FOLEY, ARGOS READY FOR WINLESS RIDERS
TORONTO (CP) – Ricky Foley finally has a normal home game-day routine.
The Toronto Argonauts (3-2) host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (0-6) on Saturday night, their first game in 2015 at Rogers Centre (5:00 pm Sask Time, TSN, CKRM Rider Radio Network). So for the first time this season, Foley will have the luxury of waking up in the comfort of his own bed on game day.
“I just like having that home routine,” said the veteran defensive end. “(On Friday night) I can just relax and cook my own food and not worry about a restaurant and getting a case of bad food.
“When you’re on the road sometimes you have meetings during the day of the game. This way you get to sleep when you want … it’s just good.”
Toronto has played five straight road games, although its season-opening 26-11 victory over Edmonton on June 27 in Fort McMurray, Alta., counted as a home contest. The Argos enter the weekend tied atop the East Division with Ottawa and Hamilton despite losing a 34-18 road decision to the Tiger-Cats on Monday night.
“I don’t care if we were 1-4 to be honest, first place is first place and that’s where we want to be ultimately,” Foley said. “I’m happy being in first place but encouraged because we haven’t played a good game yet . . . we’ve had spurts but we’ve won playing mediocre at best.”
It’s been a hard-luck campaign for Saskatchewan as four of its defeats have been by a combined 12 points. What’s more, the Riders lost starting quarterback Darian Durant (Achilles) and backup Kevin Glenn (knee) to injury so rookie Brett Smith will start for the second straight week.
Smith was 15-of-22 passing for 132 yards and two interceptions in last weekend’s 30-5 loss to Edmonton. Toronto handed the Riders one of their close losses, a 42-40 overtime decision at Mosaic Stadium on July 5.
“To me, (Saskatchewan) is a playoff team,” said Toronto head coach Scott Milanovich. “They’ve had some injuries just like we have and everybody else and they haven’t caught breaks when they’ve needed it early in the season.
“Honestly, to me this is not an 0-6 team. I don’t think our players look at them that way, I certainly don’t.”
Riders coach Corey Chamblin said redemption won’t be the overwhelming sentiment on his team’s mind Saturday night.
“The chip on our shoulder is more than the Argos,” Chamblin said. “It’s time for this team to win some football games.”
Smith said he’s more comfortable under centre with actual game experience and a week of practice under his belt.
“It’s a lot easier just getting more repetitions,” he said. “I’m getting a little more familiar with the guys.
“I think that can only help us.”
For many defensive players, the prospect of facing a rookie quarterback would be an enticing one. But Foley said it isn’t his immediate concern.
“I have to get past (offensive lineman) Xavier Fulton and (running back) Jerome Messam first, then I can worry about who’s playing quarterback,” Foley said. “You get into trouble when you start worrying about who’s playing quarterback as a defensive lineman.
“I have to beat the guy in front of me. Fulton is my quarterback, I have to get through him first.”
Toronto will be minus centre Jeff Keeping (shoulder), linebacker Cory Greenwood (concussion) and slotback/running back Anthony Coombs (concussion) while slotback Chad Owens (lower body) isn’t expected to play. Veteran receiver Jamel Richardson, running back Anthony Allen, linebacker Telvion Clark and defensive back Tyree Hollins won’t suit up for the Riders.
Foley spent two seasons in Saskatchewan, helping the club win the 2013 Grey Cup, before being dealt back to Toronto during the off-season. Foley admits he feels for the struggling Riders but said given the tightness of the East Division standings Saturday’s contest is a must-win for the Argos.
“You’ve got to take advantage of games like this … because if you don’t you’re going to regret it down the stretch,” Foley said. “I think it’s going to come down to one, two games for each division regarding who gets the bye and who gets into the playoffs.
“We’ve got to win this game.”
One of the big reasons that we are where we are is because Foley isn't a Rider he is now an Argo, and he will be very happy to see his Argos stick it to the Riders. I'll say Argos 31 Riders 15 in this one.
The deal trading Foley to the Argos for Shea Emery was tough to swallow but we needed a middle linebacker . The Riders have suffered a lot from the loss of Emery to injury as well as our first 2 QBs and Weldon Brown etc etc . But yeah , Foley will likely be on the winning side on Saturday.
I still can't believe we traded Foley for a concussion prone Shea Emrry. Someone did not think that through well.
Emry is out with a neck injury, not a concussion. You did not think through your comment well.
Also we needed a proven MLB, so it was a good trade.
You can bet if Foley was still here, fans would be complaining that our D line is too old. But it was nice to see that Foley finally got his first sack of the season last week.
How can that be determined a good trade when the guy has not played. Your assumption it's a good trade based on "long past playing accolades for other's" not conducive to the current Roughriders team. The man is nowhere to be found near any team practices, bad trade period and a write off.
Injuries happen, if Foley was banged up and on the injured list you wouldn’t be saying it was a bad trade for the reasons you gave.
Hindsight is 20/20
That being said it’s going to get ugly since the Riders NEVER play well in TO against the Argos
Tor 46 Ssk 19 (4 FG and a TD)
It’ll be an extraordinary long bye week for the Riders
Emry has another concussion and anyone that believes it is a neck injury is unbelievably naive.
If you can believe it the Riders have been looking for a MLB that likes to hit people ever since Rey Williams went down in 2009. For some inexplicable reason they couldn't find one , hence the Emry/Foley trade. We haven't had a MLB anyone feared since 2009!!!