Five Things to Watch
1. MARC OF EXCELLENCE
Montreal fans passionately embraced Marc Trestman each time the former head coach of the Als came to town or was honored during some video tribute when Trestman coached the Bears. He is now the enemy, returning to Montreal for the first time as the opposing head coach. During his five-year run in Montreal, Trestman compiled a 36-9 (80%) home record, the highest percentage among all coaches with a minimum of 40 games in CFL history. Trestman?s final regular-season home game in Montreal came on Oct. 28, 2012.
2. SAFETY FIRST
Injuries to Jermaine Gabriel and Chris Ackie, Toronto and Montreal, respectively, have forced some changes at starting safety. Oddly enough, it?s veteran Matt Black making his season debut for the Argos, who cut Black recently. For the Als, the team is turning to Ajax native Dondre Wright, a rookie who makes his starting debut. ?Growth happens fast for some of these guys,?? Als head coach Jacques Chapdelaine said of Wright. ?They have to play above and beyond their years at some point in time.?
3. DURANT CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Not many view Darian Durant as a true passing quarterback given his penchant for wanting to run with the football. He?s older now and more mature and he has shown to be a very good passer when Durant finds his rhythm. By night?s end, Durant, who enters the game having thrown for 30,247 yards, can surpass the legendary Rifle, Sam Etcheverry, for 14th place on the CFL career list. Durant is 62 yards from eclipsing Tom Burgess, 135 passing yards from usurping the Rifle.
4. ACTION JACKSON
There?s no more explosive player on Toronto?s roster than Martese Jackson, who was brought to the CFL by then-Als GM Jim Popp. Jackson has earned a spot as the Argos? primary returner, but the team is slowly incorporating Jackson on offence. Whether it?s on sweeps, screens, the ball needs to find Jackson?s hands often, especially against a very aggressive Als defence. ?I want to help the team as much as possible,?? said Jackson, who never appeared in a regular-season game during his brief run in Montreal.
5. SAY HIE TO BYE
The Argos had a normal, routine week to get ready for the Als following a tough stretch that saw Toronto play three times within the span of 11 days. The Als, meanwhile, are coming off a bye week, hoping to make amends for a late-game implosion to the host Blue Bombers. In the CFL this season, teams coming off bye weeks are 2-3. Last season, Montreal went 1-1. Either way, no team Friday night has any momentum.
THE KEY MATCHUP
Toronto?s cover units vs. Als returner Stefan Logan
Roy Finch lit up the Argos? special teams last week and now comes Logan, who is equally adept at returning every punt for a touchdown. Logan looms as the difference maker if he?s allowed space. Logan can attack the perimeter or he can use his explosive style to run up field. Containment is critical for the Argos, who haven?t exactly been assignment sound this season. With a guy like Logan on the field, any mental mistake has some serious consequences. Toronto needs to win the field position battle and it begins by trying to neutralize Logan. The Argos have their own version of Logan in Martese Jackson, but Logan is stronger and more physical, despite his diminutive stature.
INSIDE THE GAME
Normalcy returns to the Argos with a remaining schedule that sees them play once a week, save for a bye week later in the season. ?We?re excited right now,?? said head coach Marc Trestman. ?We played seven games in 35 days with four short weeks and we?ve come out with a position where you have a chance to play for first place in our division.?? Despite both teams having losing records, the team that sweeps this home and home set (the return game is next Saturday at BMO when Montreal comes to town), will be atop the East at what is essentially the CFL?s mid-season point ... DE John Bowman has recorded 115 sacks during his hall of fame career, including 25 against the Argos, the most against any team. He has sacked Ricky Ray five times, including one devastating blow that knocked Ray out with a concussion ... Veteran SB Nik Lewis is third on the CFL?s career receiving list with 1,011 catches. Up next is ex-Als receiver Ben Cahoon (1,017) followed by leader Geroy Simon (1,029) ... Since Anthony Calvillo called it a career four years ago, the Als have started 10 different QBs ... Since Ray joined the Argos in 2012, six quarterbacks have filled in for an injured Ray.
---------------
The Argos can?t stop the run and the team is vulnerable in the back end, a deadly combo when playing a solid running team such as Montreal, which lines up two American tackles on the offensive line. Unless the Als shoot themselves in the foot, it?s hard to see the Argos coming out on top. Game can get ugly if Als jump out to an early lead and force the Argos to be one-dimensional on offence.
1. MARC OF EXCELLENCE
Montreal fans passionately embraced Marc Trestman each time the former head coach of the Als came to town or was honored during some video tribute when Trestman coached the Bears. He is now the enemy, returning to Montreal for the first time as the opposing head coach. During his five-year run in Montreal, Trestman compiled a 36-9 (80%) home record, the highest percentage among all coaches with a minimum of 40 games in CFL history. Trestman?s final regular-season home game in Montreal came on Oct. 28, 2012.
2. SAFETY FIRST
Injuries to Jermaine Gabriel and Chris Ackie, Toronto and Montreal, respectively, have forced some changes at starting safety. Oddly enough, it?s veteran Matt Black making his season debut for the Argos, who cut Black recently. For the Als, the team is turning to Ajax native Dondre Wright, a rookie who makes his starting debut. ?Growth happens fast for some of these guys,?? Als head coach Jacques Chapdelaine said of Wright. ?They have to play above and beyond their years at some point in time.?
3. DURANT CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Not many view Darian Durant as a true passing quarterback given his penchant for wanting to run with the football. He?s older now and more mature and he has shown to be a very good passer when Durant finds his rhythm. By night?s end, Durant, who enters the game having thrown for 30,247 yards, can surpass the legendary Rifle, Sam Etcheverry, for 14th place on the CFL career list. Durant is 62 yards from eclipsing Tom Burgess, 135 passing yards from usurping the Rifle.
4. ACTION JACKSON
There?s no more explosive player on Toronto?s roster than Martese Jackson, who was brought to the CFL by then-Als GM Jim Popp. Jackson has earned a spot as the Argos? primary returner, but the team is slowly incorporating Jackson on offence. Whether it?s on sweeps, screens, the ball needs to find Jackson?s hands often, especially against a very aggressive Als defence. ?I want to help the team as much as possible,?? said Jackson, who never appeared in a regular-season game during his brief run in Montreal.
5. SAY HIE TO BYE
The Argos had a normal, routine week to get ready for the Als following a tough stretch that saw Toronto play three times within the span of 11 days. The Als, meanwhile, are coming off a bye week, hoping to make amends for a late-game implosion to the host Blue Bombers. In the CFL this season, teams coming off bye weeks are 2-3. Last season, Montreal went 1-1. Either way, no team Friday night has any momentum.
THE KEY MATCHUP
Toronto?s cover units vs. Als returner Stefan Logan
Roy Finch lit up the Argos? special teams last week and now comes Logan, who is equally adept at returning every punt for a touchdown. Logan looms as the difference maker if he?s allowed space. Logan can attack the perimeter or he can use his explosive style to run up field. Containment is critical for the Argos, who haven?t exactly been assignment sound this season. With a guy like Logan on the field, any mental mistake has some serious consequences. Toronto needs to win the field position battle and it begins by trying to neutralize Logan. The Argos have their own version of Logan in Martese Jackson, but Logan is stronger and more physical, despite his diminutive stature.
INSIDE THE GAME
Normalcy returns to the Argos with a remaining schedule that sees them play once a week, save for a bye week later in the season. ?We?re excited right now,?? said head coach Marc Trestman. ?We played seven games in 35 days with four short weeks and we?ve come out with a position where you have a chance to play for first place in our division.?? Despite both teams having losing records, the team that sweeps this home and home set (the return game is next Saturday at BMO when Montreal comes to town), will be atop the East at what is essentially the CFL?s mid-season point ... DE John Bowman has recorded 115 sacks during his hall of fame career, including 25 against the Argos, the most against any team. He has sacked Ricky Ray five times, including one devastating blow that knocked Ray out with a concussion ... Veteran SB Nik Lewis is third on the CFL?s career receiving list with 1,011 catches. Up next is ex-Als receiver Ben Cahoon (1,017) followed by leader Geroy Simon (1,029) ... Since Anthony Calvillo called it a career four years ago, the Als have started 10 different QBs ... Since Ray joined the Argos in 2012, six quarterbacks have filled in for an injured Ray.
---------------
The Argos can?t stop the run and the team is vulnerable in the back end, a deadly combo when playing a solid running team such as Montreal, which lines up two American tackles on the offensive line. Unless the Als shoot themselves in the foot, it?s hard to see the Argos coming out on top. Game can get ugly if Als jump out to an early lead and force the Argos to be one-dimensional on offence.
