It was more than just the final score that looked unfamiliar on Friday night.
When the Toronto Argonauts dropped a 28-10 decision to the Alouettes in Montreal it marked the first time that the team lost a season opener under head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, but that wasn’t the only unusual stat that night.
The team’s running game, a major factor in the team’s march to the 2024 Grey Cup, to be kind, sputtered.
A year ago, the Boatmen averaged 121.3 rushing yards per game, second in the league. That’s a dramatic difference from the mere 34 yards amassed on the ground against the Als, led by the 17 compiled by quarterback Nick Arbuckle, not someone known for his running ability.
It was a frustrating night for head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, who calls the offensive plays. He admitted that he had to change the game plan at one point because the running game just couldn’t get going.
“In the third quarter we felt we had to go someplace else,” Dinwiddie told reporters. “I was tired of being in second and long. Let’s get the ball in our quarterback’s hands, let’s give him a chance to move the chains. I thought we played better in the second half, but obviously it wasn’t good enough. We’ve got to establish the run, that’s how we’re going to get the downfield shots.”
It meant that the running backs essentially became decoys. In the second half, starting running back Deonta McMahon carried the ball just once, while catching a pair of passes. Miyan “Chop” Williams had one carry for nine yards after the break, but it was negated by penalty. He caught one pass on the game’s penultimate play.
McMahon is now the lead dog in the running game after the team released last year’s starter, Ka’Deem Carey. The move was made because the team has enormous faith in McMahon, now in his third season in Double Blue. Neither he, Carey, Williams, nor anyone else would have had much luck against the Als, as the backs were hit behind the line of scrimmage more often than not.
The native of Frostproof, Florida – located southeast of Tampa, roughly at the midway point between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico – obviously prefers carrying the football than blocking, as it can be tough for someone 5’8”, 185 pounds to take on a 300-pound lineman. But he’s happy to do it if it leads to team success.
“I pride myself on blocking, it’s a part of my game,” said McMahon. “It’s a part of the offence. We need it to sustain a good drive. I pride myself on my blocking and feel like I did a pretty good job.”
That said, the product of McNeese State still wants the rock against Calgary after Friday’s four carry, 14-yard performance.
“I definitely expect the ball more in the run game,” he said. “Chop is right there with me. We definitely should be toting the ball, and I feel it’s going to set us up for a great game, it’s going to open up the passing game.”
Williams would obviously like more touches as well. A touchdown machine at Ohio State, he had just three carries for as many yards – not including the one negated by penalty – adding one catch for two yards.
Not exactly the game he was hoping for in his CFL debut, but it will be a memorable one for him, nonetheless.
“Overall, it was definitely a great experience,” Williams told Argonauts.ca. “Playing in a different environment in front of different people is an experience I’ll never forget. The talent level is what I expected. I knew there was going to be some great talent up here, they’re professionals for a reason.”
Dinwiddie would love to get his backs involved more when they face the Stamps. He knows they have the makings of a solid running game, and that there’s more fine tuning needed than major surgery.
“I thought it was kind of like our pre-season, we did some decent stuff,” said the coach. “We didn’t sustain drives. We’ve got to find ways to establish the run, we’ve got to be balanced, but we’ve got to finish some drives and end up with touchdowns not field goals.”
If Tuesday’s practice was any indication, the Argos are rolling up their sleeves and putting the work in. McMahon is usually one of the first players to return to the locker rooms at BMO Field from the practice field at Lamport Stadium because he travels to and from practice by scooter.
On Tuesday, he was one of the last to return.
“We had a pretty heavy install,” he said of his later than usual arrival. “Guys were locked in; they were coming into practice ready to execute. After a loss like that you’ve got no choice but put that foot forward and keep going from there.”