The Toronto Argonauts are last in the East Division with the CFL’s worst record but president Bob Nicholson isn’t poised to make a coaching change.
Toronto headed into the 2011 campaign buoyed with optimism following last year’s 9-9 record that not only returned it to the CFL playoffs but secured head coach/GM Jim Barker the league’s coach-of-the-year award.
But on Saturday, the Saskatchewan Roughriders rallied for a 30-20 home win and handed the Argos (2-9) a third straight loss and ninth in 10 games.
“Absolutely none,” Nicholson said Monday when asked if he had any thoughts regarding a change. “I have complete confidence in the team, Jim Barker and his staff and believe we will get the ship righted.”
Toronto has plenty of ground to make up. It trails third-place Hamilton (5-6) with both teams having seven regular-season games remaining, including two head-to-head.
The Argos have four home games remaining, presenting Nicholson with the stiff challenge of trying to drum up support for a struggling football team in a competitive sports market that also features baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays and soccer’s Toronto FC and the Toronto Maple Leafs having opened training camp.
Many CFL teams depend on attendance to generate a significant portion of their operating revenue.
However, given the Argos’ struggles they’re averaging just 20,117 spectators to date.
“With hockey ramping up and us struggling, it’s certainly harder to get noticed,” Nicholson said.
“It certainly will be an increased challenge to sell tickets.
“But I believe we’re going to be an exciting story by the end of the season and that’s going to help us sell tickets as the season goes on. The next couple of games we have to go out and prove ourselves and get fans excited about coming to see the wrapup of this year.”
That won’t be easy as the Argos host league-leading Winnipeg (8-3) on Saturday before facing Hamilton on Oct. 1.
Then on Oct. 10, they travel to Montreal to face the defending Grey Cup champions.
It’s already been a season of change for Toronto.
Barker fired defensive co-ordinator Chip Garber on Aug. 5 and replaced him with second-year secondary coach Orlondo Steinauer then released starter Cleo Lemon on Sept. 6 when veteran Steven Jyles came off the nine-game injured list.
After struggling in his Toronto debut — a 28-6 road loss to B.C. on Sept. 10 — Jyles finished 19-of-33 passing for 254 yards and a TD with 81 yards rushing against Saskatchewan.
But Jyles also threw two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
Jyles was expected to battle Lemon in training camp for the No. 1 job but never fully recovered from off-season shoulder surgery and went on the injured list.
While Jyles has been practising for weeks he has had only two games to get into sync with new teammates who also have to adjust on the fly to a new offensive leader.
Inconsistency at quarterback has contributed mightily to Toronto’s offensive deficiencies as the Argos are ranked last in total yards (325.3 per game), passing (232.6) and scoring (20.5 points per game).
They’ve also been their own worst enemy, committing a league-high 35 turnovers.