NO PASSING FANCY
The players have rotated around Rico Murray, but the Argos secondary has stood tall,
Rico Murray has an important job with the Argos, beyond defending against the pass in the Toronto defensive secondary. The popular cornerback, the only player in the secondary to play in every game this season, makes sure everyone in the group knows the team goals.
The players will hear from Murray about things like accountability and buying into the systems. And there’s been a need for Murray’s reminders with the Argos secondary weathering the loss of several key members.
“Adjustments have to be made and the veteran guys here make sure the newcomers are certain of . . . what this team is all about,” Murray said Wednesday, as the Argos prepared for a Saturday game in Hamilton. “But the new guys who come in here have a new energy and . . . we feed off it. We help them and they bring a new energy — it’s a cohesive thing.”
The Argos secondary lost Josh Mitchell early to a season-ending injury and, along the way, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Jermain Gabriel, and Johnny Sears Jr. also went down. But Toronto is still second in passing yards allowed. Management watched the NFL camps and found some solid players among the final cuts. Players like Alden Darby (who has been with the Chargers, Steelers, Saints, and Colts the last three season) and Mitchell White (formerly of the Redblacks and the Philadelphia Eagles) have made the transition almost seamlessly. Smith had two interceptions in a win over Montreal last weekend, while Darby had a pick of his own and returned it for a key touchdown.
Murray sees it as part of the vision the coaching staff instilled in training camp.
“It all starts at the top, coach (Marc Trestman) is a living example of the cohesion we have here,” he said. “His positive, optimistic outlook on life rubs off on everyone. Everyone wants to take every opportunity to get better, not only on the field, but in life. Here, everyone cares, everyone cares about each other, and it shows in the way we play.”
Toronto now has two wins in a row for the first time this season and a sense they may finally be living up to pre-season expectations. They have a chance to win their three-game season series with the Ticats on Saturday. Each team has one win so far.
Defensive co-ordinator Corey Chamblin had a simple message for his secondary Wednesday. “If we stay stagnant, we die,” he said. “We welcome new guys like Darby and Mitchell here because they have unique skill sets, and they allow us to take our defence to a new level.”
The Argos will have an interesting problem — a luxury of excess — when their injured backs return. That could be a source of frustration, since they may not automatically return to their former jobs, but Murray and Chamblin understand that process is part of the family atmosphere they want to prevail over the entire team.
“Oh, there’s always going to be someone turning an ankle, or a hamstring, it’s a physical game and (the defensive secondary) is one of the hardest positions to play,” said Chamblin, who credits assistant backs coach Tyrone Breckenridge — who he coached in Saskatchewan from 2012-15 — as having a strong hand in keeping the secondary a cohesive unit.
“But you can see, you can ask them, they keep their egos in check. They wait their turns patiently. The team comes first.”