Ground game has become Argos’ unexpected offensive identity

OTTAWA — The Toronto Argonauts run game was a key theme at post-practice media availability following Toronto’s workout at TD Place on Friday afternoon.

“Once we establish the run game, defences have to respect it,” explained Argos running back James Wilder Jr. two days ahead of the 105th Grey Cup presented by Shaw. “When they respect it, they have to fill the box. We have a great receiving corps and once you fill the box, (Ricky Ray)’ll pick you apart — as a defence you have to pick your poison.”

Star Toronto receiver S.J. Green echoed the mentality.

“The game starts up front: The O-line has to get push, and the D-line has to maintain the line of scrimmage,” said Green. “With that said, (Wilder)’s changed the dynamic of our team extensively — when the run game came in, it allowed us to be a little more balanced, (as) we caught teams off-guard with screens (and) the run game.”

S.J. Green has benefited from one-on-one matchups — a direct byproduct of a better run game. (Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca)

Green has personally had more one-on-one matchups — something he’s been able to exploit with his veteran savvy — as a result of Wilder’s production.

“I’ve seen more man coverage than I would think to see towards the end of the season because teams are stacking the box,” continued the 11th-year veteran. “Most of my growth at this point of my career is mental. I’m not getting more athletic as I get older, but the game has slowed down for me in a sense.”

Argos head coach Marc Trestman addressed the challenges posed by Calgary’s elite defence.

“They’re as a stout and strong a team as we have in this league,” said Trestman. “Their front seven, front six are a tough crew — they’re disciplined and have been together.

“Their backend is experienced as a group, (and) they play great team defence (so) it’s a challenge on multiple levels.”


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The Argos head coach spoke for all CFL play-callers when highlighting the importance of the run against DeVone Claybrooks’s Stampeder defence.

“Would you want to be second-and-long against the Stamps,” asked Trestman rhetorically, “nobody does, because they’re so good with their blitzes. It’ll be a challenge all the way around.”

Wilder Jr. is capable of a big game: Toronto’s feature back broke the 100-yard rushing mark in four of his final six regular-season games.

The former Florida State Seminole’s second-half explosion diversified the Argonaut offence in a way that not even his head coach could have imagined.

“We’ve gone a long haul in years past and done a lot more throwing than running, but we try to play to our strength,” said Trestman. “We injected James into the lineup, (and) I had no idea James would be as productive as he was — he had to earn the job.”