or might become), one guy who has been dominant but is learning a new position and has been manhandled in his last two games, one guy who was selected late in the draft and has yet to play a full season in the CFL, and one guy who's been an all-star but seemed to have lost his job until an injury happened. I'd love to think the line will get its act together, and I have a ton of faith in Bill Belichick's doppelganger Kris Sweet to coach them up, but there are suddenly a hell of a lot of unknowns in a group that has been the backbone of the club's success for the past two-plus seasons.

It will be interesting to see if they stick with the 1st game starting group.

Lots of potential for change: move Hunter back to OG which might be his best position by far and even though he is great there, maybe he can't handle OT; give Dankwah a shot at OT - the guy wasn't a multi year US college ball starter and on NFL TC or PR rosters last year as an OT by some fluke; I hope Moore isn't assured a starting OT job just by his passport - saw him get beaten cleanly last night like Hunter was; give Giffen an OG job and hope his massive size and lots of Argo/CFL experience now upgrades in particular the push for the run game; Nicastro at C - did he forget how to play all of a sudden? Bosse & Doxtater can also be given a shot at OT, but good depth guys who could back-up at both OT or OG.

The coaches might want to stick with their starters and like some are saying hope they will gel - that would be real nice; but another game with putrid run production and the QB getting swarmed lots ... =

[shayman]

I'm sure you're all wondering about the big issue - how'd the Montreal horn ban go?

Cathy and I were there, and the obnoxious pump-air-horns were indeed gone (thank goodness), but there was a huuuuge racket from the traditional vuvuzela-style lung-powered air horns that made a big noise every time the Argos were on offence. (Well, I think people's lungs wore out a bit towards the end of the game.)

I thought it was great. A loud house, a traditional football horn sound, without the annoying pump horn thing that ruined TV broadcasts and irritated fans nationwide.

We had a lot of fun in Montreal despite the outcome with lots of good-natured ribbing between friendly Als fans and us. Highly recommend Montreal as a road trip destination. (And we got to meet Tucker Horn's dad before the game - he's already bought Argo season tickets and is planning on flying up from Lubbock for every home game.)