ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
MISSISSAUGA — Nobody in the Argos camp is doubting that a win early in the season, such as the one they picked up in Winnipeg on Friday, is a huge confidence builder, but ask any member of the Double Blue and they will tell you that they have already put it behind them.
The Argos enter Wednesday night’s home opener against the Stamps on a high from last week. Coach Jim Barker understands that there is still a lot of early season rust that needs to be shaken off, especially with regard to tackling in the secondary.
“Poor tackling is often the result of tired players. I don’t think our players our tired,” Barker said. “A lot of it is a lack of focus we need to focus better on wrapping guys up and that is something that we have to do better if we want a chance to beat this team.”
The Argos’ secondary has missed an uncharacteristic number of tackles thus far this season. It is something that they know they have to correct. The one leading the charge to clean up the team’s tackling will be defensive backs coach, Orlondo Steinauer. DB Lin-J Shell says that Steinauer definitely has the ear of his players.
“When he speaks, you close your mouth and you listen to what he has to say,” said the second-year Argo. “It’s quicker to buy into everything he says because he has been there before, and he has been on those championship teams.”
Shell and his fellow defensive backs will be going up against a Stampeder team that, despite being 2-0, has likely not hit their stride offensively yet. Barker knows better than anyone that they have all the capable weapons to bust a game wide open. Trying to put together two straight wins is not going to come easy for the Boatmen.
“They are a gutsy team,” he said. “They are a team that is talented and they play with a lot of courage. They have that attitude that, ‘it doesn’t matter who we are up against, we are going to win’. That’s what we are trying to build here (in Toronto).”
“Poor tackling is often the result of tired players. I don’t think our players are tired…A lot of it is a lack of focus; we need to focus better on wrapping guys up and that is something that we have to do better if we want a chance to beat this team”.
– Argos Head Coach Jim Barker on the defence’s need to improve tackling in the secondary
After an impressive performance last week by rookie RB Cory Boyd, Barker will likely try to, once again, establish a strong presence in the running game. Winning the battle on the line of scrimmage, on both sides of the ball, is paramount if the Argos want a shot at knocking off the Stamps. They are facing arguably the league’s most consistent and durable running backs in Joffrey Reynolds. The veteran back averaged 6.8 yards per carry in the season opener against the Boatmen, romping for 117 yards and a touchdown.
Perhaps the most effective way to try and win the battle in the trenches would be to put pressure on a young and relatively inexperienced offensive line that will be protecting QB Henry Burris. The line, which lost three starters in the off-season, experienced first half challenges against Hamilton last week but did settle in as the game progressed.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night at Rogers Centre as the Argos play their first regular season home game of the year. For tickets, please call 416-341-ARGO (2746) or click here to purchase online.
Notes: OL Shannon Boatman will make his first career start at right tackle in place of injured Chris Van Zeyl…WR Spencer Watt has been added to the 46-man roster…CB Byron Parker will sit another week with an injured shoulder…LB Jordan Younger will dress in his 100th career CFL game since he joined the Argos in 2004.