Argonauts.ca staff
TORONTO – The moment we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived: the 2015 CFL regular season is underway. The Toronto Argonauts open their 2015 campaign Saturday night with a home-away-from-home game in Fort McMurray, Alberta against the Edmonton Eskimos.
The Argos enter the season with a chip on their shoulder following a disappointing end to 2014, as a week 20 win over the Ottawa REDBLACKS wasn’t enough to punch Toronto’s ticket into the postseason. The man who led the Argos to victory that day, QB Trevor Harris, enters the 2015 season as Toronto’s starting quarterback while Ricky Ray continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery.
The four-year CFL veteran has spent all of training camp and the preseason preparing for this moment, and he’s as ready as he’ll ever be for the responsibilities that come along with being a starting CFL pivot.
“I expect him to play great, that’s what I expect from all of our quarterbacks whenever they get in [the game],” said Head Coach Scott Milanovich. “We’re not going to ask him to win the game, but when we call his number we’re going to expect him to play like Ricky Ray, like Anthony Calvillo, that’s what we expect in this system and this offence. Trevor is going to have to play well.”
The Argos’ backfield was dealt a similar blow near the end of training camp, as the starter at running back heading into the 2015 season, third-year Argonaut Curtis Steele, will miss approximately a month due to injury.
In response, the Argos added a couple of proven veterans, including a Double Blue fan favourite to bolster their backfield depth. 2012 Grey Cup MVP Chad Kackert and longtime Montreal Alouette Brandon Whitaker were signed immediately following training camp, and one of the two will draw into the line-up alongside electric rookie RB Henry Josey.
“I’m leaning a little bit towards Whitaker,” said Milanovich, “because he’s been in training camp and been practicing. Chad is just finishing up his third practice, we want to make sure he’s fully healthy.”
Whitaker has spent the past six seasons as the starting tailback with the Montreal Alouettes, where he racked up over 3,300 rushing yards and 1,600 receiving yards along with 26 touchdowns.
“My confidence level is high,” said Whitaker. “I’m in an offence where I feel comfortable, I trust these coaches and they have a winning pedigree. I’ve seen it, I’ve been around it. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to win.”
The Argonauts’ defence is also ripe with change from 2014, with several new starters including four in the secondary. Defensive backs Akwasi Owusu-Ansah and A.J. Jefferson shone in the pre-season finale, grabbing an interception each, and will get their first taste of regular season CFL action Saturday as starters.
“We’re very confident and we’re excited” said Owusu-Ansah. “It’s a new group but we feel like family already. When we hit the field we’re one unit, together.”
With so many players new to the CFL, Owusu-Ansah singled out six-year veteran Brandon Isaac as a leader and a mentor.
“’B.I.’ is the CFL veteran, all of us have NFL experience but this is a bit of a different game,” he said. “Brandon is kind of the older head in the room, he’s the one that’s been getting everyone together.”
Owusu-Ansah, who spent five years in the NFL prior to joining the Argos, also stressed the importance of building off a strong performance in the preseason finale.
“Whenever we step out onto the field and the lights are on we’ve got to go hard, whether it’s for one quarter or four,” he said. “Three turnovers is a lot and turnovers win you games, so we’re definitely going to build off a performance like that whether it’s preseason or regular season.”
Another group filled with youth is in the receiving corps, where the Argos will likely be starting three new faces.
“With a young group, you’re going to have mistakes” said veteran slotback Chad Owens. “But the potential we have here is unbelievable. These guys are big, physical, and they want it. A lot of guys have those attributes but they just go through the motions. These guys really want to be great.”
“They’ve all bought in, and they’re excited to hit the field,” he continued. “All they want is an opportunity to play football.”
They’ll get just that opportunity on Saturday night. Catch the Argonauts take on the Edmonton Eskimos in the 2015 regular season opener at 5:00 p.m. on TSN, or listen to the radio broadcast on Newstalk 1010.