“We have a long way to go. We probably weren’t as good as everybody thought we were, but we’re trying to correct the issues that I recognized in the off-season.”
If Kris Sweet was a high-school teacher he’d have earned the reputation of being an extremely hard marker. The Toronto Argonauts offensive line coach constantly sets the bar exceptionally high, so his words are perhaps a bit surprising to those who don’t know him, considering most observers believe the Argos o-line was the league’s best in 2023.
The team allowed a league low 19 sacks last season, 14 fewer than second place Winnipeg. The Argos also averaged 113.7 rushing yards per game and three of the unit’s starters were named league all-stars, but that still hasn’t quenched Sweet’s thirst for unattainable perfection.
“We need to get better,” the coach told Argonauts.ca. “We need to be better up front being more physical and running, playing faster, doing the small things better.”
That puts pressure on the group to raise its collective game even higher, but to a man the big men up front all want to improve, including the CFL’s Most Outstanding Lineman from 2023, right tackle Dejon Allen. He has his own list on things he needs to fine tune.
“I still have to improve on my kick sets, making sure I’m more consistent, and my run blocking,” admitted Allen. “I think all of it is good, but if I can get better at it, it’s only going to improve my stock.”
The five starters are all back; Allen and Isiah Cage at tackle, Ryan Hunter and Peter Nicastro at guard, while Darius Ciraco returns for a second year in Double Blue at centre. Ciraco, Hunter and Allen were all named to the CFL All-Star team last season, and Allen says that cohesion should make an elite unit even better.
“That’s very important,” Allen told Argonauts.ca. “To be able to have the guys back is one of the true definitions of a team; to be able to stick together, that’s good.”
Sweet concurs with his right tackle that having the starting group, plus Dylan Giffen and Gregor Mackellar returning as backups, gives the Argos a huge advantage.
“It makes it a lot easier,” Sweet explained. “There’s a lot of recall. Guys have a lot of experience and are used to communicating with one another. We’re not perfect yet by any stretch, but it’s a lot easier because they’ve heard it before, they’ve seen it for the most part, and hopefully their recall and their past experiences carry over.”
There’s one ordeal that the group remembers, but certainly not fondly. The way the 2023 season ended with a stunning loss to Montreal in the Eastern Final is still fresh, and certainly is a source of motivation entering the ’24 campaign.
“It’s pretty easy not to be complacent after how last year ended,” Ryan Hunter told Argonauts.ca. “It was a pretty bad stinger that left a bad taste in our mouth. I think we feel like we left a few stones unturned, so this year it’s just a matter of crossing all the Ts and dotting all the Is and making sure that we run through every possible scenario so we’re prepared.”
The group’s success in 2023 will be a tough act to follow this season, but with everyone back and ahead of the curve at this stage of the season, improving on that level of performance is certainly attainable.
ARGO NOTES: Sunday was the warmest day of training camp so far, with the word heard most along the sidelines being “water” …The club announced early Sunday that quarterback Nick Arbuckle had signed to come back to Toronto. It was also announced that QB Hunter Raquet and returner Savon Scarver had been released…Arbuckle already knows the Dinwiddie system and not only took reps in drills, but in skelly as well…New linebacker “Muddy” Waters is turning some heads. He timed up a blitz perfectly to hit a running back in the backfield and blow up a play…Amani Dennis is a little nicked up and was replaced at boundary half by Kary Vincent Jr…Defensive co-coordinator ad defensive backs coach Will Fields had some kind words for one the Argos third round picks this year, “Tyshon Blackburn (U-Alberta) has played every position in the secondary and has picked up things very well.” …Wynton McManis was hearing it from his defensive teammates after he dropped a sure pick six… Dejon Brissett made a nice catch early in skelly. He ran a dig route, but the ball was behind him and high. He adjusted, reached back and high pointed the ball perfectly…Even more athletic was a catch by Justin Marshall. In tight coverage he bobbled a pass some 30 yards downfield, but regained possession and got both down before falling out of bounds…Darius Ciraco took a day off, which gave Gregor Mackellar a chance to play with the first offensive line group. He played right guard with Peter Nicastro sliding over to centre…The session ended with a 45-yard field goal attempt, which Lirim Hajrullahu drilled down the middle with plenty of leg to spare…The Argos will celebrate the long weekend with their Double Blue Game on Monday. It’s not a game per se, but the players will run situational plays, run at full speed with referees in place, and a play clock will be running. For many rookies it will be their first taste of live CFL action and a chance to experience the pace of the game. The game will run roughly 4:00-5:30 and admission is free…Admission to the Argos home pre-season game against Hamilton is just $20. It’s a 7:00 kickoff in Guelph on Friday, May 31.
For tickets bit.ly/3TWmNxw