It's CNE Game in Toronto, and this one feels bigger than most. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats come to BMO Field for one of the marquee dates on the Argos calendar, and with Toronto and Hamilton battling for position in the East Division, there's a lot more at stake than bragging rights. Ben Grant and JB get you set for a huge rivalry matchup on this week's Xs and Argos Pregame Walkthrough. The guys start with the latest transactions, as a banged-up Argos roster adds a...
It's CNE Game in Toronto, and this one feels bigger than most.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats come to BMO Field for one of the marquee dates on the Argos calendar, and with Toronto and Hamilton battling for position in the East Division, there's a lot more at stake than bragging rights.
Ben Grant and JB get you set for a huge rivalry matchup on this week's Xs and Argos Pregame Walkthrough.
The guys start with the latest transactions, as a banged-up Argos roster adds a pair of Canadians in defensive lineman Gabriel Maisonneuve and defensive back Istvan Assibo-Dadzie. What might those additions tell us about Toronto's injury situation heading into the weekend?
Then it's time to dig into two Xs-and-Os questions that could have a major impact on Saturday's game.
First: How does a defence prepare when it doesn't know who the opposing quarterback will be - especially when the two possibilities couldn't be more different? Harrison Frost is a traditional pocket passer. Tre Ford is one of the most dangerous running quarterbacks in football. The guys explains why preparing for both isn't simply a matter of learning two players - it can be like preparing for two entirely teams.
On the other side of the ball, Toronto has a problem of its own: pass protection. After the offensive line struggled again in Edmonton, what can the Argos do to protect Chad Kelly without simply asking the same five blockers to suddenly play better? Quick game, screens, moving pockets, chips, heavier protections, RPOs, tempo and formation can all help - because pass protection isn't exclusively an offensive-line problem.
This week's Pick Six continues that discussion with a bigger CFL question: is there a genuine shortage of quality offensive tackles in the league, or are teams failing to properly develop the ones they have?
Then it's on to the game itself.
In OCDC, Ben looks at how Hamilton can take advantage of Tre Ford's extraordinary athleticism without repeatedly exposing him to hits, and why sometimes the threat of the quarterback run can be more valuable than the run itself. For Toronto, it's about making Hamilton process as much information as possible with motion, tempo and a variety of pre-snap looks.
Plus, the Injury Report, One Thing, Put Me Down for 20, and Challenge Flag.
And Saturday is about more than just the game. It's the annual CNE Game, Argos jerseys are 40% off in-stadium, and franchise greats Kevin Eiben and Carl Brazley will officially become All-Time Argos during a halftime ceremony.
The rivalry is renewed. The East Division race is heating up. And the Argos need an answer after an ugly afternoon in Edmonton.
It's Hamilton at Toronto at the CNE, and we've got you covered on the Xs and Argos Pregame Walkthrough.
