Argos, Stampeders get reinforcements
Toronto gets 2 back from NFL camps
Last Updated: Friday, August 28, 2009 | 2:53 PM ET
CBC Sports
Calgary running back Joffrey Reynolds has just 22 touches in the past two games, down from the previous two contests. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)Will it be a case of one step forward, two steps back Friday night for the Toronto Argonauts when they host the Calgary Stampeders in CFL action?
Toronto (2-5) saw some encouraging signs on offence in their last game, a 36-28 loss to B.C. two weeks ago.
But now the Argos face a team that has whipped them to the tune of a combined 132-29 in the last three meetings, including a 44-9 blowout at McMahon Stadium earlier this year.
Quarterback Cody Pickett will make his second start for Toronto after an impressive 2009 debut.
Pickett completed 25 of 40 passes for 325 yards and one touchdown against the Lions and didn't turn the ball over. He developed a chemistry with receiver Chad Lucas, connecting eight times for 146 yards.
Pickett will have another weapon at his disposal on Friday night, with six-foot-three-inch receiver P.K. Sam expected to make his season debut.
Sam caught 36 passes for the Argos last year but has been battling a groin injury since being cut by the Buffalo Bills
"He's a big target and he runs real good routes," coach Bart Andrus said on Thursday.
Losses at Rogers Centre
"He's a receiver who I think will bring quite a bit to our offence," Andrus added.
The Argos have lost three in a row this season and nine consecutive games overall at Rogers Centre. The last meaningful win in the building came on Aug. 1, 2008, against Winnipeg.
Toronto appeared to be on its way to breaking that streak on Aug. 14, but a string of missed tackles helped lead to a 22-point fourth quarter for the Lions.
The Argos will hope to fortify the defence and special teams with Byron Parker, the veteran who returns after an unsuccessful tryout with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Given the extent of Toronto's struggles this season, it's surprising to find that Calgary (3-4) has just one more tick in the win column than the Argos.
The Stampeders have the second best point differential in the league through seven games, but a porous run defence has figured heavily in their last two losses.
Calgary could very easily be 5-2, with the two losses coming by a total of just four points.
Defensive unit reworked
The Stampeders have been busy during the bye week rehauling the defensive unit, which has also seen injuries to linemen Mike Labinjo and Alain Kashama.
Veteran CFL linemen Devone Claybrooks and Jim Davis are in, with linebacker Tim Johnson and defensive back John Eubanks also getting practice time. The latter two players have spent time in the NFL.
"We brought some players in that have some experience … we didn't want to get young people in here that we'd have to teach the pro game entirely to," said coach John Huffnagel.
"I think that the experience will provide the help that hopefully will help us stop the run and get us on the winning track," the coach added.
Things appear to be clicking just fine on offence. Stampeders quarterback Henry Burris found Nik Lewis and Jeremaine Copeland all night long on his way to 479 passing yards and three touchdowns in the narrow loss to Edmonton two weeks ago.
Calgary will look to get Joffrey Reynolds more involved. The star running back has only averaged 11 touches the last two games, too low a number for a player that is averaging more than six yards per crack.
The two clubs get 10 days off before they each face the prospect of two games in four days against their closest rivals. Toronto travels to Hamilton on Labour Day, with Calgary hosting Edmonton later in the evening on Sept. 7.
