To a CFL team, a week off is never a bad thing. It allows players to heal any minor injuries, or just get some rest. It certainly gives them a much-needed break from the mental grind of a long season.
For coaches, it gives them a chance to get away from the seemingly countless hours spent at the facility, reviewing game film, preparing for their next opponents.
A team can spin the timing of the break any way it chooses. If the game prior to the bye was a blowout loss, then the break came at the perfect time. If a win preceded the down time, then it was great to go into the break on a mental high.
The Argos did win their final game before the bye, a remarkable 42-41, come-from-behind win over Ottawa, with Armanti Edwards scoring the winning touchdown with one second left in the fourth quarter.
Argos head coach Marc Trestman headed home to the U.S. to unwind and just get away from the daily routine.
“I try to do more non-football than anything,” admitted the coach. “I read a book, or try to do something, walk the dogs, spend time with my family.”
That doesn’t mean that he turns football off completely. Argonauts.ca wanted to know how much of the extra time was spent on the upcoming game against the B.C. Lions (Saturday, 4:00 BMO Field, TSN, TSN 1050), and how much was spend self-evaluating his own group.
“The time I do spend on football would be spent more and more in scheme evaluation and coaching evaluation,” explained Trestman. “What can we do to get these guys better? How can we improve our team? Spent a little more time talking with Jim (Popp). We can really assess where we are, and where we’re going, and the things we need to do to get there.”
The coach’s record in games following a bye week would indicate that whatever he’s doing has been working. According to CFL Head Statistician Steve Daniel, in Trestman’s time in Toronto the Argos are 3-0 after a week off, including this season’s win over Edmonton. He’s won four straight going back to his days in Montreal.
Was there anything done at all to prepare for this week’s opponents with the additional time?
“We had plenty of time for B.C.,” the coach added. “There was a minimal time on B.C. over the bye, but there has been plenty of time over the last three or four days to certainly catch up.”
The break came at a weird time for quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson. After waiting several years between starts, the cruel football gods decided to give him a week off after just one start.
“On the one hand you want to get right back out there and keep the rhythm going,” said the QB, “On the other side you appreciate the time to prepare. It’s the Yin and the Yang, like everything good and bad, just take what is good, try to drop what’s bad, and move forward.”
It’s been a bit different of late for Bethel Thompson. While the preparation has been the same, he’s been getting most of the practice reps instead of just taking ‘mental reps’ behind Ricky Ray or James Franklin. He also has more off-field responsibilities like daily sessions with the media.
“You want to block all that stuff out and just go back to the work,” said Bethel-Thompson. “There were some days where there wasn’t work to do.”
S.J. Green did a good job of recharging. He headed to Florida to rest up and spend some quality time with his family.
“I got to go home and see my son play football,” said the proud papa. “I got to see his first game of the season. I got to see my daughter start soccer practice, so all the good family stuff that we don’t get to take part in on a daily basis being away.”
So how did 12-year old Solomon Green III do in his football game?
“He did good,” said his smiling father, “He had some big hits, had two touchdowns, he’s playing running back and safety.”
A two-touchdown game, just like his pops posted the week before against Ottawa. The Green family, and Argo fans alike are hoping the two-TD trend continues against the Lions on Saturday.