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Toronto Argonauts new head coach Bart Andrus walks the sidelines before playing against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during first half CFL action in Hamilton, Ont., on Wednesday, July 1, 2009. It's been a tough baptism by fire for Andrus. Eight games into his CFL tenure, the Toronto Argonauts first-year head coach has compiled a less than stellar 2-6 record. Not only are the Argos last in the East Division, but sport the league's worst mark. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteThe Canadian Press

It was just half a season ago, but it seems longer.

The Toronto Argonauts, in full fighting trim and fresh from their first training camp under rookie head coach Bart Andrus, himself coaching his first CFL game, came out and stuffed the ball down the collective maw of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The Argos played smash-mouth to the tune of 154 yards rushing on their way to a 30-17 win. It wasn't deemed significant at the time, in part because the Ticats had yet to emerge as one of the league's surprises.

Now heading into their second meeting of the season - Monday's Labour Day Classic in Hamilton - Toronto (2-6) is not only reeling, having lost four in a row, the running attack that seemed so promising early in the season is gone too, having rushed for a total of 43 yards in the past two starts.

Andrus says it's no coincidence Toronto's initial success running the ball has been curbed - defensive coaches watch game film too.

"[Running against Hamilton]was partially them choosing to do what they did defensively," Andrus said yesterday. "They put a lot of people up on the ball and then they backed off and were only coming with three guys sometimes. They allowed us, through our read-run game to do that.

"We try to run the ball every game. I like the running game, but it's a matter if we can move the chains with the running game or if we can move it with the pass we'll pass it more.

"It's a matter of what people are allowing us to do."

Will Hamilton (4-4) - still one of the weaker rushing defences in the CFL - load up like the Argonauts' more recent opponents and dare Toronto to beat them through the air?

You get the sense Toronto wouldn't mind someone tyring that again.

Quarterback Cody Pickett is making his third consecutive start in place of Kerry Joseph and his coming off his second 300-yard passing game, while completing 57 of 85 throws without an interception.

"We're getting a good chemistry out there and that's big in the offensive setting," Argos receiver Chad Lucas said of working with Pickett. "You can't force the ball on anyone, but when the play comes your way, you have to make it."

Tailback Jamal Robertson has been the odd man out recently as Andrus has left the running game by the wayside despite a strong start to the season.

Through his first two games, Robertson was averaging 8.9 yards per carry and 12 carries a game. In his last three games, he's only had 21 carries combined for just 47 yards. He's handled the ball as a receiver out of the back field, but that's not the same, he says.

Andrus suspects the tide might soon turn.

"I would think that they might feel the 'dare us to throw' way may not be the best thing," the coach said. "We'll find out first thing what Hamilton thinks by how they decide to play us."

A pressing concern is how to turn a good three-quarter effort into a win, Andrus said, having watched his club blow at least two chances to win with faulty final quarters.

"We need to turn the corner on finishing a game in the fourth quarter," he said. "We need to stiffen up defensively. We need to move the ball when we need to and get a few first downs, and special teams-wise we have to make sure we're mentally there."

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