Argonauts dealing with boatloadof injuries

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This article was published 26/07/2018 (2655 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Toronto Argonauts are off to a dismal 1-4 start and their soon-to-be Hall of Fame quarterback Ricky Ray is out indefinitely with a serious neck injury. What more could go wrong?

Well, the defending Grey Cup champs found out Wednesday when running backs James Wilder Jr. and newly signed ex-NFLer Dexter McCluster both left practice with apparent leg injuries. The status of both players was unknown.

Wilder was the CFL’s rookie of the year in 2017 but he has been limited to 220 yards and two touchdowns on 51 carries in five games. He wasn’t much of a factor against Winnipeg last week, carrying the ball three times for minus-two yards while adding 42 yards on six receptions.

“I think the guys did a good job, regarding taking care of the gaps and were disciplined in their responsibilities and tackling, because he is a man,” said Winnipeg defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall, the target of critics when his unit looked shaky against Edmonton and Hamilton in Weeks 1 and 3, respectively. “Even when they did throw him the ball, on some screens and some check-downs, you saw a lot of people rallying and gang-tackling him, and that’s the kind of defence that we have to be.

“They talk about our motto is being fast and furious, and that’s what you’ve got to do, you’ve got to be kind of chaotic out there. The guys did a great job last week, but the thing about this game is that was last week. It doesn’t do you anything for Friday night, so we’ve got to go out there and play at a higher level this week.”

Will the Bombers, who host the Argos in Friday’s rematch, alter their preparations knowing that backup tailbacks Martese Jackson and Brandon Burks could be fill-ins for the talented Wilder Jr.

“Not really, we’re going to bring in the same defences and whatnot. You may think because they don’t have (Wilder), they may focus more on pass rather than running,” said Winnipeg defensive end Craig Roh. “When you have a guy like that go down, he’s obviously a big player they want to get the ball too a lot.” 

Practice tougher than games?

Maurice Leggett has played linebacker and defensive back this season, and he’s not the only member of the Blue Bombers expected to be versatile — capable of a position change in the middle of a game. The various roles are tested in practice.

“A lot of us are familiar with multiple spots,” Leggett said. “It also helps us as a defence in knowing what our teammates are doing. Just going against (offensive co-ordinator Paul) LaPolice, it makes it a lot easier going against other teams because there’s less confusion. We all know that LaPo dresses his offence up amazingly — it’s fun. It’s challenging for defences and we see it every day, so whatever a team throws at us to try to confuse us, it doesn’t matter because we know what to do.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @sawa14