One game I really like tonight for a number of reasons: Montreal -6?.
1) Toronto hasn't beaten the Als in Montreal since Nov '00. Montreal has won 4 straight over the Argos (both venues combined), including a 19-9 win in Toronto a month ago.
2) Toronto played just 4 days ago. In the CFL, time and again short turnaround time like this results in poor performances. Montreal on the other hand has had the full week off.
3) The Argos may not have a kicker with any game experience! If Prefontaine does play he will be hampered by his injury. Prefontaine is probably the best kicker in the CFL (anyone disagree??) ...certainly the longest. Losing him is the equivalent of Indianapolis losing Mike Vanderjagt. Read this from today's Toronto Sun:
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Thu, August 12, 2004
Boatmen kicked when down
By Perry Lefko, Toronto Sun
THE ARGOS may be forced to play the Alouettes tonight without an experienced kicker after the CFL yesterday denied Toronto a roster exemption. The Argos won't know until game time whether punter/ placekicker Noel Prefontaine, who has a hip flexor, can compete. As such, they asked the league to waive a rule that requires a team to declare its roster 48 hours before kickoff.
Prefontaine was injured Sunday during Toronto's 39-14 win over the Edmonton Eskimos. Forced to play three games within nine days (Toronto plays Winnipeg next Tuesday) the Argos hoped the CFL would give them special consideration.
Ed Chalupka, the league's vice-president of football operations, denied the Argos' request, explaining the exemption is only for emergencies once the roster has been declared and is in place to prevent one team from cheating by deliberately keeping a player off its roster.
"People don't cheat, they survive," a disappointed Argos vice-president of football operations Adam Rita said yesterday.
Prefontaine said he felt better yesterday and was optimistic he could play.
If he finds in warmups he can't go, the Argos will have to go without him. Backup safety Chris Hardy can punt and may have to do kicking duties, too.
The Argos added kicker Dan Giancola to the practice roster earlier this week after Prefontaine's injury. However, he will not be allowed to suit up because of the league's ruling.
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I don't like going against my team, but I think it's warranted here.
This is a big game for both teams. Montreal is a game and a half up in the standings, and these two teams will likely finish 1-2 in the East. Since they play each other 3 times this year, if Montreal wins they win the season series (and therefore would hold the tiebreaker for homefield advantage for the Eastern Final), in addition to moving 2? games up.
Toronto's offence has come alive in the past couple of weeks, but they haven't played against a defence like this since...well...since they scored 9 pts against them a month ago.
Strong play IMO.
1) Toronto hasn't beaten the Als in Montreal since Nov '00. Montreal has won 4 straight over the Argos (both venues combined), including a 19-9 win in Toronto a month ago.
2) Toronto played just 4 days ago. In the CFL, time and again short turnaround time like this results in poor performances. Montreal on the other hand has had the full week off.
3) The Argos may not have a kicker with any game experience! If Prefontaine does play he will be hampered by his injury. Prefontaine is probably the best kicker in the CFL (anyone disagree??) ...certainly the longest. Losing him is the equivalent of Indianapolis losing Mike Vanderjagt. Read this from today's Toronto Sun:
==============================
Thu, August 12, 2004
Boatmen kicked when down
By Perry Lefko, Toronto Sun
THE ARGOS may be forced to play the Alouettes tonight without an experienced kicker after the CFL yesterday denied Toronto a roster exemption. The Argos won't know until game time whether punter/ placekicker Noel Prefontaine, who has a hip flexor, can compete. As such, they asked the league to waive a rule that requires a team to declare its roster 48 hours before kickoff.
Prefontaine was injured Sunday during Toronto's 39-14 win over the Edmonton Eskimos. Forced to play three games within nine days (Toronto plays Winnipeg next Tuesday) the Argos hoped the CFL would give them special consideration.
Ed Chalupka, the league's vice-president of football operations, denied the Argos' request, explaining the exemption is only for emergencies once the roster has been declared and is in place to prevent one team from cheating by deliberately keeping a player off its roster.
"People don't cheat, they survive," a disappointed Argos vice-president of football operations Adam Rita said yesterday.
Prefontaine said he felt better yesterday and was optimistic he could play.
If he finds in warmups he can't go, the Argos will have to go without him. Backup safety Chris Hardy can punt and may have to do kicking duties, too.
The Argos added kicker Dan Giancola to the practice roster earlier this week after Prefontaine's injury. However, he will not be allowed to suit up because of the league's ruling.
==============================
I don't like going against my team, but I think it's warranted here.
This is a big game for both teams. Montreal is a game and a half up in the standings, and these two teams will likely finish 1-2 in the East. Since they play each other 3 times this year, if Montreal wins they win the season series (and therefore would hold the tiebreaker for homefield advantage for the Eastern Final), in addition to moving 2? games up.
Toronto's offence has come alive in the past couple of weeks, but they haven't played against a defence like this since...well...since they scored 9 pts against them a month ago.
Strong play IMO.
