Argonauts @ Roughriders - June 26, 2026

[AngeloV]

The lack of a go-to option for short yardage has been a problem for years. Risking Kelly's health on QB sneaks is a bad plan. Tucker Horn may not have the Tommy Stevens body type, but surely he could be coached up to take this on?

The panel's halftime rant about Miller not standing up to Kelly appears to have zero supporting evidence, but it is worth asking IMO what coaching support Kelly gets on the sideline. We know he leaned very heavily on Miller when the latter was QB coach, and they would look at the tablet together after each series. Now that Miller can't do that, I hope QB coach Chris Miller is effectively filling a similar role.

On short yardage I don’t like the hurry method they use. I get they don’t want to allow for a substitution, but I think they can easily draw an offside if they rush to the line and do a hard count. At the very least, should have tried the hard count when the kicked the FG on third and inches. The 5 yard penalty if they took a time count would not have made a difference. Should have tried for a freebie

[AngeloV]

Overall a very good and entertaining game.
The running game doesn’t concern me. Riders have shut down the run all last season and so far this season.
The TD at the end of the first half reminded me of Kelly’s last playoff game where I thought they were going to lose a FG opportunity, but like that game, they got the TD.
Unless they find a way to start John at safety, I don’t see Herslow getting back in the line up, barring an injury. Kelly and the receivers are himming. Wouldn’t be the first player to lose his spot with a TC injury. Kaumann has taken the opportunity and run with it. Early rookie of the year candidate.
James Ceasar has been a great find at the half. IMO, he’s been their best DB, along with Franklin.
Kelly though sacked 3 times and hit a few more, has shown what I said to be the case last year. He makes the -line better because he makes quicker reads than Arbuckle.
All in all, so excited to see this team progress. Barring major injuries, they are going to be at the top of the league.
If Ottawa wakes up, maybe an east crossover?

[paulwoods13]

On short yardage I don’t like the hurry method they use. I get they don’t want to allow for a substitution, but I think they can easily draw an offside if they rush to the line and do a hard count. At the very least, should have tried the hard count when the kicked the FG on third and inches. The 5 yard penalty if they took a time count would not have made a difference. Should have tried for a freebie

As I think I mentioned last wk, I want to gamble virtually every time in such a situation. The ball was at the 17. Make a FG (as we did) and Sask gets the ball at the 40, with 70 yards to the end zone (which they got to). Miss a third-down gamble and Sask gets the ball 93 yards away. IMO the three points there are not worth the 23 yards.

[Cambridge Blue]

On short yardage I don’t like the hurry method they use. I get they don’t want to allow for a substitution, but I think they can easily draw an offside if they rush to the line and do a hard count. At the very least, should have tried the hard count when the kicked the FG on third and inches. The 5 yard penalty if they took a time count would not have made a difference. Should have tried for a freebie

As I think I mentioned last wk, I want to gamble virtually every time in such a situation. The ball was at the 17. Make a FG (as we did) and Sask gets the ball at the 40, with 70 yards to the end zone (which they got to). Miss a third-down gamble and Sask gets the ball 93 yards away. IMO the three points there are not worth the 23 yards.

That was my biggest gripe from last night. Mace was aggressive in every situation, and they all worked out, while the Argos punted or settled for 3 every time. It really helped give away the early momentum and gave the Riders a lift during the 2nd quarter.
I'm sure the analytics usually support going for it, so is it a case of Miller being too conservative, or just to be expected platying it a bit safe in his first few games as a Head Coach?

[OV Argo]

Argos need to find a short yardage sneak guy who is very reliable.

Interesting that some other teams around the league have found that kinda player: Huge body QBs like Tommy Stevens (Calgary and now Riders) and Quincy Vaughn for the Stamps are very good at getting that tough one or two yards and can break bigger gains by going wide sometimes , AND present the possibility of a fake and throwing a pass (why we don't see that some is an example of CFL same old predictability) which could mean a bigger to huge gainer; Ticats now have 6-7 QB Jake Dolegala who at least has the reach but maybe not the mobility of a Stevens or Vaughn, and again, could throw a pass out of the formation. Previously a couple of CFL teams had big fullback types under C for the job - Mackie In BC was very good at it and M-Litre for the Ticats was effective as well.

Hard to believe the Argos could not find either a big, strong QB as their 3rd stringer who would be a fit for this role, or, dress another suitable player who can handle the ball and plough ahead with power - they are dressing 2 "fullbacks" in Parsarlidis & Cassar who don't play much O at all, and if they are not capable, find another fullback or big former QB who is, and dress that guy instead.

Too important of a job/role now to not have somebody very capable; and given CFL same old thinking, another option of having a big power fullback take a hand-off from a QB under C and be very good at pushing for a yard or three, is probably not going to be considered or seen as too "radical" (LOL) - Julien Radlein was outstanding at that for the Ticats a number of years back.