Winnipeg @ Toronto: Keys to an Argo Victory

Toronto takes the field tomorrow night at 7:30pm in Rogers Centre, to face a hard luck Winnipeg Blue Bombers team.  It’s been 72 hours since the Argos left 35 points on the field in a tough loss to the Ti-Cats.  A short week of preparation leaves little time to correct last week’s mistakes, let alone game plan for a whole new team.

Fortunately for the Argos, Winnipeg is in the same boat AND they have to travel for their 4th straight game.  Winnipeg is also going into this game down a quarterback, with back-up Alex Brink behind centre.

In these situations, coaches tend to burn the midnight oil, preparing two game plans for two different teams in the weeks leading up to games with short turn-arounds.  Head Coach Scott Milanovich and his staff likely need to make only minor adjustments to the plan after watching film of Winnipeg’s game on Friday.

The difference between winning and losing a professional football game usually comes down to a handful of plays.  Too many times this young season, the Argonauts have defeated themselves, rather than succumbing to an opponent.  Mike O`Shea`s special teams unit, once worth the price of admission alone, has lost its mojo and adjustments need to be made.  In a 9 point loss to the Ti-Cats, special teams gave up 14 points in touchdown returns while missing two field goals in the process.  The vaunted Argo O entered Hamilton`s red zone at will, but failed to come away with touchdowns.

You know Coach O`Shea takes the performance of his special teams unit personally, and he will make the proper adjustments in personnel and scheme to address the problems from last week.  Scott Millanovich`s offense will be better against the worst defense in the league. Giving Boyd the rock is key.  He needs to touch the ball at least 20 times for the Argos to win.  He has thirteen 100-yard rushing games in his three year career.  The Argos won 10 of those games.  Red zone production is also key.

Playing mistake free football, combined with sticking to what works will yield a positive result for the Argos.  One needn`t be a football expert to know it, and that`s why a relative unknowlegable fan such as myself can write an article like this.