Sticking To What They Know

ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

MISSISSAUGA — Argos head coach Jim Barker and his squad have been questioned numerous times this week about how they will approach the rematch against the Montreal Alouettes. Afterall, the Als handed the Boatmen a humbling 41-10 loss two weeks ago.

Although he is not ignoring the fact his team was overmatched at McGill Stadium, he is more focused on making sure that his team gets back to playing their own brand of football.

“The feeling you have after a game like that is never good,” Barker said. “We had that same feeling when we played Calgary (in the season opener).  For us, it is about doing what we do.  We didn’t play the way we play in the last quarter-and-a-half of that game.  We got away from who we are and what we are about.  It is not about redemption; I am more concerned with us playing the way we can play.”

Part of what Barker is referencing is the uncharacteristic miscues that the Argos had at inopportune times against the Als. He is confident that if his team shores up some of the mistakes, they can put themselves in a situation to win the ball game.

“We took more penalties than we usually take, we fumbled the ball and gave it back to them on the five yard line, we got away from the physical game that we play, we allowed a guy to run the ball on us,” Barker continued.  “There are just a lot of things that we preached from day one that we didn’t do in the last quarter and a half of that game.”

According to Barker, the biggest contributing factor was Montreal running back Avon Cobourne, whose 231 yards from scrimmage and 2 touchdowns made him virtually unstoppable in the last meeting.

This week, however, the Argos get another crack at the defending champs. They are two weeks wiser and coming off an emotional 29-28 come-from-behind victory that saw both QB Cleo Lemon and RB Cory Boyd generate their best performances of their early CFL careers.

Although he struggled versus the Als two weeks ago, Boyd understands that he has developed somewhat of a target on his back in his first six weeks in the CFL.  The league’s leading rusher explains that he probably wouldn’t want it any other way.

“I have always liked having the target on my back,” Boyd told argonauts.ca. “It is just something that comes with the game – the more success you have, the more people are going to key on you. Hopefully our offence can continue to play the way we have been playing and maybe then the target won’t be as large as people think it is.”

The Argos will make only one roster move this week as newly re-acquired non-import linebacker Kyle Jones checks in and import linebacker Leon Joe moves to the injured list with a hamstring injury.

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. at Rogers Centre as the Boatmen begin Football Week In Toronto.  For tickets, please call 416-341-ARGO (2746) or CLICK HERE to purchase online.