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It was supposed to be Chad Kackerts job. The Toronto Argonauts didnt realize that their running back wasnt going to be able to start the season until the eve of training camp. The Most Outstanding Player from the 2012 Grey Cup was not given clearance to play on his injured ankle, so the Argos needed to find a solution to the suddenly open starting job. There were options. Jeremiah Johnson was a star at the University of Oregon, but was never able to take advantage of the opportunity and was released, later finding employment with the Ottawa Redblacks. The Argos had decided to continue with not one, but two running backs in the spot. As of late, the decision has been a good one. The veteran in the mix was second-year player Curtis Steele. A product of the University of Memphis, who spent some time with the Baltimore Ravens before heading north, proved his worth last year as an exceptional player on special teams. The newcomer to the CFL was Steve Slaton. A finalist for the Heisman Trophy in his final year at West Virginia, Slaton had started for the Houston Texans before coming to Canada to continue his playing career. In the last two games, the two-headed monster has rushed for 125 yards against B.C. and 110 more against Edmonton, adding a combined 61 additional yards through the air. The duo has played well, according to quarterback Ricky Ray. Theyre both very good in most areas, said Ray. They can both pass block really well. I think Slaton gives you a little bit more out on the edges with his shiftiness and a little bit better speed. Curtis is a guy that runs physically between the tackles and when he does get out in open space, he can use his speed as well to get some big gains. The rotation is working, but head coach Scott Milanovich admits there are both pros and cons to the two-back system. The pro would be keeping them fresh, said the coach. Youd have to ask them about the con, but Im sure theyd tell you that its harder to get into a rhythm as a runner when youre not in there every series. In our offence, in this league with the three downs, I dont know if its the same as a running back down south thats going to get 25 touches, explained Milanovich. Our tailback is never going to get 25 runs unless weve got a big lead. Milanovich was eager to talk about how well the pair has performed in the one aspect of the game that is the most important to him, keeping Ricky Ray on his feet. These guys have embraced their roles as protectors, continued the coach. We try to get them the ball in the pass game too, just to make sure both of them are touching the football, but as has always been the case with us, were going to try and get Ricky into a groove first and theyre going to have to take whats left over. The players themselves certainly agree with the coach in terms of the pro and it shows in the fourth quarter. I feel a lot fresher, Steele told TSN.ca. I can feel it in my body, just from alternating series. Were always fresh so we can go in there and have the capability of being the home run hitter. Steele was a part of a rotation in his senior year at the University of Memphis, where he would be the feature back until the Tigers got into the red zone, when the coach would opt for someone bigger. Slaton had been lifted in some circumstances in the past, but has never been a part of a true rotation. Im definitely okay with it, admitted Slaton. It just gives us fresh legs. You can tell whether its in the first, second, third, or fourth, were still as strong as when we started. The two have different attributes. Slaton loves the physical aspect of Steeles game. Curt is going to run the same way, said a smiling Slaton. Hes going to run, look for contact, and hes going to pick up every blitz thats out there. Steele countered by praising Slatons finesse. Hes got some moves, man, said Steele. Hes got moves and hes got speed. He also blocks great, too. Neither was as kind to the other when it came down to saying who would win a race between the two. TSN.ca posed the question to each back at the same time and Steele was the first to chime in. Youve always got to throw to yourself, man, you know? laughed Steele, to which Slaton countered with a grin, I guess youll have to line us up and race us some day. That day of competition may come at some point, but first Slaton and Steele are more than happy to help the Argos continue to turn the ship around with their strong play as a tandem. Cheap Shoes From China . The Brazilian international goalkeeper was beaten twice in the first 12 minutes of his Reds debut in a 3-1 preseason loss to Columbus Crew in Florida earlier this week. China Shoes Nike . Sami Vatanen had a goal and an assist and Anaheim used a four-goal first period to extend their winning streak to six games with a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night. https://www.chinashoesshop.com/ .m. on Friday. Granger was acquired from the Indiana Pacers last Thursday for Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen, but never played a minute for Philadelphia. The 76ers also received a 2015 second-round draft pick in the deal. China Shoes Wholesale . The Oilers jumped into the free agent market early by signing defencemen Keith Aulie (six-foot-six, 228 pounds) and Mark Fayne (6-3, 210 pounds) and left-winger Benoit Pouliot (6-3, 197-pounds). Two days earlier MacTavish traded lightweight forward Sam Gagner to Tampa Bay for 6-3, 203-pound right winger Ted Purcell. China Shoes Free Shipping . Right-hander Todd Redmond took the loss. Jose Bautista hit his second home run of the spring. Here are a handful of tidbits from around camp: Hutchison impressive The Blue Jays are being cautious when talking about their young arms but internally, excitement is building over the way Drew Hutchison is looking and performing this spring. PHOENIX -- Eric Bledsoe and the Phoenix Suns are getting comfortable with playing close games. Bledsoe scored 24 points and Markieff Morris came off the bench to score 23 as the Suns pulled away from the New Orleans Pelicans 101-94 on Sunday night. "Were just a young team and we play extremely hard," Bledsoe said. "Even though things werent going our way, we fought through." Bledsoe hit a long 3-pointer with one second left on the shot clock to give the Suns a 95-85 lead with 1:25 to go. "I just locked in a little bit," Bledsoe said. "I saw time was running down and I wasnt shooting well from 3, but I locked in a shot it with confidence." Morris similarly has upped his game. He shot 9 of 12, and has gone 30 for 38 from the field over his past three games while averaging 24.7 points in that span and playing solid defence. "The first two years I couldnt play without fouling," Morris said. "I watched a lot of film and became a student of the game. I saw why I was picking up dumb fouls. Its a matter of doing the work early." Morris is only the third player since 1989 to notch three consecutive games shooting at least 75 per cent from the floor while taking at least 12 shots, joining Dwight Howard and Charles Barkley. Gerald Green scored 15 and Goran Dragic added 12 for the Suns, who have won four of five. Suns coach Jeff Hornacek became the first coach in franchise history to win his first four home games. Jason Smith scored 22 points while Jrue Holiday and Anthony Morrow each had 16 for the Pelicans. Anthony Davis, who entered the game averaging 23 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, was held to 14 and 12. "Most of the game it was easy for other guys on their team to get shots so they didnt need to feed him too often," Hornacek said. Morrows long jump shot with 6:30 remaining pulled New Orleans within 80-79, but he missed a 3-pointer that could have given the Pelicans their first lead since the final 90 seconds of the first half.dddddddddddd After Brian Roberts missed a second-chance jumper following an offensive rebound by Davis, the Suns sprinted downcourt and Morris hit a 3-pointer from the left wing. Morris added a dunk and Phoenix went on a 9-2 run to open an 89-81 lead with 3:31 to go. "Weve got to continue to stay with it," Morrow said. "These grind it out games are good for us where were the youngest team in the NBA. I think we are just ticking up. We have to keep it going." Eric Gordons 3-pointer made it a five-point game, but Dragic and Bledsoe hit 3-pointers to extend the Suns lead to ten. The Suns, who missed their first 10 3-point attempts and made only one 3-pointer through the first three quarters, went 5 of 9 from beyond the arc in the fourth. The Pelicans pulled even at 65 on a layup by Davis with 1:23 left in the third period, but Morris scored the last six points of the quarter to take a 71-65 lead into the fourth. "We just didnt have our best stuff tonight," Pelicans coach Monty Williams said. "You could complain about the whistles but thats not going to get you anywhere. We didnt make an effort to get to the basket. We fell in love with jump shots and didnt finish around the basket." NOTES: Dragic returned after missing three games with a sprained left ankle. ... Phoenix led 19-16 after the first quarter despite shooting 33.3 per cent from the floor. ... Smiths 14 first-half points matched his full-game season high and he broke the 20-point mark for the fifth time in his career. .. Morrow was the only New Orleans player to score off the bench in the first half, scoring eight points while the Pelicans other five bench players went 0 for 8 from the floor in 21 combined minutes. ... New Orleans didnt attempt a free throw in the first half. ... Bledsoes four 20-plus point games match the total he had in 197 career games entering the season. ... Phoenix has won five straight at home. ' ' '