Argofans

Anyone here willing to defend Dinwiddie's actions during the game -- when he forcibly shoved Hergott and then continued ripping into him for a minute or so -- or post-game, when he threw his special-teams coach under the bus and suggested -- without naming names -- that one of his guards spent the offseason losing too much weight, which contributed to the o-line getting pushed around on the failed goal-line play? Vandal and Doxtater were the guards in Games 1 and 2 -- Doxtater didn't dress last night so he's probably not the target. Last night it was Vandal and Hunter -- either could be whom Dinwiddie was referring to. Nicastro has played only centre this season, but has been a guard in the past -- and started the season, bizarrely, on the bench. So maybe he's the guy? Was he referring to Vandal, Hunter or Nicastro? In effect, all three of them are now under suspicion.

Players absolutely need to be held accountable (as do coaches) for their performance, but in what world is publicly ripping players like this an effective coaching/management strategy?

Dinwiddie has never been in this spot (0-3). It doesn't excuse the behavior, but maybe he has no idea how to handle it.

I can understand the coach's frustration but that is no excuse for his behaviour. If he wants to tear a strip off a player then he should so in the privacy of the locker room not in public. He should also look into the mirror. There have been mistakes made in the off season and during games. The team needs a big, strong, good running QB for short yardage situations. But none were recruited in the off season. There were a couple of Canadian QBs available (Tachinski for example) but they were not even given a look. Leaving Arbuckle in for short yardage is another strange call. First of all, he is not a short yardage player and secondly if he got injured the team really is in trouble.
I like and respect Dinwiddie as a coach but not his behaviour and actions on the sidelines last night.

shatto wrote: ↑Sat Jun 21, 2025 3:37 pm I can understand the coach's frustration but that is no excuse for his behaviour. If he wants to tear a strip off a player then he should so in the privacy of the locker room not in public. He should also look into the mirror. There have been mistakes made in the off season and during games. The team needs a big, strong, good running QB for short yardage situations. But none were recruited in the off season. There were a couple of Canadian QBs available (Tachinski for example) but they were not even given a look. Leaving Arbuckle in for short yardage is another strange call. First of all, he is not a short yardage player and secondly if he got injured the team really is in trouble.
I like and respect Dinwiddie as a coach but not his behaviour and actions on the sidelines last night.

IMO publicly call out the team as a whole for their crappy play, ream out individual players behind closed doors.
This is uncharted territory for Dinwiddie, they better get their act together sooner rather than later or this could spiral into a disastrous season.

Dinwiddie usually just takes the blame for losses himself. He's also human and I can understand his considerable frustration. The Argos have been hit with more injuries than I can recall any team being hit with this early in the season. That game last night - against a team many consider to be a Grey Cup favourite - was winnable and most of the wounds were indeed self-inflicted, with the lack of continuity due to injuries being a significant factor.

Other than the guard comment, I was fine with Dinwiddie's frankness but I also suspect that he feels badly this morning with some of what he said. With two Grey Cup wins and four solid seasons under his belt though, I believe he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Also, I really don't think any of us can know what this team is or isn't until they get the likes of Kelly, McManis, and Grant back in the lineup.

I have absolutely no problem with the comments. IMO, they were warranted. Week after week, he comes in front of the camera and protects the players and say he has to coach better. The penalties were ridiculous. He should put them all on blast.

AngeloV wrote: ↑Sat Jun 21, 2025 6:57 pm I have absolutely no problem with the comments. IMO, they were warranted. Week after week, he comes in front of the camera and protects the players and say he has to coach better. The penalties were ridiculous. He should put them all on blast.

It's one thing to say penalties are unacceptable, or the offensive line got beaten up. It's another to say "a guard" is too light, and imply that individual (could be any of the guards, so now they're all potentially guilty) was malingering in the offseason. And it's yet another thing to forcibly shove one of your players on the sideline, while blowing a gasket for a minute or more. Dinwiddie lost his mind at least twice last night. Lets hope he didn't also lose the room.

AngeloV wrote: ↑Sat Jun 21, 2025 6:57 pm I have absolutely no problem with the comments. IMO, they were warranted. Week after week, he comes in front of the camera and protects the players and say he has to coach better. The penalties were ridiculous. He should put them all on blast.

I'm sure the players can handle it. This ain't "Tim Bits" soccer.

gilthethrill wrote: ↑Sun Jun 22, 2025 1:18 pm

AngeloV wrote: ↑Sat Jun 21, 2025 6:57 pm I have absolutely no problem with the comments. IMO, they were warranted. Week after week, he comes in front of the camera and protects the players and say he has to coach better. The penalties were ridiculous. He should put them all on blast.

I'm sure the players can handle it. This ain't "Tim Bits" soccer.

No kidding. A lot about nothing.

paulwoods13 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 21, 2025 9:20 pm

AngeloV wrote: ↑Sat Jun 21, 2025 6:57 pm I have absolutely no problem with the comments. IMO, they were warranted. Week after week, he comes in front of the camera and protects the players and say he has to coach better. The penalties were ridiculous. He should put them all on blast.

It's one thing to say penalties are unacceptable, or the offensive line got beaten up. It's another to say "a guard" is too light, and imply that individual (could be any of the guards, so now they're all potentially guilty) was malingering in the offseason. And it's yet another thing to forcibly shove one of your players on the sideline, while blowing a gasket for a minute or more. Dinwiddie lost his mind at least twice last night. Lets hope he didn't also lose the room.

I think everyone has made a valid point on this. Definitely, this is uncharted territory for Dinwiddie, having never been in this situation before, and no doubt the winless start to the season and two losses at home has contributed to the pressure he is under and thus, this emotional outburst. I believe he will reflect and learn from it, as all good coaches do. As for him "losing his mind", we have no idea what was said in the locker room at half-time, but I would suspect discipline and self-control on the part of his players was part of it. Then to see his players, in effect, lose their minds and take more stupid selfish penalties, probably put him over the edge. Forcibly shoving the player? This isn't pee-wee football, the players are grown men who play a violent game. In the heat of the moment, shoving a player who just made a bone head play isn't the biggest sin in the world. I would bet if you asked the player, he would say he deserved it. The Argos are in a tough spot, and it is not going to get any easier and so everyone on the team, from Dinwiddie on down, has to dig deep, re-focus and start to "pull together".