ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
Beginning the season as a backup cornerback, Dovonte Edwards was delegated primarily to special teams play, more specifically punt and kickoff returner. Dabbling at defensive halfback, Edwards, who impressed coaches in training camp with his quickness, has been rotating in and out of the Argos’ secondary in certain defensive formations.
“One of them has started there before so we don’t really worry about that, another (Will Poole) has started for us all year and at that position from time to time”. They play the defence well and they play the scheme well”.
– Head Coach Bart Andrus about the roster moves in his secondary
Edwards will now move back to the boundary cornerback position as he makes his second start of the year in place of an injured Willie Middlebrooks this Saturday afternoon when the Boatmen take on the Montreal Alouettes. His start will be the first of many changes that the Argos may employ come Saturday.
Head Coach Bart Andrus told media Friday afternoon that Safety Will Poole may move to the far side corner spot in place of Jordan Younger who may not play due to injury as well. If Poole does indeed shift, it will be up to rookie LB Alphonso Hodge and veteran LB Willie Pile to fill the void at the safety position in certain scenarios.
Despite all of the changes, one of which includes the activation of rookie CB Sammy Joseph from the practice roster. Coach Bart Andrus and his staff are confident about the group taking the field tomorrow.
“We feel good about this group that we have on the field”, Andrus said. “One of them has started there before so we don’t really worry about that, another (Will Poole) has started for us all year and at that position from time to time”. They play the defence well and they play the scheme well”.
Andrus’ defence will undoubtedly be focusing on the Alouettes’ run game which ranks tops in the league, led by tailback Avon Cobourne. In their last meeting, the Boatmen held Cobourne to just 54 yards on 15 carries and as a whole, remain one of the CFL’s top defences against the run.
Rookie Defensive Tackle Kevin Huntley understands that it is difficult not to know where Cobourne is on the field at all time, “They have a high-powered offence and when they come into our stadium, we have to make sure that we are ready for all the things they can throw at us.”, he said. “He’s a little guy (Cobourne) and he’s stalky so we need to make sure that we control our gaps”.
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The Argos will make two additional lineup changes for Saturday afternoon as rookie WR Jerome Mathis has been placed on the practice roster and WR Reggie McNeal, who has been active but hasn’t dressed in recent weeks, has been added to the IR. Slotback P.K. Sam, who caught 8 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown in three games with the Boatmen, will return from injury and start in the receiving corps. Canadian SB Brad Smith will make his second appearance of the year, first as a starter, as he dresses at the inside slot position.
Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. at Rogers Centre Saturday afternoon and one lucky fan in attendance will leave with a 2009 Nissan cube® during halftime. For tickets, please call 416-872-5000 or click here to purchase online. Following the game, the Argos will head west to take on QB Darian Durant and the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium.