It’s not necessarily a career-changing moment, even for the rookies, but Monday’s Double Blue scrimmage served its purpose.
The Argos ran plays in specific scenarios to get new players used to CFL game speed and allow coaches to get a look at players in game situations.
CFL officials were also at Alumni Stadium at the University of Guelph to help get themselves ready for the season, calling penalties when warranted. There was no tackling during the scrimmage to help prevent injury, so whistles were blown when it appeared a tackle would have been made.
Not a perfect way for coaches to assess players, but every little bit helps.
“We really just wanted to stay healthy,” head coach Ryan Dinwiddie told Argonauts.ca after the scrimmage. “We only ran 41 plays. We wanted to go through the scenarios with substitutions, get those things right so we’re ready to play on Saturday. Some guys went out there and made some plays, the quarterbacks didn’t take any penalties for delay of game, so we got done what we needed to get done.”
The initial scenario saw the offence start at its own 40-yard line and run a normal sequence. Another saw 24 seconds placed on the clock with the offence starting at the defensive 22-yard line. One situation saw the offence start on its own 5-yard line with a goal of getting two first downs to not have to punt from its own end zone. They also worked through an overtime possession starting at the defensive 35-yard line with the clock not running.
Each scenario was executed at least twice with all three quarterbacks rotating through.
It’s all a part of the evaluation process, with the next step being a pre-season game in Hamilton on Saturday night.
When asked how he thought his players fared, before the benefit of seeing the video, Dinwiddie seemed pretty happy with what he saw at live speed.
“I think some guys showed some good things,” said the coach. “There were some plays that they made mistakes on earlier in camp that they didn’t today. Guys are learning and we’re growing as a football club.”
One rookie that stood out was Shane Hooks, a 6’4” receiver out of Auburn. In his first series he was targeted three times, catching a pass for 10 yards, then getting open on a deep post route, but unable to connect with the quarterback. He had a nice catch on a back-shoulder throw negated by penalty, caught another for 8 yards and a first down, drew a pass interference penalty on a 30-yard throw, and caught a pass for a two-point conversion on the final play of the afternoon.
Not bad for a first performance in a simulated CFL game. What did he think of the experience?
“The play clock is a little bit faster; I had to get lined up faster and get ready to play,” Hooks told Argonauts.ca, noting his effort was good for his confidence. “Anything, and everything I do I have the same expectation that I’m going to do my best and give it my all.”
Total effort and attention to detail is what the coaching staff was looking for. For the most part, the coaches had to be happy with what they saw.
ARGO NOTES: DaVaris Daniels’ only catch of the day was a bit different. Arbuckle threw toward the veteran at the goal line, but Kenneth George Jr. was there to bat it away. He tipped it, but it fell straight into the arms of Daniels, who was marked just short of the end zone…Hergy Mayala and Dontay Demus each had good receiving days, Mayala with one touchdown catch, Demus with two more…There were two interceptions on the afternoon, one by Delonte Hood that was negated by an offside penalty, the other by Derek Slywka. The Ithica College product wore a white (offensive) jersey for two series, then put on a blue (defensive) jersey for the rest of the practice. He was a receiver on the Argos practice squad last season but recently flipped to defensive back, the position he played in college. He lined up at corner on Monday, though he was a safety in college…Alfredo Gachuz is expected to arrive at camp this week and Lirim Hajrullahu is still on the Injured Veterans list, so when the Argos lined up in field goal formation to practice that scenario, punter John Haggerty went through the kicking motion without contacting the ball. The officials under the goal posts had some fun with the situation, looking at each other and both raising their hands to indicate an invisible ball had gone through the uprights, which got some laughs from those on the sidelines…Next up for the Argos is a pre-season game at Hamilton Stadium (the former Tim Horton’s Field) Saturday night at 7:00.