Aug 3, 2015
Argos' receivers catching on
As the Toronto Argonauts head into Monday's encounter with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Tim Horton's Field, the robust receiving corps is a long way from the banged-up group that took the field in a 13-12 loss last season in the team's first visit to the Ticats' new stadium.
By Mike Hogan
It wasn't the most memorable game in the long history of the Toronto-versus-Hamilton football feud.
The Argonauts made just one trip to Tim Horton's Field in 2014, christening the new building in what turned out to be an inaccurately titled "Labour Day Classic."
The game would see the hometown heroes defeat the Double Blue 13-12, limiting the injury-riddled Argo offence to just 142 yards passing.
Looking back, Ricky Ray didn't have a bevy of targets to choose from that day. Six receivers were on the injured list, while Andre Durie was a game-time scratch. The starters were Jason Barnes, Darvin Adams, Trent Guy, Mike Bradwell and Natey Adjei, who in his first and only CFL start, led all Argos receivers with a mere 44 yards.
As the club enters Monday's game in Hamilton, that situation has changed dramatically. Durie is the only member of the starting receiver corps on the injured list, while three first-year players have made their impact felt.
Vidal Hazleton, Kevin Elliott and Tori Gurley have all been solid contributors through four games. The group has combined for 46 catches for 602 yards and seven touchdowns. Throw Chad Owens, Anthony Coombs and running back Brandon Whitaker into the mix and it's a very, very balanced passing attack. Owens leads the team with 23 catches for 263 yards, while Whitaker has 13 catches, one more than Coombs.
But it's been the newcomers who have stood out so far.
Head coach Scott Milanovich told TSN.ca there's one attribute this trio collectively brings to the Boatmen that doesn't show up in the stats.
"High energy," explained the coach. "They're very physical, they love to play. I enjoy being around them because they've got a youthful attitude where it's still just fun and it doesn't seem like a job to them. I think that rubs off on our team."
The biggest area of improvement has been at the "z" or wide-side receiver spot. That was the position held by Spencer Watt before the free agent signed an offseason deal with the Ticats. His career highs were 35 catches in 2014, while he totalled 424 yards two seasons earlier. Watt scored nine touchdowns in his half-decade with the Boatmen.
The "z" spot is occupied this year by Gurley, who has already hauled in 15 catches for 199 yards and three majors. His prorated totals would be 67 catches for 895 yards and 13 touchdowns, a significant statistical upgrade over Watt.
Trevor Harris - not the injured Ray - is the man who benefits the most from the influx of talent. He raves about all three, saying that Gurley is a quarterback's dream or at least reminiscent of a video game feature.
"If you just look at him, he's like Create-a-Player," said Harris. "He's 6' 5, he's rangy, he's athletic, he goes and gets the ball, he's competitive, he blocks, he'll hit you in the mouth, he catches everything, he has phenomenal hands. He also runs great routes and he's just a tough match-up."
The acquisition of Gurley has made it impossible for Harris to ignore that "z" spot.
"You have to find a way to get Tori Gurley the ball," stressed the QB. "It's something you have to do every week. You can't waste a guy like that. We're trying to find ways to get him the ball in space."
The additional production - from what had been an almost forgotten spot on the field - is something that Milanovich admits was something that they were trying to improve.
"I think ideally you have that balance," confessed the coach. "It becomes a good balance to have. Good players all want the ball and when you have this many talented receivers, the ball gets spread around a little bit more."
And spread out it's been.
Hazelton has 16 catches, one more than Gurley and Elliott, who says there's been one area that's improved more than any other since camp began two months ago.
"Definitely the communication and the way we gel together," admitted the Florida A&M product. "While we're in practice, we talk and we communicate. We all have the same language and it's like we've been playing together for a couple of years now."
It's a long way from the injury-decimated receiving corps of a year ago.
Having this year's receiving group makes things a lot easier for Harris, though there will be nothing easy about facing a team that is 7-0 at home in the short history of Tim Horton's Field, especially with Hamilton defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer's penchant for blitzing from anywhere and everywhere.
The Argos have faced several challenges early in the season, but none more fierce than what they're up against on Monday in Hamilton.