Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
TORONTO — Who will catch the football for the Toronto Argonauts?
It’s one of many questions the Argos face the rest of the way in what’s been a tumultuous 2016 season thus far.
Just this week Scott Milanovich’s team made shockwaves by announcing the release of four receivers — Phil Bates and the ‘big three’ made up of Tori Gurley, Kevin Elliott and Vidal Hazelton. The fifth-year head coach also announced that Drew Willy will start the rest of the season at quarterback even if injured previous incumbent Ricky Ray returns to health.
While all eyes will be on the quarterback position as Willy gets acclimated with the offence, new contributors will get a chance to catch the first-year Argo pivot’s passes.
Bates, Gurley, Elliott and Hazelton combined for 1,184 of the 3,222 yards accumulated by receivers wearing double blue this season (that doesn’t include yards picked up by running backs like Brandon Whitaker or Alexandre Dupuis) — a whopping 36.7 per cent.
The Argos created shockwaves this week after releasing four receivers (The Canadian Press)
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Suffice to say that’s a lot of production suddenly missing from the lineup, but someone’s got to catch passes from Willy in an Argo offence that heavily favours the pass.
It could mean the team’s two leading receivers Kenny Shaw (773 yards) and Diontae Spencer (559 yards) get more involvement in the offence.
It makes certain that those not previously seen, such as rookie nationals Brian Jones and Llevi Noel, will take on new roles.
It’s hard to think of a time when a team shook up its receiving corps mid-season like the Argos did early this week. How does it all shake out heading into a contest with first-place Calgary? We take a look:
THE STEADY HANDS
Kenny Shaw | WR | 6’0, 170 lbs, 24
Kenny Shaw has taken on a major role in the Argos’ receiving corps (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)
Shaw has played the most games of any Argos receiver this season and been the most targeted, a trend that should continue following the release of two starters in Gurley and Elliott.
The 24-year-old Florida State graduate, who used to catch passes from Jameis Winston back in college, had to earn his playing time this season after coming into 2016 behind several international pass-catchers.
Those days are now behind him as Shaw, apparently now rooming with his new quarterback, should be a favourite target of Drew Willy from here on out.
Diontae Spencer | SB | 5’8, 163 lbs, 24
Diontae Spencer celebrates a touchdown during a game in Winnipeg (The Canadian Press)
Once an afterthought next to the Argonaut ‘big three’, Spencer emerged as the Argos’ most dangerous player this season and has essentially taken on the ‘Chad Owens’ role of the offence following Owens’ departure to Hamilton.
Diminutive and easy to miss, Spencer was clocked as low as 4.24 in the 40 in college and brings some of the same electricity to the Argo offence that Owens did back in his prime in 2012.
Spencer leads all Argos’ receivers in yards after the catch (not counting Brandon Whitaker, a running back) with 251 — almost half of his production thus far in 2016.
THE REPLACEMENTS
Llevi Noel | WR | 6’2, 210 lbs, 25
Milanovich says his rookie receiver might be the best special teams player in the league; now Noel will get a chance to replicate that on offence. Everywhere he’s gone and everything he’s done he’s made it look easy, and his emergence made it easier for the Argos to move on from the others.
Noel fits in as a wideout in Gurley’s spot and brings an athletic 6-foot-2 frame and at 25 years old is getting the first opportunity of his career for regular playing time.
Look for the Argos to target him down the field, much like they did regularly with Gurley.
Brian Jones | SB | 6’4, 233 lbs, 22
Taken fourth overall back in the CFL Draft in May, Jones had to work his way back from injury to try and make an impact on special teams. He’s done just that, but let’s be honest, the Argos didn’t use such a high draft pick to land a receiver that won’t contribute on offence.
Jones and his thick 6-foot-4, 233-pound frame add the size the Argos lose in Gurley, Hazelton and Elliott and fit in just fine on what’s still a pretty talented group of receivers.
At 22 years old, Argos fans hope to see Jones make a long career out of dominating opponents just like he did at this year’s CFL Combine, whether that’s blocking or catching the football — and it starts on Monday.
THE X-FACTORS
Andre Durie | SB | 5’9, 195 lbs, 35
Andre Durie could still play a role for the Argos in 2016 (The Canadian Press)
A long way removed from his 2012 days when he and Chad Owens were the heart of the Argos’ offence, Durie should still be able to play a contributing role.
Anthony Coombs has gotten more playing time as a hybrid slotback/running back, but the recent moves made by the Argos could mean they lean a little more on the wily vet.
Anthony Coombs | SB | 5’9, 199 lbs, 23
What do the recent moves mean for national pass-catcher Anthony Coombs? (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)
Coombs is the ultimate X-factor in this because he plays that hybrid slotback/running back position that the Argo offence looks to utilize.
Consider this: For an offence that relies on high-percentage passes and yards after the catch, 38.44 per cent of the Argos’ passing output this season has come after the catch was made — fourth-lowest in the CFL.
It’s a stark contrast compared to 2012 and 2013, when 42.49 per cent and 45.93 per cent of the Argos’ passing yards respectively came after the catch.
The Argos need their receivers to make guys miss and they need Coombs to fill a similar role that Durie did back when they were one of the CFL’s most productive offences.
Devon Wylie | SB | 5’9, 197 lbs, 27
The diminutive Devon Wylie has flashed potential in his first CFL season (The Canadian Press)
Compared to Weston Dressler as far as playing style and body type, Wylie is a receiver on the Argos that has the talent to play a much more prominent role.
He’s got the speed (he ran as low as a 4.26 back at Fresno State) and he’s got the shakes to make guys miss. He’s also caught 14 of 16 targets this season.
Still a first-year CFL player, Wylie could be scary good if given consistent playing time.
ALSO KEEP AN EYE ON…
DeVier Posey | WR | 6’2, 210 lbs, 26
The Argos have signed four new international receivers since letting the previous four walk, but one player under the radar could be DeVier Posey, who’s actually spent the last few weeks on the practice roster.
Tall and athletic, Posey has high-end speed and has shown in practice an ability to win one-on-one battles.
The 2012 third round draft pick by the NFL’s Houston Texans will need some time to learn the CFL game and grow into the Argo offence, but could get some playing time down the stretch and has a leg up on anyone else brought in recently.
