SCOUTING THE ARGONAUTS

Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Friday, Jul. 9, 2010

SCOUTING THE ARGONAUTS

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

SCOUTING THE ARGONAUTS

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/07/2010 (5893 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SCOUTING THE ARGONAUTS

2010 Record: 0-1, last in the East.

On the road: 0-1

Vs. the East: 0-0

2010 Offensive rankings: Overall scoring: seventh (16 points per game); passing: eighth (192 yards per game); rushing: eighth (54 yards per game).

2010 Defensive rankings: Overall scoring: 5th (30 points per game); passing: sixth (324 yards per game); rushing: fifth (176 yards per game).

Turnover ratio: -1 (sixth overall)

THE QB

No. 1 Cleo Lemon

Imagine you’re in sales, selling knives for a living. You weren’t great at it but you were familiar with the industry as a whole, and you could carve out a living doing that. One day you decide to stop selling knives, choosing instead to sell cars. How hard could the transition be, you ask. It’s still sales, right? That’s where Lemon, a former NFL quarterback with a handful of starts for the Miami Dolphins, is these days. But the pressure is immediate. There’s no extended learning curve with the forever rebuilding Argos and his livelihood as a CFL QB requires a quick understanding of the Canadian game right away. If he doesn’t make the transition it could be a long year in Toronto, with Lemon looking for another sales job by Week 6.

Quick take: Lemon is an athletic quarterback whose skill set seems perfect for the CFL. He can move swiftly around the pocket as required and his arm is comparable to others in the league. Against Calgary last week, he went 16-of-28 for 192 yards. The issue right now for the 30-year-old is rhythm. Can he bring some consistency to the most important position on the field?

OFFENSIVE WEAPONRY

No. 32 Andre Durie, RB/SB: The Argos are experimenting with a hybrid-type of role for Durie. The 28-year-old non-import put up just 58 receiving yards last week, a number that was good for the team lead.

No. 80 Jeremaine Copeland, SB: One of the few familiar names in the offence. Had 81 catches for 1,257 yards and 12 touchdowns with Calgary in 2009. Had just four catches for 40 yards last week. Lemon needs to get Copeland more involved.

DEFENSIVE STOPPERS

No. 35 Kevin Eiben, LB: A leader on this tough Argos defence, the Delta, B.C. product had a career-high 11 tackles against the Stamps. He’s been around the block, so he’s tough to fool. Has a great nose for the ball, too.

No. 78 Adriano Belli, DT: Fresh off a league-imposed one-game suspension, Belli tried to stir it up this week by saying Bombers QB Buck Pierce "looks cute in his uniform." Sounds like someone’s mouth is already in mid-season form. When he’s not talking, Belli is a force up front.

THE SPECIALISTS

No. 13 Grant Shaw, K: The 11th overall pick in the 2010 draft, Shaw not only does the field goal kicking for the Argos but he also shows up on for kick-off and punt coverage. Shaw was a defensive back with the Saskatchewan Huskies in 2009.

No. 2 Chad Owens, returner: Picked up in a trade with Montreal last month, Owens paid immediate dividends with a 90-yard punt return touchdown. Showed some real quickness against the Stamps.

– Adam Wazny