Argos bounce back from wretched start to turn back Redblacks
Author of the article:
Frank Zicarelli
Ottawa Redblacks wide receiver R.J. Harris drops the ball while Toronto Argonauts defensive back Chris Edwards (6) and Argonauts linebacker Dexter McCoil (26) keep close during Wednesday's game. The Canadian Press Article content The Argos played scared and they were soft to the point of being susceptible and terrible for most of the opening half Wednesday night.
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Article contentThen came the third quarter and a game the Argos should have won was finally seized.
In 15 minutes, the Argos would score 27 points, including two defensive touchdowns on interceptions.
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Save for a blocked punt the Argos scored a major in the opening half, there was absolutely nothing produced, allowing the visiting Ottawa Redblacks to take a lead at the break by playing the perfect road game.
Eventually, the visitors broke down, allowing the Argos to impose their will in the third quarter en route to Toronto’s 35-16 win.
It was the Argos’ second win in a row, a first for this group, as Toronto increased its lead in the East by improving to 5-3.
Ottawa scored its first touchdown in the fourth quarter on a blocked punt.
On the ensuing kickoff, Chandler Worthy fumbled the ball.
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Article contentMcLeod Bethel-Thompson started for the Argos, whose offence was abysmal in the game’s opening 30 minutes.
Two explosive plays would be produced by the Argos in the third quarter, a screen pass D.J. Foster turned into a 63-yard touchdown and a 71-yard pick six recorded by Dexter McCoil on a tipped ball.
All of a sudden, the Argos were leading 21-9.
Toronto’s first three majors were manufactured in all three facets of the game, a sure recipe for success.
The Argos were on the receiving end of the pigskin trifecta in the Labour Day Classic when the Ticats turned the trick.
First-year Argos receiver Damion Jeanpiere got in on the act Wednesday night by hauling in his first major as the Argos exploded for a 28-9 advantage on the strength of scoring three touchdowns in a row in the third.
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Article contentIt increased to four when rookie quarterback Caleb Evans looked like a player making his second start, making a terrible throw Chris Edwards returned for an 84-yard pick six as the quarter ended.
Only a couple of plays stood out for the Argos in the first half, including a strangely called shovel touch pass by Antonio Pipkin to Ricky Collins Jr. that generated a few yards.
Pipkin was backing up MBT and his early game reps seemed odd given how MBT was efficient when completing intermediate passes.
After Toronto’s drive stalled, rather than attempt a long field goal, the Argos punted the football hoping to pin the Redblacks deep.
Instead, Boris Bede’s brutal punt went into the end zone for a single.
Clearly, the Argos were afraid of DeVonte Dedmon getting his hands on the pigskin in the event of a miss.
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Article contentOn Toronto’s second possession, Pipkin was stopped on third and short.
The start couldn’t have gone worse for the Argos, who went about their business as if they were afraid to take control of the evening.
When they should have gone on third down on another short-yardage situation, the Argos decided to punt.
Defensively, the Argos were too soft. Two field goals allowed the Redblacks to take a 6-1 lead.
Ottawa didn’t run anything exotic on offence, preferring Evans to make quick throws and, when throws weren’t available, the kid used his legs.
On defence, Ottawa did a solid job of controlling the line of scrimmage.
Toronto was quite average, at times well below average, when it did have possession.
The Argos couldn’t run the football and clearly missed John White IV, who sat out his first game with an injury.
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Article contentFoster was the primary tailback, but he’s best used as a receiver coming out of the backfield, even though he has posted a 100-yard rushing game.
The Argos are much better with White and Foster in the backfield.
For the second game in a row, veteran slotback Eric Rogers wasn’t available.
Above everything else, what the Redblacks did well was win the battle of field position.
When drives stalled, punter Richie Leone pinned the Argos deep. He punted much better than Bede, who struggled.
The Argos finally created a bolt when Leone’s punt was blocked by Declan Cross on a botched blocking scheme by the Redblacks. No one put a helmet on Cross, or even a hand, who cleanly blocked the punt.
Rookie Dejon Brissett scooped up the football and ran it into the end zone to produce his first touchdown. It was Toronto’s first big play on special teams this season.
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Article contentEntering the night, the Argos yielded two blocks and surrendered a punt return for a touchdown when Frankie Williams took it to the house on Labour Day in a Ticats win.
The Argos lost rush end Shane Ray, who appeared to hurt a leg. The former NFL first-rounder already had broken a finger on the third play of the season and went on the six-game injured list. He returns and is hurt in the opening half.
The Argos had more punts (5) than first downs (4) in the first half. They produced only 87 yards, while Ottawa had 204 yards on offence.
The Redblacks were not flagged for a single penalty. Their one mistake was the blocked punt.
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