Sport
Right here’s how the Argos and Blue Bombers fit up forward of Gray Cup Sunday
There’s an extended record of items the Toronto Argonauts should do in the event that they hope to disillusioned the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Sunday’s Gray Cup recreation.
Close to the highest is containing explosive Bomber working again Brady Oliveira.
The Argos are making plans a more-is-better technique in terms of fighting Oliveira from working wild at B.C. Position on Sunday.
“The item with Brady is that he’s so tough,” mentioned Kevin Eiben, who stocks Toronto’s defensive co-ordinator tasks with Will Fields. “His legs are constructed like tree trunks.
“You’ve were given to have a couple of man at the take on. We’ve were given to swarm the ball.”
Defensive take on Jake Ceresna is also the primary level of touch with Oliveira. He mentioned correct apparel is a should.
“You’ve were given to tighten your chin strap a little bit extra and you’ll want to were given your mouthpiece with you, as a result of he runs the ball exhausting,” mentioned Ceresna, who had 28 tackles, 8 sacks and a compelled fumble this yr.
“He runs the ball exhausting. He’s no longer a very simple man to take on. He’s slippery, elusive.”
At five-foot-10 and 222 kilos, Oliveira is constructed like a fireplace hydrant. What he lacks in pace he compensates with brute power. He could make a tackler omit with a slick transfer or go away cleat marks on their chest working over them.
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Oliveira led the CFL with 1,353 yards and 239 carries this yr. He’s additionally bad as a receiver, making 57 catches for 476 yards and a landing.
“You’ll be able to by no means disregard about him,” mentioned Toronto linebacker Wynton McManis, rolling a toothpick round his mouth as he spoke. “He’s nice within the move recreation, catches the ball actually smartly out of the backfield.
“As soon as he catches the ball, he’s a working again. Then his instincts simply kick in. A tricky participant to take care of.”
Oliveira used to be named the CFL’s Maximum Remarkable Participant and Maximum Remarkable Canadian at Thursday’s CFL Awards. He joins Jon Cornish, Russ Jackson and Tony Gabriel as the one avid gamers to win each awards in the similar yr.
Toronto defeated Winnipeg two times this yr. One recreation went to extra time. Each had been determined 3 issues or fewer. Oliveira had a mixed 25 carries for 160 yards and 12 catches for 92 yards within the two video games. He didn’t rating a landing. He additionally fumbled as soon as.
Oliveira did some muscle flexing within the Bombers 38-22 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in final weekend’s West Ultimate. He rumbled for 119 yards and a landing on 20 carries and added 22 receiving yards on two catches.
All over the season, Winnipeg used to be 3rd within the league averaging 111.7 speeding yards a recreation. The Argo defence used to be 2nd in permitting 85.1 yards a recreation.
Protection Royce Metchie mentioned one of the vital best possible techniques to prevent Oliveira is not to let him get began.
“We want to get as many guys to him as we will be able to each play,” mentioned Metchie, who led Toronto with 87 tackles, plus had an interception and compelled two fumbles. “As soon as he will get rolling, it’s tricky to get him down.
“If we will be able to get to him early and wrap him up, that may assist us as the sport is going on.”
Oliveria is an emotional participant. He leaps up after a large run, slapping himself at the helmet.
Eiben mentioned one participant isn’t going to prevent Oliveira.
“Everyone has were given to get to the ball and ensure after we get there, we’re pushing him again,” he mentioned. “He will get a large number of yards after touch. We’ve were given to get no less than 3 guys at the touch and check out to push him backwards.”
The Argos also are just right at forcing a workforce to position the ball at the flooring. Toronto used to be 3rd within the league with 20 compelled fumbles right through the common season and recovered 4 fumbles within the win towards Montreal.
“While you do make touch, attempt to get the ball out of there,” mentioned Eiben. “We’ve been doing a perfect activity of having that ball out and turning turnovers into rankings.
“That’s going to be a large emphasis this week. Let’s create some turnovers.”
Argos quarterback Chad Kelly will omit the Gray Cup after struggling a grotesque leg damage within the win over Montreal. That has made Toronto a heavy underdog heading into Sunday.
McManis mentioned a powerful appearing on defence may give the underdog some tooth.
“We will be able to make a observation,” mentioned McManis. “We will be able to pop out, be bodily, trade the sport. That’s our plan.”
&reproduction 2024 The Canadian Press
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