TORONTO — The Way Too Early Power Rankings have been out for over a week and they’re still generating conversation.
With regard to the 2023 Argos, Corey Mace’s defense was a major part of their success. Strange that the Argos have not yet named a defensive coordinator for 2024 - what are they waiting for? Also, it is interesting that none of the defensive players that left the team followed Corey to Saskatchewan - most went to Hamilton. I had expected a stream of defensive players from Argos to Riders. The five ex-Argos that moved to Hamilton do not appear to have affected the Tiger-Cats position in the Way Too Early Power Rankings. If they do not improve Hamilton, how does their loss hurt the Argos? On the positive side, as always the real rankings will be determined on the field.
So it looks like while nothing has been set in stone, some rumblings are being heard. I found this on Facebook earlier this week;
Feels like a disaster in waiting to me. Stubler and Jones were guys with vast amounts of DC experience when they split duties. Eiben and Fields are brand new to the position and don’t have a head coach with a defensive background to provide oversight.
I’m also confused about why Toronto would make them co-DCs. Was one guy not good enough? Would the other have split without a promotion and raise?
The Hamilton Tiger cats are going to have the type of offence that every team is going to be afraid of,” Muamba said. “(Head coach and offensive coordinator) Scott Milanovich, (quarterback) Bo Levi Mitchell and an off-season is something dangerous, is something that you have to talk about.
While I have nothing but respect for Muamba, I have no idea why he thinks Hamilton’s offence will be something “to be afraid of.” It’s the same guy who ran their offence for most of last year. Same QB who couldn’t stay healthy and was an interception machine when he was on the field. No big pieces added to the offence in free agency. Outside of Tim White, that receiving corps scares no one. The O-line looks more or less the same as last year. What’s to stop enemy defences from double-covering White to take him out of the game and daring Hamilton to beat them in other ways?
IMO if Hamilton is going to succeed in 2024, it will be because the defence takes a solid step forward due to Hendrix and Barlow solidifying the pass rush and Jamal Davis perhaps motivated to have a bounce-back season after getting released by Montreal in 2023.
Edit: if I had to pick offenses that I think will be fearsome in 2024, I’d go with Winnipeg, Toronto, and BC.
It is obvious that this article was written prior to the mess in the Argo organization. What impact will losing Kelly have on these Power Rankings?
I would love for these opinion pieces to be noted, then revisited after the season to gloat where they are right, and make excuses where they fumbled. I’d rather they just admit where they were wrong - maybe even apologize to the disrespected party - but I would be kidding myself to believe that was likely.
Winnipeg = yes
BC = yes
Toronto = ?? questionable ??
Agreed. Co-DCs means that no one is in charge. Will they alternate calling defensive formations? I cannot think of any way this will work.
Maybe questionable. You’re right. But I still think they have a lot of weapons on offence, and assuming Kelly is actually on the field and playing, he’ll be more effective in his second year as the starter.
Well him doing well will all depend on how many imaginary concussions he will get when things aren’t going his way . All contingent as well to if he is still on the team or even in the league when the dust finally settles on what exactly occurred with his legal troubles and allegations .
