Brandon Burks scores a ridiculous touchdown against Hamilton (Photo: Lucas Kschischang)
Part of the Process
While the entertainment value of pre-season football games can be challenged – as was the case Friday – the importance of the games cannot.
The Argos win in their pre-season tilt in Hamilton was incredibly sloppy at times, particularly from the home team’s perspective. Who knew turnovers were now on the menu at Tim Horton’s?
Many players who were just names on a roster jumped into conversations across the country about their future in the league. Did anybody know much, if anything, about Brandon Burks or Trumaine Washington before last night?
They sure do now.
The evaluation process continued Saturday as General Manager Jim Popp, Head Coach Marc Trestman and their coaching and personnel staffs got to work, analysing what happened on the field the night before. They watched the game film, graded the players, met for a short time, then did some special teams work with the players late in the day.
In other words, Friday’s game was a part of the overall process, but it likely won’t make or break anyone. Training camp is still underway and there is one pre-season game yet to be played, Thursday night at 7:30 in Guelph as the Argos host Ottawa.
The Kicking Contest
There are two kickers in camp, competing for just one job. Every kick is vital for Swayze Waters and Ronnie Pfeffer, both of whom are looking to replace Lirim Hajrullahu. Both had decent games, with the edge going to Pfeffer.
A couple of weeks shy of his 26th birthday, the Laurier product unleashed a couple of spectacular punts to highlight a near-perfect performance. Aside from not hitting a kickoff the way he wanted, it was a pretty good night.
Did he have a feeling in the pre-game warmup that he’d have that kind of game?
“No, I just try to do my thing every single time and just try to hit the football,” Pfeffer told Argonauts.ca. “(Friday) was a great night so I can’t complain.”
No, he can’t. With the wind behind him in the first and third quarters he punted twice. One was a 60-yarder to the sideline, the other was 63 yards, also to the sideline and it had 4.8 seconds hang time. His kickoffs were 72 yards to the numbers, and 74 yards outside the numbers.
Into the wind he had a 38-yard punt outside the numbers and a low line-drive kickoff that took a nice Argo bounce and travelled 66-yards to the hash mark. He didn’t have a field-goal opportunity and hit all three convert attempts.
Waters night wasn’t as good. With the wind, the game’s opening kickoff went 62 yards. He had two punts with the wind, one was a 46-yard end-over-end effort to the middle of the field, and later a nice 50-yarder with 4.9 seconds hang time that went to a hash mark, but was returned for a TD.
The UAB product was 3-3 in field goal attempts with a long of 42 yards, but he missed a conversion attempt wide left into the breeze.
The battle is on, but only one of the two will be the Argos No. 1 kicker this season. What makes it tough is the two get along very well and were teammates in Toronto in 2015 as Pfeffer was getting his feet wet in pro football.
“We’re great friends,” said Pfeffer of Waters. “We talk all off-season. Even when we weren’t on the same team we were always talking. Trestman always believes in everyone being together and (Swayze) and I are great friends.”
Coach Trestman said mid-week that he was looking for more consistency from each player, but both had strong finishes to the week. This competition seems far from over. The decision may come down to Pfeffer, a Kitchener native, being a National player. Dressing a Canadian in that position gives the coaching staff more roster flexibility.
Who-maine?
There was great excitement about the revamped Argos secondary as camp opened. Veterans Ronnie Yell and T.J. Heath were signed in the off-season.
On Friday night Trumaine Washington went a long way in his attempt to make the team.
A true rookie, the Miami, Florida native is coming off an honourable mention All-ACC season with Louisville. His year was highlighted by a pair of interceptions in the Cardinals 31-28 upset win at Florida State.
The Ticats tested the rook early. On the game’s first play they threw a six-yard out route to Brandon Banks. Washington played it perfectly, quickly tackling one of the CFL’s most dangerous receivers and limiting him to zero yards after the catch. It was a play that likely went unnoticed by the majority of fans, but there’s zero doubt the coaching staff took note.
Hamilton went after him again on the next play, but Washington, playing field corner for the most part, routinely knocked down a pass over the middle intended for Jalen Saunders.
Later in the first quarter the back-and-gold gambled on third-and-inches. Washington was lined up as the field halfback opposite Luke Tasker. Jeremiah Masoli dropped back and threw a strike 38-yards downfield. The sure-handed Tasker got both hands on it, but Washington, running stride-for-stride with the receiver, knocked it away.
Three major tests early, and the student got an A+ on each one.
Early in the second quarter, Washington made his biggest play of the night. Masoli was again looking for Tasker, but the Argo newcomer picked it off, returning it 50 yards to the Hamilton 28. The Floridian had made his impact felt already, and it was just a minute-and-a-half into the second quarter.
He forced another turnover late in the third quarter when he sacked Johnny Manziel on a third-down gamble.
It was far from a pristine effort. The rookie would likely be the first to tell you that he got a little lucky on the interception because he got turned around before making the play. There’s a huge learning process underway for him because of the size of the field, the extra player, the waggle etc., but there’s little doubt that Washington has gone from a “just a guy” to a serious contender for a roster spot.
Football is Fun
The pre-season is a chance for players who have become known for their abilities on special teams to get back and play their old position.
Matt Webster is a Queen’s product who joined the Argos last year. A big part of the STs, he got the chance to play safety against the Ticats and took full advantage of the opportunity.
His biggest play was a first-quarter interception. Brandon Banks ran a stop-and-go on Dowling. Masoli looked deep for ‘Speedy B’, but Webster read it all the way.
He had anticipated the play before Masoli pump faked and had already started sprinting toward the sideline. Webster was rewarded for his mental preparation with the INT.
“It’s so much fun,” said a broadly smiling Webster. “You take everything that you learn in practice and everything I learned from Jermaine (Gabriel) and Matt Black, it’s great to just go out and let it all hang loose.”
At what point did he know he had a shot at the pick?
“Right when the ball was snapped,” he said matter-of-factly. “He (Masoli) was kind of looking that way. I know we had a four-by-one set and Banks was out there and they like to hitch-and-go. He pumped over there, so he led me there the whole way and I was fortunate enough to get a good jump and come down with it.”
As mentioned, the Argos are very, very deep in the secondary. Webster did not look out of place at all.