When the Toronto Argonauts return to practice on Tuesday to start preparing for Thursday?s home game against the Calgary Stampeders, they will be looking to begin making improvements in some areas, while in others, they will take pride.
With the Argos at the one-third mark of the Canadian Football League 2017 regular season, sporting a 3-3 record that?s good enough for first place in the not-so-good East Division, we take a glance at some of the things that have gone well and others that have not in Toronto?s first six games.
Ricky Ray, the ageless wonder
The 37-year-old quarterback has been rejuvenated in Marc Trestman?s pass-first and then-pass-again offence, amassing a league-high 2,282 passing yards. Ray owned several team passing records before the season started, and has tacked on a few more, not the least of which is moving past Condredge Holloway to become the franchise leader in passing yards. Next will be most passing touchdowns, as Ray has 95, three behind Holloway?s 98. Ray?s 266 pass attempts are most in the CFL, with S.J. Green leading all receivers in being targeted 60 times. And the Argos? 818 yards after catch (YAC) is first in the league.
Red-zone woes
The Argos haven?t been able to turn the yardage into touchdowns with consistency. Their 33.3% success rate within 20 yards is lowest in the CFL, as they have been in the red zone 21 times and been rewarded with a major on seven occasions. Only B.C. (25 times) and Calgary (22) have been to the red zone more often. The Lions have scored 20 touchdowns in those situations, by far the most in the league. Even the no-win Hamilton Tiger-Cats have had more success, scoring a TD on 50% of their red-zone chances (four of eight). One stat that should concern brass is that of the Argos? 84 possessions, only 10 (12%) have resulted in a touchdown. Just Hamilton has been worse, scoring a major on 7% of its possessions (five of 68). The Argos have attempted 26 field goals; no other CFL team has tried more than 17. Green hinted after the loss in Saskatchewan that the points being left on the field eventually will come back to haunt the Argos, and it?s on Trestman to find a solution as the calendar turns to August.
Woods as advertised
When Bear Woods, discarded by the Montreal Alouettes, was signed by the Argos in June, the thinking was Toronto was acquiring a defensive leader who could set the tone each time the opponent snapped the football. Woods leads the Argos with 37 defensive tackles and is fourth overall in that category, with his ability to attack the ball rising to the fore. Team-wise, the Argos have allowed an average of 330 yards a game, second-fewest in the CFL (Edmonton?s defence is first at 309.8 yards). The Argos have allowed opposing offences an average of 24.7 points a game, putting them fourth in the league. Nineteen sacks leads the CFL, while the Argos have forced 10 turnovers on defence, good for third. Speaking of the red zone, the Argos defence hasn?t been overly great. Opposing offences have had 19 red-zone chances, converting 12 for touchdowns, or 63.2%. Only the Ticats (68%) and the Lions (63.6%) have allowed more touchdowns from within 20 yards.
Discipline incidents
The Argos haven?t been on their best behaviour, taking 51 penalties for 492 yards. Just the Alouettes (54) have been flagged more often. Toronto?s 14 penalties on special teams are the most in the league. Where the Argos have had the most trouble is in the category of technical penalties, which includes holding, illegal blocking, defensive pass interference and illegal contact on a receiver. The Argos have taken 22 penalties in those situations, which again is the most in the league.
Lead us to the finish
We would imagine that Trestman and his staff would be happy with the fact the Argos have had at least a five-point lead in all of their games, including the losses. General manager Jim Popp and Trestman, in short order after being hired late in February, put together a roster of players that they hoped would jell quickly. For the most part that has happened, and perhaps those leads are kept with greater frequency in the final 12 games (though we should note that Argos have to improve in the fourth quarter, as they have been outscored a combined 70-38 in the final 15 minutes). Overall, there?s a positive vibe in the locker room, and no lack of confidence. The players understand that seemingly only good things are on the horizon with Trestman in charge.
With the Argos at the one-third mark of the Canadian Football League 2017 regular season, sporting a 3-3 record that?s good enough for first place in the not-so-good East Division, we take a glance at some of the things that have gone well and others that have not in Toronto?s first six games.
Ricky Ray, the ageless wonder
The 37-year-old quarterback has been rejuvenated in Marc Trestman?s pass-first and then-pass-again offence, amassing a league-high 2,282 passing yards. Ray owned several team passing records before the season started, and has tacked on a few more, not the least of which is moving past Condredge Holloway to become the franchise leader in passing yards. Next will be most passing touchdowns, as Ray has 95, three behind Holloway?s 98. Ray?s 266 pass attempts are most in the CFL, with S.J. Green leading all receivers in being targeted 60 times. And the Argos? 818 yards after catch (YAC) is first in the league.
Red-zone woes
The Argos haven?t been able to turn the yardage into touchdowns with consistency. Their 33.3% success rate within 20 yards is lowest in the CFL, as they have been in the red zone 21 times and been rewarded with a major on seven occasions. Only B.C. (25 times) and Calgary (22) have been to the red zone more often. The Lions have scored 20 touchdowns in those situations, by far the most in the league. Even the no-win Hamilton Tiger-Cats have had more success, scoring a TD on 50% of their red-zone chances (four of eight). One stat that should concern brass is that of the Argos? 84 possessions, only 10 (12%) have resulted in a touchdown. Just Hamilton has been worse, scoring a major on 7% of its possessions (five of 68). The Argos have attempted 26 field goals; no other CFL team has tried more than 17. Green hinted after the loss in Saskatchewan that the points being left on the field eventually will come back to haunt the Argos, and it?s on Trestman to find a solution as the calendar turns to August.
Woods as advertised
When Bear Woods, discarded by the Montreal Alouettes, was signed by the Argos in June, the thinking was Toronto was acquiring a defensive leader who could set the tone each time the opponent snapped the football. Woods leads the Argos with 37 defensive tackles and is fourth overall in that category, with his ability to attack the ball rising to the fore. Team-wise, the Argos have allowed an average of 330 yards a game, second-fewest in the CFL (Edmonton?s defence is first at 309.8 yards). The Argos have allowed opposing offences an average of 24.7 points a game, putting them fourth in the league. Nineteen sacks leads the CFL, while the Argos have forced 10 turnovers on defence, good for third. Speaking of the red zone, the Argos defence hasn?t been overly great. Opposing offences have had 19 red-zone chances, converting 12 for touchdowns, or 63.2%. Only the Ticats (68%) and the Lions (63.6%) have allowed more touchdowns from within 20 yards.
Discipline incidents
The Argos haven?t been on their best behaviour, taking 51 penalties for 492 yards. Just the Alouettes (54) have been flagged more often. Toronto?s 14 penalties on special teams are the most in the league. Where the Argos have had the most trouble is in the category of technical penalties, which includes holding, illegal blocking, defensive pass interference and illegal contact on a receiver. The Argos have taken 22 penalties in those situations, which again is the most in the league.
Lead us to the finish
We would imagine that Trestman and his staff would be happy with the fact the Argos have had at least a five-point lead in all of their games, including the losses. General manager Jim Popp and Trestman, in short order after being hired late in February, put together a roster of players that they hoped would jell quickly. For the most part that has happened, and perhaps those leads are kept with greater frequency in the final 12 games (though we should note that Argos have to improve in the fourth quarter, as they have been outscored a combined 70-38 in the final 15 minutes). Overall, there?s a positive vibe in the locker room, and no lack of confidence. The players understand that seemingly only good things are on the horizon with Trestman in charge.
