Armanti Edwards (10) of the Toronto Argonauts during the CFL Eastern Final game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at BMO Field in Toronto, ON, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017. (Photo: Johany Jutras)
As the Toronto Argonauts prepare to face Saskatchewan at BMO Field on Saturday (7:00 TSN, TSN 1050), fans are anxious to see a former Rider receiver facing his former team.
Perhaps the focus will be on the wrong pass catcher.
For obvious reasons, Duron Carter has received the most media attention of any Argo this week. He’s been requested by both print and electronic media after every practice, and had appeared on radio stations in both Toronto and Regina, all in anticipation of perhaps making his first start as an Argo, with the added storyline of it being against his former team.
But it’s another former Rider who is on the best run of his CFL career.
Armanti Edwards is a quiet man. He’s not vocal in the locker room, while on the field he lets his play do the talking for him.
Edwards made his CFL debut in with Saskatchewan in the 2016 season. He only played in four games, catching 19 passes. As he prepared to begin the 2017 season in green, he was dealt to the Argos on May 27th in exchange for Peter Dyakowski, the offensive lineman who had just signed with Toronto as a free agent.
He landed in Toronto at 10:00 the next morning, the same day training camp opened. The Appalachian State QB-turned-receiver became a key component of the offence, catching 83 passes for 962 yards and four touchdowns. His biggest catch came in the East Final against his former team, two plays after James Wilder Jr.’s memorable third-and-five catch. Edwards hauled in a 17-yard strike from Ricky Ray to set up Cody Fajardo’s game-winning TD.
The Greenwood, South Carolina native had but one 100-yard game last year, but has two in his last three games. Last month he also had a memorable game-winning TD catch against Ottawa with just one second left on the clock.
The added presence of Carter will certainly keep safeties honest, meaning there should be a lot more space for both Edwards and S.J. Green to work their magic underneath.
LIKELY WILL PLAY
Will Likely will likely play on Saturday. Yes, it sounds like an Abbott and Costello routine is about to break out, but Maryland product could become a difference maker for the Argos.
Likely is slotted to start at the field corner position, and may get a chance to return some kicks and/or punts. That possibility is extremely exciting.
The 5’7” dual threat had a spectacular junior season with the Terrapins, being named All-Big-10 as both a returner and defensive back, after being named an All-Conference DB as a sophomore. On punt returns, not kickoff returns, but punt returns on the smaller field, he averaged 17.7 yards per return.
That’s insane.
One can imagine how excited he was when he got a look at the size of a CFL field. How big did his eyes get?
“Real big,” a smiling Likely told Argonauts.ca. “I didn’t realize how big the field was, but there’s a great difference. I’m just going to go out there and do things to the best of my ability and see what goes from there.”
He blew out his ACL in his senior year, and got a chance with the New England Patriots last season, but his speed wasn’t back to 100 percent. We’ll get a chance to see in game action Saturday just how quick he is.
NEXT MAN UP
Sometimes it’s the little things that are the most rewarding. On Friday, just after the media availability was over, Brandon Burks was walking into the Argos locker room.
The depth chart was out, and his name was on it. He hasn’t played in a game since July 21, the home game against Winnipeg.
Argonauts.ca shouted an encouraging, “Hey, you’re up!” to the product of Troy University. He nodded and continued walking. After two steps he stopped, turned around and with a gigantic smile on his face replied “Ya.”
It was almost like it took until that moment for the news to sink in. He’s worked hard this season and being able to witness that reaction was memorable.
Burks is replacing Martese Jackson as James Wilder Jr.’s backup and will be used as a returner.
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THE TRESTMAN FACTOR
When the CFL schedule first comes out, fans look to see certain things. Are the Argos in Hamilton for Labour Day? Are the Ticats in Toronto once or twice? When are the games in Montreal and Ottawa, the ones easiest to travel to?
Other teams should be looking for something else, whether or not they’re playing Toronto after the Argos have a bye.
Last season the Boatmen were 2-0 in the regular season after a bye week. They were wins over Edmonton and B.C. They also beat Saskatchewan in the East Final coming off a bye.
This year the Argos are 2-0 after a week off, like a year ago the wins coming against Edmonton and B.C.
Marc Trestman is 5-0 with the Argos in games after a bye week. The man and his staff seem to have a knack for knowing how to utilize the additional preparation time.
