Game Thread: Toronto Argonauts at Calgary Stampeders

[ArgoRavi]

Let's keep in mind the Argos had ONE day of practice to prepare for a good Calgary team and had to juggle for injuries. They still put up 36 points. Good enough to win most weeks. It was 6 days between games, and they flew back and forth. 3-4 or 4-3 was always going to be the goal with this kind of schedule. 3 games left.

It was also their second consecutive short week.

I will be more concerned if we see a similar performance in Winnipeg next week after a proper week of preparation and facing a team coming off a short week themselves.

[Will]

In hindsight, perhaps the Argos should have stayed out west instead if flying back to Guelph.

Another thing lost in all of this, and this isn't meant to be an excuse, is just how bad the Argos have been at McMahon Stadium over the years. If you look at all their Grey Cup appearance season since 1983 the Argos won there in 1983, 1987 & 2012, but lost there in 1991, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2017, 2022 & 2024. Heck, they even lost the first game of the 2023 season at McMahon. It's a house of horrors for the Argos for whatever reason.

[AngeloV]

In hindsight, perhaps the Argos should have stayed out west instead if flying back to Guelph.

Another thing lost in all of this, and this isn't meant to be an excuse, is just how bad the Argos have been at McMahon Stadium over the years. If you look at all their Grey Cup appearance season since 1983 the Argos won there in 1983, 1987 & 2012, but lost there in 1991, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2017, 2022 & 2024. Heck, they even lost the first game of the 2023 season at McMahon. It's a house of horrors for the Argos for whatever reason.

Definitely not their most successful building. Argos with Kelly have only lost 2 games against the west, and both in that building, even getting injured in the other loss there.

[RichK]

There’s too much talent on this defence to be giving up 400 yds a game. Surely the coaching staff deserves some blame. The defence looks pretty vanilla to me. They are not taking advantage of all that playmaking ability. I’m not seeing a lot of different looks. I’m not seeing any gap-switching, stunts or slants. There’s not enough pressure packages. Sending one more guy could have stopped Adams on several occasions. It is early in the season and there is plenty of time to make improvements but it is definitely a concern at this point.

[Unplayable]

I agree with RichK. Like last season the Argos are on track to give up the most points in the league, and they currently lead by a wide margin.

Teams don't have to bother running against them as they cannot pass defend very well. Too many wide open receivers, too little pressure even with blitzing (which other teams so far seem to easily recognize and pick up), and so on. I also think that a lot of this is coaching schemes.

I hope they keep playing the young guys on defence as they need the experience. Hopefully as the season progresses the defensive schemes will get better.

[OV Argo]

There’s too much talent on this defence to be giving up 400 yds a game. Surely the coaching staff deserves some blame. The defence looks pretty vanilla to me. They are not taking advantage of all that playmaking ability. I’m not seeing a lot of different looks. I’m not seeing any gap-switching, stunts or slants. There’s not enough pressure packages. Sending one more guy could have stopped Adams on several occasions. It is early in the season and there is plenty of time to make improvements but it is definitely a concern at this point.

Have to disagree a bit there Rich; cause other than Pickett & Judge as top notch OLBs, there is nobody else on this Argo D up there amongst league best talent, IMO. Maybe Holley if he regains his previous best Argo form; but other than that, a lot of average and fairly inexperienced players on this D (though Ceasar looks like a good find at D-half and could maybe progress to an all-star).

They need a smart, play-making safety (again - blew it big time there when they passed on drafting Jackson Findlay), another Muamba or McManis at MLB (Darkangelo is just Ok IMO), and 2 consistent pass rushers on the D-line (Chatfield is hit & miss and takes dumb penalties; and the D-Line rotation sees a bunch of guys play but nobody is dominating - not even close).

Still though, not like the talent is mostly sub-par, and I agree this is mostly on defensive coaching. 8 offensive TDs given up in one game ??? That can't happen again or heads need to roll; either give some new players a shot, or get rid of the DC and find a coach who knows how to scheme and produce way better pass rush and coverage. NO CFL team now is going to beat an Argo team with Kelly putting up points by just running the ball. Kelly has to win a shoot-out by putting up 40 plus points every game ?

[shatto]

I suppose we can give the team a little leeway considering they only had one practice but it is concerning how teams are able to pass against the Argos. Either they don't have the players or the coaches are doing a poor job. What ever it is, it needs to corrected asap.
Some moves I'd like to see:
. Hicks returning kicks not Smith
. Slywka back at FS
. Ready as a backup WR instead of dressing 2 FBs
. Washington at OT instead of Kemp. Kemp missed too many blocks. Wonder if we will see Henning back this year.

On a positive note it was good to see Arbuckle play well. Not sure I like him taking QB plunges on short yardage but he did look effective.

[ARGO57]

There’s too much talent on this defence to be giving up 400 yds a game. Surely the coaching staff deserves some blame. The defence looks pretty vanilla to me. They are not taking advantage of all that playmaking ability. I’m not seeing a lot of different looks. I’m not seeing any gap-switching, stunts or slants. There’s not enough pressure packages. Sending one more guy could have stopped Adams on several occasions. It is early in the season and there is plenty of time to make improvements but it is definitely a concern at this point.

Have to disagree a bit there Rich; cause other than Pickett & Judge as top notch OLBs, there is nobody else on this Argo D up there amongst league best talent, IMO. Maybe Holley if he regains his previous best Argo form; but other than that, a lot of average and fairly inexperienced players on this D (though Ceasar looks like a good find at D-half and could maybe progress to an all-star).

They need a smart, play-making safety (again - blew it big time there when they passed on drafting Jackson Findlay), another Muamba or McManis at MLB (Darkangelo is just Ok IMO), and 2 consistent pass rushers on the D-line (Chatfield is hit & miss and takes dumb penalties; and the D-Line rotation sees a bunch of guys play but nobody is dominating - not even close).

Still though, not like the talent is mostly sub-par, and I agree this is mostly on defensive coaching. 8 offensive TDs given up in one game ??? That can't happen again or heads need to roll; either give some new players a shot, or get rid of the DC and find a coach who knows how to scheme and produce way better pass rush and coverage. NO CFL team now is going to beat an Argo team with Kelly putting up points by just running the ball. Kelly has to win a shoot-out by putting up 40 plus points every game ?

The D needs to get things cleaned up for sure, counting on the O to produce 40+ points in order to have a chance to win is a bit much to expect.

[ArgoRavi]

There’s too much talent on this defence to be giving up 400 yds a game. Surely the coaching staff deserves some blame. The defence looks pretty vanilla to me. They are not taking advantage of all that playmaking ability. I’m not seeing a lot of different looks. I’m not seeing any gap-switching, stunts or slants. There’s not enough pressure packages. Sending one more guy could have stopped Adams on several occasions. It is early in the season and there is plenty of time to make improvements but it is definitely a concern at this point.

For what it's worth, DBs coach Jovon Johnson took the blame on Twitter.

[ARGO57]

There’s too much talent on this defence to be giving up 400 yds a game. Surely the coaching staff deserves some blame. The defence looks pretty vanilla to me. They are not taking advantage of all that playmaking ability. I’m not seeing a lot of different looks. I’m not seeing any gap-switching, stunts or slants. There’s not enough pressure packages. Sending one more guy could have stopped Adams on several occasions. It is early in the season and there is plenty of time to make improvements but it is definitely a concern at this point.

For what it's worth, DBs coach Jovon Johnson took the blame on Twitter.

They’ll get it figured out.