ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
The Argos finished off the second of back-to-back home games with plenty of roster changes this week.
__________________________________________
Better Late Than Never
Argos players and coaches have an annual tradition on Thanksgiving weekend where they visit the Salvation Army Harbour Lights Centre on Jarvis St. and serve dinner. A rare Thanksgiving weekend road game in Saskatchewan prevented the Boatmen from returning home in time to do so. However, a wrinkle in the schedule didn’t stop them from prolonging the spirit by a week. Dozens of Argos players and coaches greeted Torontonians at the Salvation Army as they served a community meal, signed autographs and offered a helping hand wherever possible.
__________________________________________
In Need Of Assistance
In pro football, injuries in the trenches are expected, however, it is rare that a team losses two starting non-import offensive linemen on the same play. In a year where the ‘Argo bounce’ has been few and far between, one shouldn’t be surprised that such a situation would occur – but it did.
With injuries to both OG Jeff Keeping and OT Brian Ramsay, the Argos needed depth – and needed it quickly. Enter Canadian o-linemen Scott Evans and Jean-Francois Morin-Roberge who where in Argo uniforms by the time the team got back to the practice field this week.
Evans, who had spent three previous training camps with the Boatmen, dressed for his first career CFL game later in the week as a backup offensive tackle while Morin-Roberge was added to the 46-man active but not dressed roster.
Thrust Into Action
With the aforementioned injuries along the line, it was up to two young Canadians to fill the void. Sophomore guard Mark Dewit and rookie tackle Chris Van Zeyl started their first games of the season and many would argue did an admirable job while filling in. The two will certainly get their shot down the stretch as both Keeping’s and Ramsay’s seasons are all but finished.
__________________________________________
Another Case of Too Little Too Late
If someone were to write a script on the Argos season thus far, they need not look any further than this week’s matchup with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as a launching pad. Another slow start, combined with the desire to play out every game to the final minute, saw the Argos surrender 20 unanswered first half points before outscoring their opponent 17-6 in the final 30 minutes.
Jason Carter made up for a costly fumble last week versus Edmonton by pulling the Argos within six points of their provincial rivals with just over 2 minutes remaining on a 95-yard touchdown reception. The Boatmen’s failure to get the ball back without giving up a score was just another in a long list of games that ended close but without a victory.
__________________________________________
The Rookie?
The CFL announced the list of eligible candidates for CFL Most Outstanding Rookie this week. The Argos list includes:
Amos Allen, RB, South Dakota
Matthew Black, DB, Saginaw Valley St.
Mike Bradwell, WR, McMaster
James Green, LB/S, Calgary
Alphonso Hodge, DB, Miami of Ohio
Kyle Jones, LB, Bishop’s
Sammy Joseph, DB, LSU
Matt Lambros, WR, Liberty
Étienne Légaré, DT, Laval
Stephen Reaves, QB, Southern Mississippi
Lin-J Shell, DB, Jacksonville St.
Chris Van Zeyl, OL, McMaster
In order to be eligible as a candidate for the League award for the “Most Outstanding First Year Player” (Rookie Award), a player must meet the following criteria:
1. He had, in the current season, been named to the active roster of a member Club of the Canadian Football League at the time it played in a regular season game; and
2. He had not:
a) In any prior season dressed for a member Club of the Canadian Football League at the time it played in a regular season or playoff or championship game;
— and –
b) In the current season or in any prior season, dressed for a member Club in the National Football League, at the time it played in a regular season or post-season or championship game.
The Rookie of the Year is selected by voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and all eight head coaches. The winner will be announced at the Gibson’s Finest CFL Player Awards on Thursday, November 26 in Calgary, Alberta.
__________________________________________
The 1,000-Yard Man
One thing that the script writer could also include into the story of the 2009 Toronto Argonauts is the consistent production of RB Jamal Robertson. On a 6-yard carry in the first quarter of Friday night`s game, Robertson joined a very exclusive club, becoming only the sixth Argo in history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. Previously, the mark had only been set by five (5) other Argos backs. Most recently, Michael Jenkins, who hit the mark twice, rushed for 1,184 yards in 2001. Prior to Jenkins’ 1,000-yard seasons in 2000 and 2001 were Bill Symons (1968), Doyle Orange (1975), Gil Fenerty (1989) and Robert Drummond (1997). The milestone also marks the first time in his professional career that Robertson has raced for more than 1,000 yards in a season.