Game Thread: Toronto Argonauts at Ottawa Redblacks, Friday, October 16

[ARGO57]

Disappointing result, as everyone has noted in their comments. Nothing to add there.

Let's be honest, there was a real chance we could have lost to the Redblacks when we played them at home, as it came down to the last play FG to win. So overall I am not bummed out that much about this loss. They were bound to win at some time.

If we end up winning the ESF and then beating the Als in Montreal to make it to the Grey Cup, no one is going to even remember this loss.

If we had won last night, and even next week, but then lose in the playoffs, that sting would last much longer.

You are correct, all that matters now is advancing in the playoffs.

[ArgoRavi]

Check out Nick Arbuckle's post-game remarks, which I find to be very revealing and insightful:

https://x.com/ArgosNews/status/2111476327442202677

[paulwoods13]

I think some in the CFL-universe, including media, overreacted to the loss last night and late-game decision-making by Miller (including calling for his firing). I, personally, hate not going for the TD in that situation so I get where Miller is coming from. Miller also had faith in his defence. The reality is that your defence, even without a few starters and not showing a lot, has to prevent a team from going 67 yards in 30 seconds. There's simply no excuse for yielding that last Ottawa TD.

Wasn't there an earlier game this year where clock mismanagement at the end nearly cost the Argos a win? I agree people overreacted last night, but Miller -- whom I really like, as I've said before -- has been terrible at it this year. Surely we should have been able to count on LH to kick a short FG after taking a knee once or twice. This has GOT to get cleaned up for the playoffs.

That said, what a monumental defensive collapse after that. There's no way any QB, vet or rookie, should be allowed to gain 67 yards in 30 seconds, with no timeouts. That RTP penalty Toia took was really terrible. He's been good this year, but that was inexcusable.

Also, I can't help but note that we are not exactly going into the playoffs on a roll. And I remain dubious about our offensive tackles being good enough.

[paulwoods13]

Also, it just had to be Aaron Casey and Luiji Vilain making the biggest plays on Ottawa's defence, didn't it?

[AngeloV]

Also, it just had to be Aaron Casey and Luiji Vilain making the biggest plays on Ottawa's defence, didn't it?

Casey, I hated seeing him go. Was that the first play Vilain has even made this year? I have no issue sending him there, he didn’t want to play here anyway.

[ArgoRavi]

I think some in the CFL-universe, including media, overreacted to the loss last night and late-game decision-making by Miller (including calling for his firing). I, personally, hate not going for the TD in that situation so I get where Miller is coming from. Miller also had faith in his defence. The reality is that your defence, even without a few starters and not showing a lot, has to prevent a team from going 67 yards in 30 seconds. There's simply no excuse for yielding that last Ottawa TD.

Wasn't there an earlier game this year where clock mismanagement at the end nearly cost the Argos a win? I agree people overreacted last night, but Miller -- whom I really like, as I've said before -- has been terrible at it this year. Surely we should have been able to count on LH to kick a short FG after taking a knee once or twice. This has GOT to get cleaned up for the playoffs.

That said, what a monumental defensive collapse after that. There's no way any QB, vet or rookie, should be allowed to gain 67 yards in 30 seconds, with no timeouts. That RTP penalty Toia took was really terrible. He's been good this year, but that was inexcusable.

Also, I can't help but note that we are not exactly going into the playoffs on a roll. And I remain dubious about our offensive tackles being good enough.

I don't recall any games in which the Argos almost lost because of clock mismanagement. The only thing I recall was they left 13 seconds on the clock for Calgary in the home opener they didn't need to but nothing came from that. Miller did say something about reevaluating these kinds of situations after last night.

EDIT: Was there an issue at the end of the 1st half of the 2nd Saskatchewan game?

Casey was great last night but he has done little otherwise this year. As AV said, Vilain only wanted to play at home in Ottawa so what can you do?

[argolio]

Yeah, thanks for the tired, predictable cliche about TC reps. Guess you were good with Ottawa going 0 & 16 with their "experienced" QBs?

Except it's not a cliche. They don't have seven week training camps any more, and the practice time they do get is more limited now as per the CBA. I'm sure like other teams Ottawa worked out QBs in the offseason, and maybe in rookie camp if they had one. Don't remember a team not having a CFL veteran in camp other than the 2010 Argos.

I don't know why Dinwiddie didn't play this guy earlier. Maybe if they had a couple of wins at the time and weren't desperate for just one, they would have.

[Don_from_Dryden]

First I had heard of him but Porter had a few good runs imo.

[ArgoRavi]

Yeah, thanks for the tired, predictable cliche about TC reps. Guess you were good with Ottawa going 0 & 16 with their "experienced" QBs?

Except it's not a cliche. They don't have seven week training camps any more, and the practice time they do get is more limited now as per the CBA. I'm sure like other teams Ottawa worked out QBs in the offseason, and maybe in rookie camp if they had one. Don't remember a team not having a CFL veteran in camp other than the 2010 Argos.

I don't know why Dinwiddie didn't play this guy earlier. Maybe if they had a couple of wins at the time and weren't desperate for just one, they would have.

Back in the 1970s, teams would bring 100 players or more to camp and played a month's worth of preseason games. Those days are long gone.

[argolio]

Yeah, thanks for the tired, predictable cliche about TC reps. Guess you were good with Ottawa going 0 & 16 with their "experienced" QBs?

Except it's not a cliche. They don't have seven week training camps any more, and the practice time they do get is more limited now as per the CBA. I'm sure like other teams Ottawa worked out QBs in the offseason, and maybe in rookie camp if they had one. Don't remember a team not having a CFL veteran in camp other than the 2010 Argos.

I don't know why Dinwiddie didn't play this guy earlier. Maybe if they had a couple of wins at the time and weren't desperate for just one, they would have.

Back in the 1970s, teams would bring 100 players or more to camp and played a month's worth of preseason games. Those days are long gone.

If I remember right, the Argos 1974 training camp roster was somewhere around 120 players. Game rosters were only 32 then.