Spending six weeks on the sidelines was challenging for Argonauts offensive lineman Ryan Hunter.
He felt helpless at times, rehabbing from聽a shoulder injury suffered in July聽when he was hit by a driver while riding a scooter. But it was also an opportunity.
Unable to protect the quarterback on the field, the offensive lineman communicated with teammates on the sidelines at home games and throughout the week in meetings and practices聽鈥 anything to help.
鈥淚 was able to see different looks, different defences and different blitzes from opponents, and just trying to get the guys to see everything from a macro level,” the 30-year-old Hunter said.
The Argos lost four out of six games without their top offensive lineman. The聽reigning CFL offensive lineman of the year returned to action on Labour Day and helped the Argos secure a much-needed win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Toronto鈥檚 offence rushed for 97 yards and recorded 352 passing yards.
It will take another stellar performance Saturday afternoon when the 4-8 Argos host the Edmonton Elks at BMO Field. 海角社区官网dropped a 28-20 decision in Edmonton last month, and the 5-7 Elks are coming off a thrilling win last week over the Calgary Stampeders.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been good to have (Hunter) back, and it was needed because we lost two guys at the same time he came back,鈥 said quarterback Nick Arbuckle, referring to Sage Doxtater (head injury) and Anim Dankwah (knee injury). Both offensive linemen remain out.
The offensive line has gone through a lot of 鈥渇reak accidents and freak injuries鈥 and has had to deploy different groups of five up front, Arbuckle said. Hunter鈥檚 return brings some much-needed stability.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e really been getting some chemistry together 鈥 Ryan is one of the top linemen in the league whatever position you put him in, so it鈥檚 great to see them gel and try to get a consistent group going.鈥
Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie agrees the offensive line looks more solid with Hunter.
鈥淚 think our offensive line has been playing better over the past few weeks. Ryan being in the lineup makes those guys a lot more comfortable and confident as a unit,鈥 Dinwiddie said. 鈥淚t takes all five to be on the same page, and Ryan is a great communicator and helps those younger guys through some growing pains.鈥
With only six games left in the regular season, the Argos and Ottawa Redblacks are 4-8, one game back of the second-place Montreal in the East Division heading into Week 15.
Having won two straight games for the first time this season, confidence is high in the Argos locker room.
鈥淲e see the schedule and we know what鈥檚 coming up, but for us it鈥檚 one game at a time,鈥 said Hunter. 鈥淲e鈥檝e said it since the start, this year hasn鈥檛 been ours necessarily in the win and loss columns, but we feel like we have the team, the coaches and the trainers to be able to get it done week in and week out. It鈥檚 just a matter of going out and executing.鈥
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