ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

HAMILTON – So close yet so far away. That seemed to be the most accurate cliché to sum up the Argonauts' offence in the team’s 28-13 loss on Labour Day Monday.

For the majority of the game the Boatmen seemed to be moving the ball at will, creatively mixing in intermediate routes with short swing passes in the flat to allow the likes of speedsters Chad Owens and Andre Durie accumulate yards in open space.

Once inside the Hamilton 20 yardline, however, the Argos' offence buckled. They entered three times in the first half alone and only came away with a Grant Shaw chip-shot field goal to show for it.

“We struggled in the redzone today," said Argos' QB Cleo Lemon following the contest. “We had great opportunities and did a good job of moving the ball.  We have to finish those drives with touchdowns, so it is back to the drawing board.”

The team must get back to the drawing board rather quickly.  The Argonauts essentially have only three full days in which to prepare for their next opponent, the B.C. Lions, before travelling to Vancouver for their first and only appearance at the newly resurrected Empire Field on Saturday afternoon.

Clearly troubled by the way his first Labour Day unfolded, Lemon left the field during one of the Argos' late stalled drives in the fourth quarter and threw his helmet, in frustration, against the wall near his own bench. Lemon’s frustration was indeed warranted.  Whether it was his own decision making or the execution of routes being running by receivers, the Argos had two huge opportunities to either pull even or take the lead in the first half. Both chances resulted in Hamilton interceptions.

Regardless of the outcome, and no matter how evident Lemon’s frustration was, the one thing he believes the Argos did not lack Monday afternoon was effort.

“The key for us is to stay together," said Lemon. “Guys are fighting hard and I like the effort the guys gave today."

Lemon and the offence’s inability to put majors on the board was undoubtedly a large part of the Argos' undoing on Monday, but middle linebacker Jason Pottinger states that it is unfair to direct blame at only one phase of the game.

“That was a full team (loss) right there," Pottinger told argonauts.ca moments after the final gun sounded at Ivor Wynne.  “There were times that we broke down on defence; special teams didn’t have a good day; on offence, we had some troubles, so it was all three to blame."

With the aforementioned ‘short week’ beginning almost as soon as the previous week ends, Pottinger echoed Lemon’s sentiments that the Argos are doing a lot of things correctly but finishing what they start is paramount on both sides of the ball.

“We just have to execute better," he said. “We gave up those two long drives, one in the first half and one in the second half, and those are things we just can’t have (heading into next week)."