ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
Argos LB Willie Pile believes that a magic formula need not be necessary for the Boatmen to get back into the win column. Facing a team with an identical record that puts its emphasis on the run, Pile believes that the key to this week’s matchup in Winnipeg is to ensure that all 41 Boatmen dressing on Saturday night do their homework & prepare and the game will take care of itself.
“It comes back to fundamentals”, Pile said Thursday following the team’s final practice before boarding a flight for Manitoba. “It comes back to film work and we are teaching the motto that we win the game in practice. The game should be fun and you have to win it in practice”.
“It comes back to film work and we are teaching the motto that we win the game in practice. The game should be fun and you have to win it in practice“.
– Argos LB Willie Pile on preparing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers rushing attack
The weapon on the opposite side of the ball that Pile and his defensive cohorts will likely have watched the most film on is Bombers RB Fred Reid. He leads the CFL in rushing with 926 yards and 7 touchdowns on 149 carries and, despite Winnipeg’s offensive struggles of late, Pile knows that Reid can burn any given defence at any given time.
“We expect them to come out and establish the run”, Pile continued. “That is what they are known for and they have the leading rusher in the CFL and an offence that is really built around the run to set up the play action passes with Michael (Bishop) or whoever they have back there. The main focus for us is to try and stop the run and establish our dominance up front and force them to try and beat us with the pass”.
Pile and his mates have something to build on after holding Reid to just 58 yards total rushing in the two games they faced Winnipeg this year. In addition, the Double Blue defence has held the Bombers to just 400 yards total offence in the two meetings.
Offensively, the Argos will likely try to take a similar philosophy by trying to control the line of scrimmage with RB Jamal Robertson. The bruising back ran for 101 yards and a touchdown in the Argos’ last visit to Winnipeg and all three of the Argos victories this season have come when he rushes for over 100 yards.
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Cody Pickett will once again get the call at quarterback against Bombers’ expected starter Michael Bishop. However, if the last few weeks have indicated anything then Winnipeg head coach Mike Kelly is by no means shy to rotate in one of his backup pivots should Bishop struggle.
Kickoff is at 9:00 ET in Winnipeg and can be seen on TSN/TSN HD or heard on FAN590 or Sirius Satellite Radio. Following the game, the Boatmen return home to take on the East-leading Montreal Alouettes at Rogers Centre on Saturday, October 3 at 1:00 p.m. For tickets, please call 416-872-5000 or click here to purchase online.