Argos Lose to Stampeders as Toronto now falls to 5 -1 0.

Toronto – Thanksgiving Monday didn’t leave much to be thankful for the Toronto Argonauts as the Boatmen lost their 8^th game over their past 9 by a score of 48-20 at BMO Field. The 14,224 in attendance were presented with a clinic on what the Argonauts currently are and what they hope to be. What they hope to be is in the form of the Calgary Stampeders.

Calgary right now is a machine. As well-oiled as one can be that is firing on all cylinders. If any Toronto fans feel bad they didn’t get to watch the team in person, then hurry up and get your Grey Cup tickets because it is almost a certainty that Calgary will represent the West Division in this year’s Grey Cup.

Toronto unfortunately is a work in progress. And something the team hasn’t been afforded is the luxury of time. This was a must win game, the others are too. But their must wins not just for a potential play off spot but to begin to lay the foundation of a winning football team. Brighter days are ahead make no mistake about it, but a new quarterback and 2 rookie receivers are tough obstacles to overcome let alone going up against a team like Calgary.

Offensively the Double Blue couldn’t muster an attack early on and found themselves trailing by a 19 -0 score after 1 quarter.  Drew Willy was sacked 6 times while the offense mustered only 248 yards of total offense.

There was much talk about Toronto’s 2 new Canadian receivers going into this game. 1^st round selection Brian Jones had a decent game catching 5 passes for 39 yards. 4^th round selection Llevi Noel made only 1 catch for no gain.

But this loss goes far beyond the contributions or lack thereof both Jones and Noel.  Toronto right now is suffering from just too many bodies in and out of the lineup. We can X and O their defence as much as we may like but at it’s root level the team lacks a real physicality to their game. Missed tackles for big yards and 50-50 ball have plagued this team all season.

It’s been a story all year long but the Argo secondary is missing both their starting corners and it shows. It really shows when you play a team like Calgary with so many weapons both in the passing game and the running game led by Mississauga native Jerome Messam who carried the ball 17 times for 133 yards.

They say after a tough loss you should just forget about it and move on to the next one. Unfortunately Toronto can’t do that. With so many new players still trying to learn the systems they will need to go back to the film and see what mistakes they made and how to fix them.

They won’t have much time to do that as the Argos get ready for the improving Saskatchewan Roughriders who visit Toronto and BMO Field this Saturday. Yes it’s another game for which the team can hopefully find some success. For that, on this Thanksgiving day Monday, we can all be thankful.

By: Anthony Ciardulli @comicanthony.