ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

MISSISSAUGA – The Argonauts held their first-ever Mock Game Saturday afternoon at their UTM practice facility.  The exercise was meant to emulate game situations with schemes, substitutions, referees and contact.

All Canadian Football League rules were applied except for tackling, which was altered slightly  to avoid injuries.  Contact was permitted but full tackling to the ground for quarterbacks, running backs and receivers was not. The whistle was blown on first contact and/or wherever a tackle would have seemingly been made.  The only exception was when the offence was driving within the 10-yard line where every player was eligible for tackle except for the quarterbacks.

The game was run not with sustained drives but rather with situational down and distance as directed by the Argos coaching staff.  The last half hour of the mock game centered around what GM & head coach Jim Barker called ‘special situation’ drills. The offence and defence were given a scenario whereby the game was on the line and they either faced a deficit or played with the lead.

Here are some of the highlights:
•    QB Cleo Lemon was the first pivot to take the field along with an offence that very closely resembled that of the starting unit from last season.
•    Lemon played a total of four series (prior to the ‘special situation’ drills) including the first and fourth.
•    QB Dalton Bell also led four series, taking the second and third.
•    All special teams scenarios were duplicated to allow both kickers - Noel Prefontaine and Grant Shaw - an opportunity to participate.
•    Quarterbacks B.J. Hall and Danny Brannagan split the last two series of the Mock Game with Hall scampering out of the pocket for a first down.
•    The referees were compiled of CFL and OUA officials. Veteran Glen Johnson led the crew.
•    The first drive of the game began with a scrimmage from the offence’s 12-yard line.
•    The first play was a sweep to the outside and Cory Boyd raced off tackle for a 13-yard gain.
•    The first completed pass of the game was an 8-yard strike over the middle to WR D.J. Boldin from the arm of Bell.
•    The first touchdown of the day came from Bell who ran 6-yards into the endzone after the play broke down in front of him.
•    WR James Robinson had a big gain, picking up 40 yards on a catch and run on a swing pass.
•    About 200 hundred Argos fans were on their feet when WR/KR Jerome Hewitt returned a missed field goal 115 yards for a touchdown.
•    Curtis Walls also took part in special teams drills, taking a punt back for a strong return.
•    Bell and Lemon each had three series in the ‘special situation drills’ with Bell completing a 60-yard hail mary pass to Spencer Watt for a touchdown.
•    Part of the drills included a kickout play.

The Argonauts will get back to their regular practice schedule on Monday with both a morning (7:40 a.m.) and afternoon practice (3:30 p.m.).  The team will not practice on Sunday.