ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – Argos head coach Jim Barker doesn’t really care what the Argos record is heading into the playoffs. In fact, he never has. The veteran coach has been around too long to know that a team’s record at the end of the year means little heading into the playoffs if that team can’t execute once they get there.
It is for that reason that Barker is putting heat on his team this week in Montreal. He doesn’t just want the Argos to get through the regular season finale injury free but to head home with the confidence in knowing that, regardless of the final score, they played their best football to date.
“We are about trying to get to get better every week,” Barker said when asked about where his team is at right now. “For us, it is an individual challenge to each guy to play the best game that he has played to this point in this game.”
The challenge Barker has posed, however, will likely go to a lineup that will look vastly different to the one fielded last week and the one fielded in the East Semi-Final.
Barker is pressed with trying to balance the two worlds that often accompany a team that has secured a playoff spot but still has to close out the regular season with nothing but pride at stake.
Regardless of who dresses, Barker knows that there is still a lot of work to be done in this final ‘dress rehearsal’ before the playoffs.
“We are trying to work on our poise and our concentration,” Barker said. “This is about preparing this football team to go 3-0 in the playoffs.”
Preparing the team will come with the aforementioned lineup changes that will see stars RB Cory Boyd and WR/KR Chad Owens take the day off, as well as SB Jeremaine Copeland, DT Kevin Huntley, RB Bryan Crawford, RB Jeff Johnson, CB Willie Middlebrooks and CB Byron Parker. Canadian QB Danny Brannagan will dress for his second career CFL game and WR Brandon Rideau, FB Peter Quinney, DB Josh Abrams, RB Anthony Alridge and DB Sean Smalls will also find their way into the lineup with hopes of seeing an increase in playing time.
Perhaps the most intriguing roster move of the week comes along the defensive line where Adriano Belli makes his way back from the 9-game injured list.
As for the starting quarterbacks, Argos’ pivot Cleo Lemon will continue to work the kinks out but it is unknown at this point as to how long he will stay in the game.
On the other sideline, Adrian McPherson will get his second start of the season for Montreal as they rest Anthony Calvillo; a decision that adds slight relief to Barker but one that he won’t take for granted.
“He [McPherson] is a great scrambler. He is a player that hasn’t had a chance to play a lot so I am sure he is going to want to go out and try and prove himself. But anytime you don’t have to play Anthony Calvillo, that is a good thing,” Barker said with a smile.
Kickoff is at 4:00 p.m. ET on Sunday at McGill Stadium in Montreal and can be seen on TSN or heard on The FAN590.