Keeping a tight grip on the ball `a team goal,' Andrus says, looking ahead to Winnipeg
The Toronto Argonauts are better in almost every offensive category than a season ago.
But it's the turnovers, the one issue in which they are worse after three games, that has the Argos sitting with the same 1-2 record they had to open the disastrous (4-14) 2008 campaign.
"We're our worst enemy right now," quarterback Kerry Joseph said yesterday of the five turnovers in each of the past two games, both losses. "We're stopping ourselves.
"They're things we have to correct to stay on the field and put points on the board."
Joseph, who leads the CFL in passing yards with 881, and touchdown passes with six, said the focus ahead of Friday's game in Winnipeg is "paying attention to detail," such as protecting the football and following through on blocking assignments.
"Stats mean nothing to me," Joseph, who has also thrown three interceptions, said of his league-leading numbers. "It's (about) wins and losses."
In beating Hamilton the first week, the Toronto defence picked off two passes while the offence never lost the ball. But in losing to Saskatchewan and Calgary, four Toronto turnovers ? two interceptions, a fumble and a blocked punt ? resulted in defensive touchdowns, while the Argo defence dropped several interception chances.
The Argos have turned the ball over 11 times compared to six for their opponents.
"The team that has the positive turnover ratio will win the game 90 per cent of the time," head coach Bart Andrus said following yesterday's practice. "That's a fact in this game, so that's something that we're constantly looking at ? and constantly coaching ? to not have happen."
But improving that ratio is "a team goal," not one restricted to the ball-handlers on offence, Andrus said. From the offensive line not allowing blind-side hits on the quarterback, to special teams tacklers jarring the ball loose, and defensive backs making the catches when they have interception chances, everyone must get better, he said.
"When a ball's coming to your hands and it hits your hands, we expect you to catch it," linebacker Zeke Moreno said. "And we've had some easy interceptions that could have been touchdowns, dropped.
"We've got to bear down and create things on defence. If we can win that turnover battle, we're going to win some games."
Argo notes
Receiver Brad Smith, who was released from the Argos' practice roster last week, joked yesterday about his "three-day unpaid vacation" after being re-signed to the active roster following a rash of injuries to Canadian pass-catchers in the loss to Calgary. "And I got to see the beautiful (Hwy.) 401, both ways," the 26-year-old out of Queen's University said of the drive to and from Montreal. "I put about 1,500 kilometres on my car that's going to cost me in the end, but it's worth it. You never wish your teammates go down, but you understand as a Canadian kid that's probably one of the only ways you're going to get a chance," added Smith, who comes in after Andre Talbot, Matt Lambros and Steve Schmidt all got hurt in the 44-9 loss.
Canadian receiver Chad Rempel, a one-time Argo who caught three passes in 11 games with Hamilton in '08, was re-signed to the practice roster yesterday.
Canadian running back Jeff Johnson is expected to return Friday from a triceps injury. "This time around, he'll be working a lot of special teams which we need help on," head coach Bart Andrus said. "That's really good news for us. He's intense and a good player."
The Toronto Argonauts are better in almost every offensive category than a season ago.
But it's the turnovers, the one issue in which they are worse after three games, that has the Argos sitting with the same 1-2 record they had to open the disastrous (4-14) 2008 campaign.
"We're our worst enemy right now," quarterback Kerry Joseph said yesterday of the five turnovers in each of the past two games, both losses. "We're stopping ourselves.
"They're things we have to correct to stay on the field and put points on the board."
Joseph, who leads the CFL in passing yards with 881, and touchdown passes with six, said the focus ahead of Friday's game in Winnipeg is "paying attention to detail," such as protecting the football and following through on blocking assignments.
"Stats mean nothing to me," Joseph, who has also thrown three interceptions, said of his league-leading numbers. "It's (about) wins and losses."
In beating Hamilton the first week, the Toronto defence picked off two passes while the offence never lost the ball. But in losing to Saskatchewan and Calgary, four Toronto turnovers ? two interceptions, a fumble and a blocked punt ? resulted in defensive touchdowns, while the Argo defence dropped several interception chances.
The Argos have turned the ball over 11 times compared to six for their opponents.
"The team that has the positive turnover ratio will win the game 90 per cent of the time," head coach Bart Andrus said following yesterday's practice. "That's a fact in this game, so that's something that we're constantly looking at ? and constantly coaching ? to not have happen."
But improving that ratio is "a team goal," not one restricted to the ball-handlers on offence, Andrus said. From the offensive line not allowing blind-side hits on the quarterback, to special teams tacklers jarring the ball loose, and defensive backs making the catches when they have interception chances, everyone must get better, he said.
"When a ball's coming to your hands and it hits your hands, we expect you to catch it," linebacker Zeke Moreno said. "And we've had some easy interceptions that could have been touchdowns, dropped.
"We've got to bear down and create things on defence. If we can win that turnover battle, we're going to win some games."
Argo notes
Receiver Brad Smith, who was released from the Argos' practice roster last week, joked yesterday about his "three-day unpaid vacation" after being re-signed to the active roster following a rash of injuries to Canadian pass-catchers in the loss to Calgary. "And I got to see the beautiful (Hwy.) 401, both ways," the 26-year-old out of Queen's University said of the drive to and from Montreal. "I put about 1,500 kilometres on my car that's going to cost me in the end, but it's worth it. You never wish your teammates go down, but you understand as a Canadian kid that's probably one of the only ways you're going to get a chance," added Smith, who comes in after Andre Talbot, Matt Lambros and Steve Schmidt all got hurt in the 44-9 loss.
Canadian receiver Chad Rempel, a one-time Argo who caught three passes in 11 games with Hamilton in '08, was re-signed to the practice roster yesterday.
Canadian running back Jeff Johnson is expected to return Friday from a triceps injury. "This time around, he'll be working a lot of special teams which we need help on," head coach Bart Andrus said. "That's really good news for us. He's intense and a good player."
