Last week: bye Next game: Vs. Hamilton, Fri. June 18
Worth noting: The Argos’ latest Grey Cup banner goes up on Friday and 10,000 replica Grey Cup rings will be handed out at BMO Field on Friday (who doesn’t love a replica ring?). The lights go on and things get real for Chad Kelly and the Argos this week. Consistent play from their new starter will be the key to them opening the season with a win.
5. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-1)
Last week: 5
Last game: 42-31 loss to Winnipeg Next game: At Toronto, Fri. June 18
Worth noting: It’s not often you’ll see a team score a special teams touchdown and a defensive touchdown and still lose a game. Discipline should be high on the Ticats’ list of things to clean up before Friday’s game against the Argos. They were whistled 14 times for 121 yards. Among those penalties was a belly flop — ask a pro wrestling fan in your life for a more technical breakdown — on an opponent from d-lineman Mo Diallo.
3DN Power Rankings
3) Toronto Argonauts (4)
Did any team in the East Division have a better week than the idle Toronto Argonauts? The Alouettes find themselves leading the division but the defending Grey Cup champions moved up in the rankings despite spending the first week of the season watching from their couch. They will finally hit the field on Sunday, June 18 when they host the Ticats.
4) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2)
The Tabbies fell two spots after a double-digit loss to the No. 1-ranked Bombers. Bo Levi Mitchell had a debut to forget as he piloted Hamilton’s offence to just 239 net yards and turned the ball over three times. Things don’t get much easier for the Tabbies as their next opponent is the defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts.
It was a tough week for the Tiger-Cats, who were never really in their game with the Blue Bombers last week despite the score. They can’t rely on turnover luck and special teams touchdowns to beat top teams every week.
They struggled mightily on offense, as new Bo Levi Mitchell recorded an average depth of target of 14.8 yards but averaged just 5.4 yards per attempt. He was looking deep but hit nothing.
That needs to change if the TiCats want to compete. The Argos had a Week 1 bye, so their Grey Cup defense starts Sunday. Will the defense be as good as last year? And more importantly, is Chad Kelly the QB of the future?
MATCHUP TO WATCH: RB ANDREW HARRIS AND RB A.J. OUELLETTE, TORONTO VS LB JAMEER THURMAN, HAMILTON
With this being Kelly’s debut as the undisputed starter, the Argos will likely lean on their two-headed rushing attack of Harris and Ouellette to keep Kelly in easy-to-manage situations and not ask him to do too much.
Thurman could ruin all that himself. Last week, he tallied 10 tackles, five defensive stops, as well as a forced fumble. If Thurman has another big game, he could force the Argos offense into tough situations that they may not be able to get out of.
PLAYER TO WATCH: QB CHAD KELLY, TORONTO
Kelly has made this a must-watch game — arguably one of the biggest of the year.
After entering the game in relief and leading the Argos on a Grey Cup-winning drive last year, the team fully committed to him as their starter despite his minimal experience.
Kelly has all the tools to succeed in the CFL. The arm talent, the mobility — it’s all there. But can he put it all together and be a star? The Argos certainly think so, and this game could tell us a lot either way.
the sadist in me wants the argos to win by a point on a goal line stand and sacking BLM multiple times so i can watch the ti-cat forum tire fire for a week. GCC pool me wants the argos to win by 40 points. BLM being sacked multiple times would be bonus. lol
Well, I have their name as Toronto Argonauts. And since they don’t have a record yet this season, I went with the entirely accurate (until November) “reigning champions”. I was going to drop that for Week 3, but now, hmm . . .
Ahh, you must mean the poll . . . which is also entirely accurate. No need to go back to 1999 when the Argos are our most recent and currently reigning national champs.
