Thursday, October 15, 2009

Toronto Argonauts vs. Edmonton Eskimos: A Clash of Two Desperate Teams


It was dejavu for the Edmonton Eskimos last week against the BC Lions.

The Eskimos held the lead late, when Lions quarterback Buck Pierce threw a long bomb to Geroy Simon, who managed to shred to Eskimos tacklers and score the game winning touchdown, giving the BC Lions a 34-31 victory.

The play of course was reminiscent to the Eskimos loss in 2006 when Milt Stegall went 100 yards on the last play of the game to give the Winnipeg Blue Bombers a 25-22 victory.

The Eskimos will be hoping for a change of fate when they take on the Toronto Argonauts.

The teams will meet on Friday at the Rogers Centre (TSN, 7:30 p.m., ET).

Luckily for the Eskimos, they are facing an Argo team who is facing as many uncertainties as they are, especially in the quarterback position. The usually reliable Ricky Ray has been having a rough year for Eskimos, and the combination of Cody Pickett and Kerry Joseph for Toronto has not been amazing.

On the Argos side of the ball, it is any wonder as to who will even be starting at quarterback.

With Pickett's injury, Joseph should likely get the ball for the Argos, but their have been reports that third string pivot Stephen Reaves will get the start.

Reaves, who spent most of his college career with the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, has no experience in the CFL.

With the question marks surronding each team's offence, the game could be decided on the defensive side of the ball, the front seven in particular.

Both the Argos and Eskimos have a talented front seven. The Argos are anchored by linebackers Adriano Belli, Ronald Flemons, and linebackers Willie Pile and Zeke Moreno, while the Eskimos counter with lineman Greg Peach and Kai Ellis and linebacker Maurice Lloyd.

Which ever front seven does a better job of shutting down the run could put more pressure on the other teams quarterback to pass the ball. And with both pivots struggles, this could lead to disaster.

The Eskimos have had their share of dissapointments in Toronto.

Last season, the team lost in the last drive of the game after a Kerry Joseph run. The Eskimos will likely be hoping that history won't repeat itself.

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