"Receiving options won’t be an issue for the Boatmen pivot. Rival-turned-teammate Brandon Banks signed with Toronto during free agency, he spent his first eight seasons in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

In 111 games with Hamilton, Banks totalled 422 catches for 5,678 yards and 44 touchdowns, earning CFL All-Star honours four times and was named 2019’s Most Outstanding Player.

If Banks isn’t available, Bethel-Thompson will have another newcomer to target in Markeith Ambles. Ambles signed with Toronto during the off-season after spending the past three seasons with the Calgary Stampeders.

This past season with Calgary, Ambles averaged 12.7 yards per catch, pulling in 54 passes for 686 yards and three touchdowns. The third year receiver will look to provide his new team with a reliable set of hands and the ability to find open space downfield.

If Bethel-Thompson is looking for an option he is more familiar with, it will likely be Kurleigh Gittens Jr. The third year Canadian receiver burst onto the scene for the Argos in 2021, catching 50 passes for 604 yards and four touchdowns.

 

At the start of CFL free agency, Toronto addressed their ground game almost immediately with the signing of running back Andrew Harris. Harris, an 11-year veteran, holds the record for most rush yards by a Canadian running back and is just 339 yards away from reaching 10,000 in his career...........

Als

Jeshrun Antwi was called on in the absence of Stanback, he carried the ball seven times for 98 yards, including a 70-yard gain. According to the Als depth chart he is listed as the No.1 back entering Thursday’s matchup in Toronto.

The absence of their star running back will certainly put more pressure on Adams to make plays with his arm in Week 2. However, if Antwi can mimic his stunning performance from Week 1, it will certainly help to relieve some of the pressure on the passing attack.

Eugene Lewis was the Als top target in Week 1, catching four passes for 112 yards. Lewis will once again look to utilize his length and speed to expose an Argos secondary which surrendered 19 touchdowns through the air in 2021.

Rookie Tyson Philpot was a welcome surprise on special teams in his regular season debut. He returned a pair of kickoffs for 63 yards and added 38 yards on five punt returns. The ability to set his team up with good field position to start drives will be critical in helping to reduce the pressure on the Montreal offence.

Defensively for the Alouettes, it was defensive back Ardarius Pickett who made his presence felt in their Week 1 opener against the Stampeders. Pickett showed off his range in the defensive backfield, recording seven tackles an interception.

 

cfl.ca

Dinwiddie needs to get things done with those players on O.

Edited June 16, 20223 yr by Mark F

17 minutes ago, Fatty Liver said:

As a new owner Stern needs to step back, chill out and keep his mouth shut, direct owner interference with the  roster and coaching staff is not going to help his team win football games.  Threatening coaches and personnel with change will further erode the atmosphere in the club house and could cause the Als to crater a promising new season.  Who knows, maybe he's the one that decided V.A. was already on a short leash.

He is, however…a big smart man. 

1 hour ago, Rod Black said:

Oh, I thought you mentioned “objectively”. Like in scientific, data. Like the 640 yards passing the RB and BB put up, that kind of “objective”, is meaningless and that kind of offensive performance. 

Agree to disagree I suppose. I meant “objectively” as in a way that does not involve personal feelings or bias. 

The Bombers were putrid offensively, and inept defensively in the first half, while the Redblacks kept shooting themselves in the foot. Just an awful game until the fourth quarter. 

It’s not like the Als-Argos game was a masterpiece either, however based on each team’s performance so far, I’m not sure how anyone could say that the Bombers will “slaughter” either of those teams, which was my original point.

 

1 minute ago, Yourface said:

Agree to disagree I suppose. I meant “objectively” as in a way that does not involve personal feelings or bias. 

The Bombers were putrid offensively, and inept defensively in the first half, while the Redblacks kept shooting themselves in the foot. Just an awful game until the fourth quarter. 

It’s not like the Als-Argos game was a masterpiece either, however based on each team’s performance so far, I’m not sure how anyone could say that the Bombers will “slaughter” either of those teams, which was my original point.

 

I don’t agree to disagree. you don’t know what you meant. And now blocked