ROUGHRIDERS-ARGOS PRIMER

Luc Mullinder

By Luc Mullinder:

1-0 this week…That’s what it’s all about. Nobody in the locker room is looking in the rear view mirror, and nobody is looking ahead to BC. It’s all about going 1-0 THIS WK!

Short turnarounds are all about mental reps and film study. At the professional level, you know how to tackle, you know the proper technique, so the ice tub is your best friend and you have to be locked in during all walk thru’s and practise plays…reps are limited, but film hours aren’t.

In order to win the week, the Riders are going to have to take considerable advantage of the mismatches that they possess in the trenches (Oline & Dline). If our big guys can match the intensity and efficiency that they exhibited against the Ti-Cats, the sky’s the limit. Especially against a team that is starting 4 new guys on the defensive side of the ball, and may want to re-vamp their offensive scheme to adjust to the Riders defensive speed.

I’m going to speak to the Argonauts side of the ball in order to set the tone for Saturdays clash in the Rogers Centre.

Toronto’s concern vs. The SK D-line 

In order for the Argos to have any chance at all offensively, they’ve gotta give Ricky Ray a chance to pitch the rock.  The Toronto brass needs to seriously consider employing the type of scheme that Milanovich and Trestman used in MTL in order to keep Anthony Calvillo upright.  Don’t be surprised if you see the Argos 6th Offensive Lineman Wayne Smith being brought in during passing downs as an additional blocker.  Marcus Brady (Argos OC) may also keep their RB in the back field as well in order to give the Argos a 7 man blocking surface.

If Ricky Ray can throw quick hitting passes to Andre Durie and Chad Owens for 4 qtrs, it might move the ball more effectively than being bull headed and asking Ray to take 5 step drops or trying to establish a ‘run game.’

If the Argos don’t employ the extra blocker, they may try and utilize slide protections in order to negate the aggressive line movements of the Riders Dline.  Slide protections essentially create a different QB launch point on the field and automatically place the QB away from certain danger spots.

I really don’t think this will be effective though against the Riders, because, athletically, we have the football IQ in the defensive front 7 to abandon certain points of attack and enter through a different gap that gets opened up by linemen leaving the area.

Either way, the Double Blue need to figure something out.  Obviously 10 sacks would be a tough task to repeat however I don’t think they want to take a chance leaving Ricky Ray’s fate in the hands of 1 on 1 individual battles.  But who knows; Maybe Milanovich might just might see if his guys can man up against Chick, Foley, George and Walker.

The one thing I don’t see the Argos doing is relying on the run. Saskatchewan swarms the ball as well as anyone and Richie Hall demands gap integrity from the front 7, and physical domination. Its hard to imagine Toronto’s Oline being able to generate a consistent push for 4 qtrs.

Toronto’s concern vs. The Rider O-line

The Argos D-line didn’t do a thing to pressure Drew Willy last week and he diced them up like a ‘Master Chef’ contestant trying to impress Gordon Ramsey. That HAS TO change, or the REAL best player in this league will set a personal record in the air.

The Argos are rolling out 4 new defensive players after their WK 1 debacle, and in order to give the new guys a fighting chance, they gotta rush the passer.  There’s no better time to make a name for yourself than versus the defending Grey Cup Champs.  Easier said than done though.

Heenan and Co. looked great against the black and gold of Hamilton, and one would be hard pressed to argue that Toronto’s D-linemen are superior to their Ontario brethren. The task of getting to Doubles is made tougher when George Cortez decides to go with a double tight end set to throw the ball.  In this case you have to ask guys to recognize formations and add themselves to the rush in order to be successful.  This isn’t the greatest option for the Argos with a bunch of new guys on the field. It’s going to be tough but Tim Burke had better have something up his sleeve.

Otherwise it’ll be another long one for the Boatmen.

Keep in mind though, the Riders aren’t going to just try and throw the ball. This is a team that is tremendous at keeping football to its simplistic form, they start with the ground game. Pound Green Pound (borrowed that from my Alma Matter)!  Run the rock until they fold.  When our O-line is clicking physically, the recently retired John Lynch could hobble for at least 60 yards through some of those holes.

In closing, I stated in one of these blog pieces that the 2014 Saskatchewan Roughriders are built on a “championship base” made up of a stud QB and an impressive group of offensive and defensive linemen.  This game is going to be an example of the distinct talent that Corey Chamblin has at his disposal along the line.

The Riders have the advantage when it comes to the most physically demanding position groups. Our O-line and D-line should have no problem, in this early season, controlling the pace and flow of the game.  Granted the Toronto Argonauts get paid too, and I’m not counting them out, I just feel that the intangibles are tipped too far in the Riders favour in this week 2 battle.
Cheers to the Green and White going 1-0 this week! Stay healthy fellas…

#ProPerspective