Jamal Robertson is just four yards short of Montreal's Avon Cobourne for the league lead
Coming off a frustrating home loss to Winnipeg last Saturday, the Argos are in Montreal Friday night looking to prove their seven-turnover effort at Rogers Centre was a mere blip on the radar. The Alouettes, behind two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player Anthony Calvillo, are 4-1 and will be primed and ready following a Week 5 loss to Edmonton.
Toronto’s loss to Winnipeg last weekend was particularly painful — aside from the seven turnovers, the team was whistled for a costly delay of game penalty as Justin Medlock lined up the potential game-winning field goal, forcing him back 10 yards. His 57-yard attempt banked off the left upright, securing a 13-12 Blue Bombers win.
“The bottom line was the seven turnovers,” Argos head coach Bart Andrus said afterward. “We’ve got to not do that if we’re going to win games.”
Toronto has turned the ball over a league-high 21 times in five games this season, compared to just 12 by their opponents. Kerry Joseph’s nine interceptions are most in the CFL.
“We’ve been getting some breaks,” said Joseph after the loss to Winnipeg. “Balls are getting tipped. It’s not pointing the finger at anybody, all we can do is continue to focus in and work.”
Calvillo, Joseph’s counterpart this weekend, has had little trouble in 2009, completing 75.6% of his passing attempts and throwing just two interceptions. His seven touchdown passes are tied for tops in the league with Joseph and Saskatchewan’s Darian Durant.
Anthony Calvillo leads the CFL with 1,519 passing yards
Friday’s game also features a matchup of the league’s top rushers — Montreal’s Avon Cobourne (431 yards) and Toronto’s Jamal Robertson (427). Cobourne has five touchdowns to Roberston’s three, though Robertson has carried the ball 12 less times in 2009.
The Argos will again be shorthanded at wide receiver. With Arland Bruce III jettisoned to Hamilton and Andre Talbot sidelined indefinitely with an ankle injury, Joseph will again turn to Chad Lucas and Cory Rodgers, who made their Argo debuts last week against Winnipeg and combined to catch 11 passes for 118 yards. Andrus is also expected to re-insert leading receiver Reggie McNeal, who was benched against the Blue Bombers but handled the demotion well, or “un-Bruce-like”. Also, the Argos welcomed back receiver P.K. Sam earlier this week after he was cut by the Buffalo Bills. Sam, who is out Friday with a quadriceps injury but could suit up next Friday against B.C., caught 36 passes for 499 yards and three touchdowns in just six games last season.
Toronto will also be looking for another solid effort from their defense, which was dominant in back-to-back games against Winnipeg. Though the Alouettes figure to be more of a challenge, the Argos will get a boost with the expected return of Adriano Belli, who dressed but didn’t play last weekend. Claude Harriott, who missed the Winnipeg game with the flu, is also back in the lineup for Toronto.
The Argos and Alouettes kick-off at Percival Molson Stadium Friday at 7:30.
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By: Rose on July 30, 2010
at 5:48 pm