The good news for the Toronto Argonauts is that they got their big running back fired up in Week 3. The bad news is that the team’s aerial game, a major threat out of the gate and throughout most of last season, still needs its signature, “try and stop us” game.

Heading for the backside of a home and home set against the Edmonton Eskimos, the Argos can be pleased with the 20-17 win they took over the visiting Eskies last Saturday night, and with the performance of tailback James Wilder Jr., along with that of the big bulldozers up front on the offensive line.

120 yards Wilder ran for, with a substantial amount of the gains coming during a couple of critical, late game drives that helped the Argos first seize and then protect the lead.

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After Wilder had been held to a measly 76 yards total in losses to Saskatchewan and Calgary, there had to be concern in Toronto, as the 2017 Most Outstanding Rookie was held to mostly non-factor status.

There was concern, obviously, for the health of quarterback Ricky Ray, who suffered a neck injury during the third quarter of the loss to Calgary and it was, of course, the primary concern, as it should have been.

However, prior to that injury, the concern was more about an Argo offence that looked out of sync in Saskatchewan and over-matched against the Stampeders.

Now that the Argos have found an answer to their running game woes – at least for now – it is incumbent upon them to find the elixir that can fire up the air game, even if they do have an emerging starting quarterback at the helm instead of the seasoned, accomplished Ray.

At the end of all the action of Week 4, the Argos find their passing attack down near the bottom of the pile and, in fact, right at the bottom of an important one, average gain per pass (6.4 yards). They are eighth in the CFL in passing yards per game, averaging 197, ahead of BC’s 185 yards per, but behind Saskatchewan’s 205. At the top end of the league, you find Edmonton averaging 347, with Hamilton close behind at 344.

We often hear that a strong ground game can lead to an equally stout air game. The Argos would like to begin to show it.

The beginning of 2017 signalled what was to come for the championship-bound Argos, who averaged almost exactly 400 yards passing per game over the course of the first three games. That average was powered, in substantial part, by the sensational start for S.J. Green, who began his comeback season with 19 catches for 367 yards over the first three games, including 210 against the Ottawa REDBLACKS in Week 3.

This year, Green has just 10 catches over the same period (he’s been targeted 24 times, according to official CFL statistics), for a total of 105 yards.

Armanti Edwards, who has been held to the same number of catches (14 targets) for 117 yards so far in 2018, had 18 for 233 after three games a year ago.

There’s no reason whatsoever for panic to set in. The Argos are bringing along Ray’s heir apparent, James Franklin, and they are no doubt looking to protect his development with a strong dedication to the running attack as they slowly open the playbook to take advantage of the 26-year-old’s strong arm. However, there doesn’t seem to be much doubt that the Argonauts would be looking for improved passing numbers sooner rather than later. Because if you can’t strike fear into the hearts of CFL teams with your air prowess, they will load up the fortifications against your ground war and then what have you got?

What Toronto’s offence would enjoy, undoubtedly, is a receiver who can cast terror into the hearts of defensive backs and free safeties, the way a key, now ex-Argo did in 2017.

What many observers agree upon is that the Argos air attack is in need of a deep threat or two in order to, as they say, stretch the field and keep defenders respecting the long ball. Last season, DeVier Posey was that threat, but the team’s Grey Cup MVP opted to look south this season, signing a contract with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens.

Posey emerged for the Argonauts as last season progressed, that is true, but he did it from a position of early elevation, really, hauling in nineteen catches for 280 yards over the course of the first three games of the 2017 season, a consequential part of the mix that helped Toronto’s passing attack so fearsome.

His abilities to stretch the field were on display all year long, punctuated by a diving, end zone catch against Hamilton during a Week 15 win in Hamilton and then with a 100-yard touchdown reception on a Ricky Ray bomb in the Grey Cup Game.

It was thought Posey would be a tough guy to replace in that offence and it seems that was indeed the case. Veteran Brian Tyms was turned to in order to fit the bill, but the team opted to change that plan after Week 2, releasing Tyms after 7 receptions and 55 yards on 12 targets.

Tyms turned out not to be the answer for the Argos, but they may have found one in-house, with early returns showing real promise.

Hometown product Llevi Noel – who turns 27 this weekend – emerged in pretty spectacular fashion during Toronto’s win on Saturday night. The third-year man, who quickly became one of the league’s top special teams tacklers as his rookie season progressed in 2016, reminded everyone why he was drafted in the first place. It was because he’s big and fast and had a knack for bringing down balls during his last year with Windsor in the Canadian Junior Football League.

It was thought that the six-foot-two, 210-pound speedster might just be able to accomplish the same thing at the pro level and after more than two years of spot duty coupled with slugging it out on the teams (Noel was tied for second in the CFL in special teams tackles in 2017, with 27).

With two catches for 81 yards against the Eskimos, Noel showed off his good jets and as importantly, his ability to win contested balls, making his first of the year in such a way, before pulling in a beautiful ball from Franklin in over-the-shoulder fashion later in the game.

Along with Noel’s two beauties, Edwards added a clutch ladder-climb of a catch for 30 yards against Edmonton, indicating that Toronto’s deep game might be able to come to life.

If it does, perhaps the tumblers click on springing S.J. Green underneath a few more times.

Chances are that the Edmonton Eskimos are going to try to force their young, ex-quarterback to beat them with his arm on Friday night and that means making it awfully difficult for Toronto to run the ball. Should they be successful in bottling up James Wilder Jr., then Franklin is going to need to make connections downfield.

For the Argos, a passing game that looks more like it did in 2017 would be a definite boost.