ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – It’s no secret that the CFL’s East Division has had a rough start to the year, but at 1-4, the Toronto Argonauts are looking to turn things around quickly.
Prior to Saturday’s matchup against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Head Coach Scott Milanovich met with a select group of his most established veteran players to discuss ways to improve the team’s game preparation.
“He called us aside because he felt it wasn’t where it needed to be, and we all agreed with that,” said quarterback Ricky Ray.
“As the veterans of this team we’ve got to relay that to the rest of the guys and make sure that everybody’s realizing what’s exactly going on here.”
Ray was among those included in the meeting, along with slotbacks Chad Owens and Andre Durie, linebacker Shea Emry and linemen Jeff Keeping and Chris Van Zeyl.
Milanovich wouldn’t disclose what was said during the meeting, but spoke highly of the group’s ability to rally the troops and turn their season around.
“It’s a private conversation,” said Milanovich. “But they’re all guys who I’ve personally been through the trials of a season with. They’re guys who I believe are winners and have won championships shoulder to shoulder with myself, so they’re guys I trust.”
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After a frustrating loss to the home-opening Ottawa REDBLACKS in week four, the Argonauts fell to the Riders by a score of 37-9 the following week.
They’ve had some trouble finding the end zone, scoring a single touchdown over the past three games. The team’s receiving core of Owens, Durie, Jason Barnes, John Chiles and Terrell Sinkfield have all been sidelined by injuries, but the team isn’t using that as an excuse.
“I think everyone’s aware that our culture needs to change,” said Emry, who signed with the Argonauts in the offseason after spending the past six years with Montreal.
“The game prep is the culture. Everything is interconnected when it comes to football, and how you act in meetings or walk-throughs transfers over to the game. We need to ensure that we’re holding people accountable.”
But ensuring accountability during a losing streak doesn’t always equate to yelling and screaming.
“A lot of teams that are struggling have player-only meetings with lots of hooting and hollering, but unless you actually change what you’re doing it’s all going to be for nothing,” said Ray.
“We’re young, we’re growing and we’ve had some injuries and it’ll come around, but if we continue to do the same things we’re going to keep getting the same results.”
Despite their record, the Argos came into Monday’s practice with their chins up, well aware of the hill they’ll need to climb in order to make the playoffs. There’s a fine line between frustration and discouragement and Milanovich says that his veteran players have helped prevent the team from dipping into the latter.
While they’re last in the CFL standings, no East team has more than one win and a victory in Montreal could change the landscape dramatically.
“We know that as bad as things are right now at 1-4, the East is right there for the taking and we’re confident we’ll get it turned around,” said Keeping.
The Argos kick off against the Alouettes at 7:00 EST on Friday night.