Disciplined Group Moving Foward

ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

TORONTO — The Argos are hoping that, after a year of seeing less orange than the year previous, 2011 will breed an even more disciplined and focus group.  Along with the new philosophy brought in by coach Jim Barker and his staff, and the changes in on-field personnel, a good portion of the Argos’ turnaround this season was their ability to limit costly penalties.

To say that the Argos were undisciplined in 2009 would be an understatement.  The Boatmen were assessed a total of 215 penalties throughout the campaign, 24 more than their opponents took against them en route to a 3-15 season.

The 2010 campaign was a little more focused, however, with the Argos cutting their penalty total by 77 (finishing with only 138). Perhaps the most astounding figure is not necessarily the number of penalties but the yards assessed.  The Argos accumulated a league-best 1,058 penalty yards this season, 831 yards less than 2009.

Another stat that jumps out as it relates to yards assessed is the type of penalties. In 2009, the Argonauts took a combined 33 penalties that were ruled either objectionable conduct or unnecessary roughness, both of which come with a minimum 15 yard infraction. In 2010, the Double Blue only took a combined 14 penalties of that nature, cutting their total by more than half.

Here is a breakdown of how the 2009 and 2010 Toronto Argonauts squads matchup against one another in the penalty department: