Training Camp Diaries: Day 4

ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

MISSISSAUGA — The Argos were back at ‘home’ today as they returned to their practiced field at UTM after weather forced them to move Tuesday’s workout.

It was another set of back-to-back practices with the sun blazing down all morning.  The defence helped set the tone early with CB #28 Byron Parker entrenching himself in a down-field battle with #77 WR Todd Lowber.  Lowber leaped to make the snag and had it firmly in his grips before the seventh-year cornerback stripped the pigskin out of his hands at the last possible second to break up the play.

The defence fed off of Parker’s effort with the defensive line and linebackers doing a solid job in both pass and run drills, and defensive backs #43 Armando Murillo and #24 Evan McCollough coming up with multiple big plays.  The latter jumped a pass intended for Lowber, during team drills, and picked it off inside the twenty to take it back for a touchdown.

On the other side of the ball, WR #2 Chad Owens continued his stellar camp but it was WR #16 Brandon Rideau that stepped up in the receiving corps today. Rideau displayed solid route running and reliable hands – the type of play that was reminiscent of his play in training camp last season.

Rideau even took part in select kick return drills, which was one small part of a very loaded special teams itinerary.  The league’s best special teams in 2010 continued to work on the most underrated facet of the game. This practice seemed to have variety as returning, blocking, long-snapping, kicking and down-field coverage were all on the schedule. 

The Argos will return to the practice field Thursday morning but will earn a bit of a brake with only one workout scheduled for 9:40 a.m.

Notes:  Both WR #88 Mike Bradwell and DE #91 Ben Ishola were sidelined with injuries while DT #94 Kevin Huntley and QB #9 Steven Jyles were in uniform but didn’t participate most drills.