ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
MISSISSAUGA – Perhaps one of the biggest challenges facing the Argos heading into Sunday’s Eastern Semi-Final is trying to pin-point what exactly went wrong that led to a season sweep at the hands of their arch rivals.
Although it is nearly impossible to narrow the problems down to one glaring miscue, turnovers have to be near the top of the list when the Boatmen review both film and their game plan this week.
In addition to being outscored this season (-46), the Argonauts lost the turnover battle in the three meetings with the Tiger-Cats to the tune of 15 to 4 – a stat that does not sit well with head coach Jim Barker.
“We have to not turnover the ball like we did the last three times we played them,” Barker said. “We went through the previous three games and the reasons that we lost them – the players know and we just have to go out and do it.”
Turnovers, along with penalties, have been two areas that Barker and his staff have improved on this year, especially the latter. However, the Argos have had an uncharacteristically high number of both in the three previous matchups.
“On special teams, we had two turnovers – two blocked punts – and penalties that we don’t usually take so there are a lot of things that we did in those three games that we don’t normally do.”
The difficult part about correcting the aforementioned mistakes is that it is hard to teach concentration. Argos running back Cory Boyd says that although it is up to the individual to avoid putting the ball on the turf, sometimes teammates can help make each other aware that they should always have ball security on their mind, even when they are not in the game or running drills in practice.
“Sometimes, when you have players that are relaxing [in practice], guys just come around and smack the ball out of your hands,” Boyd said. “It makes you focused and it makes you stay on your toes. You just have to know that you have to have all four pressure points protected [on the football] at all times.”
As easy as that exercise may sound to the common fan, anything that can be done to help limit turnovers is a positive. The Argonauts boast an 8-0 record this season when they win (or are even) in the turnover battle but their record is dramatically different, 1-9, when they are on the short end of the turnover statistic.