With Argos training camp just around the corner, Argonauts.ca has been preparing fans for the start of the 2009 season by breaking down the competition at each position as the Boatmen prepare to bounce back with a new coaching staff, new mentality and personnel.

After last season’s finish, the Argos enter 2009 revamped and reloaded, with new faces in many places.  Perhaps no position will feature more new faces when camp opens this week than receiver, at both slot and wideout.

Both on the field and on the sideline, the Argos will look drastically different and much younger at the receiver position.  With former Offensive Coordinator Steve Buratto splitting his time between special teams and running backs, it will be up to Head Coach Bart Andrus and Receivers Coach Mike Jones to prep many of the newcomers for the regular season.  The Argos will enter camp with a receiving corps with an average age of 26.

Veteran Leadership
With such a young unit entering camp, it will be up to seasoned Argos Arland Bruce lll and Andre Talbot to lead the way.  Despite a sputtering offence last season, Bruce posted another 1,000 yard season, finishing with a career-high 92 receptions for 1,210 yards and 9 majors.  Behind him in receiving yards was Talbot, who enters camp tied with Kevin Eiben as the longest serving Argonaut.  The nine-year Argo has alternated between playing the wideout and the slotback position in the last two seasons under Buratto and it is unknown, at this point, how Andrus and Jones will use him in what is sure to be a more explosive offence.

Canadian Content
With Talbot serving as the most veteran Argo non-import on the offensive side of the ball (although Jeff Johnson owns the distinction of being the most veteran CFL player on offence), the Argos will look to some of the younger Canadians to help take pressure off #9.  In the second round of the 2009 CFL Canadian Draft, the Argos selected WR Matt Lambros out of Calgary.  The Argos Canadian scouting staff are hoping that he along with other young draft picks from the past few off-seasons, Mike Bradwell, Obed Cétoute, Tyler Scott and Brad Smith, will not only make an impact this season but help form a solid nucleus going forward. This will be Bradwell’s (ninth overall pick in the 2008 draft) first training camp as he injured himself at the start of 2008 camp before heading back to McMaster.

Looking to Make An Impact
The Boatmen brought in a large list of new talent at the receiver position when it hosted a voluntary off-season workout in Orlando this past April, but it seems to have been a youngster from last season that caught their eye.  The Argos coaching staff has not been shy about their positive feelings for WR James Robinson who looked “outstanding” and was joined by a long list of receivers at the workouts; many of whom will join the Argos in camp to fight for a roster spot.

Newcomers include Phillip Brock, Hank Edwards, Derrick Hamilton, Kenny Higgins, William Judson, Jerome Mathis and Cleannord Saintil, most of which come to training camp with little pro experience. The exception is Mathis who spent four years in the NFL and earned Pro Bowl recognition as a returner. 

The Unknown
With the exception of P.K. Sam, the Argos have not lost a lot of personnel at the receiver position, but have added a large number young talent.  The challenge facing the Boatmen will be getting the new receivers up to speed and working on cohesion with veterans at every other offensive position (specifically quarterback and offensive line).  With mini-camp beginning on Wednesday, the next few days could go a long way in dictating the type of offence the Argos are looking to run.

When looking at the 2009 Argos receiving corps, it is to see not what they have lost but what they have gained. In all, 17 receivers will compete for a handful of roster spots, so keep an eye out, it’s just heating up.