The 2014 CFL season is winding down, and with that the push to the playoffs has begun. The East division is very tight with three teams battling for first place, one team that has the luxury of a home field month in October–the Toronto Argonauts.
Defending the dome will be imperative for the double blue during this month; four games at home and coming off a bye last week is a great advantage for the team that is only two years removed from a Grey Cup title. The boatmen have been playing well in their last two games, a win against the Lions in Vancouver which is never easy for an eastern club, and a great start in Calgary against the league’s number one team that resulted in a loss. The lesson there was not to take your foot off the gas pedal.
With a home month in October it should favour the Argos number one air attack. Ricky Ray was positive after the Thursday practice. “Quarterbacks and kickers,” he pointed out, “love it because there’s no elements to deal with, especially when it gets late in the season, so it’s going to be nice having all these home games down the stretch.”
But when you give someone like Ricky Ray that kind of luxury, watch out. Ray has been playing outstanding football the last two games and is heating up at just the right time for this push. However, he will be without one of his weapons this week and possibly next as Andre Durie sustained a shoulder injury and will be reevaluated later in the week. But Ray remains optimistic.
The offensive mindset will change without Durie, but Ray sounded his confident self. “The mindset for the offence will shift without Durie. Other guys will need to step up and make big plays.” But that’s nothing new for this team. “We have been dealing with that all season long.”
Head coach Scott Milanovich is preparing to replace the production lost in Durie’s absence. Sounding equally upbeat after the practice, he called it “a next man up and production by committee” mentality on offence.
Another key weapon could be available to the Argo offence as early as next week. Chad Kackert looked like he was slipping comfortably back into the team on the practice field. But Milanovich isn’t overconfident on playing him. “His return at the earliest will be October 10th,” he said post-practice. “We should look at this in a week by week basis as the staff is making sure his leg can take the beating it will in the world’s most violent sport.”
But Ray is looking for a victory this Saturday without him. The key, according to Ray, is “getting off to a quick start. It’s what hurt us the last time we played these guys, a slow start and early turnovers that spotted them some points. We definitely got down in that game.”
Since then, though, “we’ve done a good job coming out and getting the lead. That’s always important, getting off to a great start.” The confidence is there in running backs Curtis Steele and Steve Slaton. Their numbers are low from being behind in games and passing their way back into them.
So here it is, the start to four home games for the Argos. A confident, poised team is a dangerous team and the way they have been playing lately the rest of the league should take notice.
Before we look ahead to next week’s battle against the Hamilton Ticats, we should be prepared to watch as to how the Argos can handle the well coached defensive schemes of Edmonton. This week will be a big test, but in what better shape are the Argos to pass it. Coming off the bye week, they’re looking relaxed and ready to defend the dome.
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