Article content
The Argos are one step away from having Antonio Pipkin lined up below center when the team reaches the halfway point devastated by injury.
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Pipkin has never taken a photo like Argo and is new to the Ryan Dinwiddie system.
He also played for the Als, Toronto’s opponent on Friday night in a critical East Division meeting.
In a perfect scenario, the Argos won’t have to turn to Pipkin, but there’s always the possibility if starter McLeod Bethel-Thompson fails.
The Argos will turn to the veteran quarterback who will start for the third time this season.
He was at center when Argos opened the season in Calgary with a comeback and then started the following week in Winnipeg, where he was replaced by Nick Arbuckle in the third quarter.
Dinwiddie alluded to the possibility that Arbuckle was not awake Friday night due to a persistent hamstring injury that Arbuckle first suffered in training camp.
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
On Thursday, the Argos released their depth chart with MBT on the starter list and Pipkin on the back.
The problem with Argos is that not many pay attention to the club’s daily happenings.
Often times, the media will jump on a story that is two, sometimes three days old, like the hamstring injury Henoc Muamba suffered last week in Regina.
Dinwiddie said Muamba is not likely to play on Friday and yet very few mentioned it.
Muamba, by the way, goes on the six-game disabled list.
Cameron Judge, who was also injured in Toronto’s loss to the Riders, goes on the one-game disabled list after he suffered a back injury to the ankle on his return to Saskatchewan.
The fact that Arbuckle doesn’t play isn’t exactly news.
It is more noteworthy, if at all.
When a player is limited in practice, as Arbuckle was this week, the probability of dressing is not good.
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Everyone should be aware of MBT’s strengths and weaknesses by now.
If not, it is clear that they have not pursued their career in Toronto.
The offense has been a problem for the Argos because their play at quarterback has been inconsistent.
What the Argos have done, at least so far, is rebound from losses.
When they lost in Winnipeg, the Argos defeated the Blue Bombers in Toronto.
When they lost at Hamilton, the Argos made peace at BMO Field.
In both games, the score did not reflect the dominance of Argos.
Friday night marks the first of four straight games for the Argos against opponents from the East, a stretch of critical games that will end in Montreal on October 22.
When the schedule came out, the Argos knew they had to play Hamilton four times, knowing the Als would face the hideous Redblacks four times.
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The Argos are in no way to win, but their date with the Als is important.
Dinwiddie says he’s comfortable with his three quarterbacks, but all coaches will say the same about any player or they wouldn’t be on the team.
Dinwiddie has a history with Arbuckle during his time in Calgary.
Arbuckle, however, has been flipping the ball far too often.
MBT has been clean.
When he got the hook in Winnipeg, MBT toppled DaVaris Daniels.
Defensively, the Argos have shaken their roster in the wake of injuries.
They had to adjust their proportion with veteran Arjen Colquhoun about to make his starting debut at the corner.
At the line of scrimmage, Canadian rookie Sam Acheampong starts at tackle.
Vontae Diggs first starts as an Argo at center linebacker.
Former NFL player Reshard Cliett, who is listed as linebacker but can play safety, will make his debut.
Commercial
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“The next man,” Dinwiddie said. “The guys are here for a reason and they have to step up and seize the opportunity. It’s tough, but all teams suffer injuries ”.
It is also the first game in which Chris Jones makes the calls on defense.
Jones isn’t going to change the defense, having been in the unit for just a week.
“It’s going to evolve,” Dinwiddie said. “They are feeling each other, Chris and the players. I think those guys are eager to see what Chris brings to the table, what his plans will be like.
“I think they are going to be a little nervous because they are used to the Glen (Young) stuff. That was their comfort level (with the team’s previous defensive coordinator) and now they are out of their comfort level. I’m sure Chris is not very comfortable.
“At the end of the day, we are going to improve as the season progresses. Right now, I don’t have high expectations for those guys. There will be some growing pains. I feel like we’ll be fine (Friday night) as we continue to grow. “
Reference-torontosun.com