Bet you thought this would be Ricky Williams'
photo. But ageless Damon Allen is still the team's offensive
heart and soul. The 40-someting pivot is coming off the best
season of his career.
(Canadian Press file photo)
2005 RECORD: 11-7, first in the
East. Lost 33-17 to the Montreal Alouettes in the East final.
ARRIVALS: RB Ricky Williams, WR Keith Stokes, DL
Marc Pilon, QB Eric Crouch, QB Spergon Wynn, DB Dave Donaldson
DEPARTURES: DT Noah Cantor, LB Ray Mariuz, QB Michael
Bishop, CB Adrion Smith, S Mike Crumb, FB Sean Millington
OFFENCE: The Toronto Argonauts may have an age-defying
quarterback and an enviable receiving corps, but all anyone in the
CFL is talking about this year is the arrival of Ricky Williams.
Williams, the controversial Miami Dolphins running back, is taking a hiatus from the NFL this year to graze the fields north of the border. Well, that's partially true. The former NFL rushing champion is suspended for the entire 2006 season for a fourth violation of the league's substance abuse policy.
Williams, the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner from Texas, ran for 743 yards in 12 games with Miami last year after missing the first four games following his third positive drug test.
In principle, the addition of Williams should help Toronto, whose rushing attack finished eighth in the nine-team league last year, averaging less than 85 yards per game.
Williams has rushed for more than 1,000 yards four times in his NFL career and now he'll have a wider, longer Canadian field to attack without contending with the blows of the heavier linebackers found in the NFL.
Though Williams brings an element the Argos were lacking, there is no question veteran quarterback Damon Allen is the team's offensive leader.
Allen, the reigning CFL's outstanding player, is coming off the best season of his career where he passed for a career-high 5,082 yards and 33 touchdowns. Don't let Allen's age fool you. He may turn 43 next month, but he's still one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the league.
Spergon Wynn will serve as Allen's backup, while No. 3 Eric Crouch, a former Heisman Trophy winner, waits in the wings for his opportunity.
Tony Miles was the club's leading receiver last season, piling up 1,275 yards and eight touchdowns. Robert Baker, R. Jay Soward and Andre Talbot are the other main men in the air for the Argos.
DEFENCE: Toronto has holes to fill defensively with
the off-season retirements of two veterans - defensive tackle Noah
Cantor and cornerback Adrion Smith.
Toronto finished last in the league against the run a year ago, giving up a whopping 127.1 yards per game. However, the defence was tops against the pass, giving up 240 yards per game. Defensive end Jonathan Brown was the unit's top pass rusher with 13 sacks.
Linebacker Michael Fletcher, a finalist for the CFL's top defensive
player last year, returns to lead a punishing linebacking unit that
also features Canadians Kevin Eiben and Mike O'Shea. Fletcher will
start the season on the injured list with a knee problem.
The secondary will definitely miss Smith, but still has plenty of experience in Orlondo Steinauer, Clifford Ivory, Jordan Younger and Ken Wheaton.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Veteran Noel Prefontaine may have
the best all-around kicking game in the CFL. He is considered by most
pundits to be the CFL's premier punter and is among the elite at kicking
field goals.
One of Toronto's off-season moves was signing Keith Stokes, one of the CFL's top punt returners. He will combine with Argos' Bashir Levingston and Arland Bruce III to give the club a potent return squad.
COACHING: Head coach Mike (Pinball) Clemons is one
of the CFL's most endearing characters. A finalist for the CFL's coach
of year the past four seasons, Clemons' motivational skills are unparalleled
- his players would go through walls for him. He led Toronto to the
2004 Grey Cup and guided the team to an East Division crown last season,
its first title since 1997.
GAME BREAKER: DAMON ALLEN
The pre-season talk may be around Ricky Williams, but the Argos will go where the reigning CFL's outstanding player will go. Allen is a year older, but age seems to agree with him. He threw for a career-high 5,082 yards last season.
EXPERT OPINION: "I don't think Ricky Williams is
the answer," said CFL on CBC analyst Darren Flutie. "For two years
he was all-world in the NFL but he doesn't have it anymore, as far
as breakaway speed and the ability to blast through the holes on the
offensive line.
"I think he's going to struggle. He'll probably get four, five yards a carry and that's good, but Jeff Johnson can do that and he's [a non-import].
"The problem is, when they don't run well they put pressure on the passing game. They can win like that as we have seen the last two years and have explosive receivers, but they're not consistent in the passing game.
"They also have some aging veterans - [safety] Orlondo Steinauer, [quarterback] Damon Allen and [linebacker] Mike O'Shea. They could win the division but I think Hamilton and Montreal will have something to say about it this year."
