ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – As we officially enter the 2010/2011 off-season, argonauts.ca breaks down each position, as they stand now and where they may be heading into next year. In the second of three installments, we take a look at the defensive side of the ball.
The defence was once again the backbone of the Double Blue in 2010. A unit that remained consistent despite change, the Argos defence held opponents to the fewest points per game with 24.6 and gave up the fewest total points giving up only 442 points over 18 games.
A group that was criticized early on for their inability to put sacks on the board, the defensive line came together nicely towards the second half of the season, sustaining pressure on opposing quarterbacks, often with only a three or four-man pass rush. Looking Forward: A full year including training camp will be advantageous for Ricky Foley and the attention garnered by veteran DE Ronald Flemons will perhaps open lanes up for some of the other pass rushers should he attract double teams. The biggest challenge going forward is trying to find the right blend of personnel in what is a very crowded line of scrimmage. Late in the 2010 season, the Argos were dressing and rotating as many as seven down linemen.
Kevin Eiben continued to show that there is no slowing him down in his 10th year, finishing second in the league in tackles with 101. The decision to move Jordan Younger to the Sam linebacker position ended up giving the Boatmen a veteran, hard-hitting presence that could get after the quarterback but could also drop back into coverage. Looking Forward: An entire 18 games season as one of the ring leaders of the defence will help Jason Pottinger heading into his second year as the starting middle linebacker and the play of Younger in the final third of the season may make it difficult for the Argos coaching staff to stray too far from the current formula.
Willie Pile led a group that once again earned the reputation of being ball hawks, especially early in the 2010 season, finishing with 19 interceptions and shutting down some of the league’s most potent offences. Looking Forward: There is no doubt that this is one of the more veteran groups on the club but shuffling may have to take place at the corner spot with starting short-side CB Willie Middlebrooks’ future in question after a serious neck injury. The future looks bright for the Argos drop-back defenders with the emergence of rookie DB Evan MCCollough as a reliable starter and CB Sean Smalls as a capable candidate to compete for a spot at the corner opposite Byron Parker after putting on back-to-back solid performances in the playoffs.