Each time Scott Milanovich would review the film, it became obvious the difference between a make or a miss was thinner, almost as thin as the margin for error during any football game. 

The more he looked, the more Milanovich began to realize how Lirim Hajrullahu could have an impact. 

His body of work includes six games, but one third into the season and Hajrullahu has been among the Argos’ most indispensable players, and the one player who had the biggest impact in Ottawa as Toronto won on a night when second-year quarterback Logan Kilgore made his starting debut. 

This Friday, Hajrullahu plays his former team for the first time since the Blue Bombers and the kicker/punter parted ways, paving the way for the Argos to sign him during free agency. 

Winnipeg head coach Mike O’Shea began his career in Toronto, working under Milanovich in 2012 when the Argos won the Grey Cup. 

O’Shea’s first gig in coaching was provided by Jim Barker, who appointed the former linebacking great as special teams co-ordinator. 

O’Shea joined the Bombers in 2014, the same year the franchise drafted Hajrullahu, who was so good that season that he had earn the nod as the West nominee as most outstanding special teams player. 

Then came 2015 and the tag ‘special’ would soon be removed. 

Winnipeg went out and brought in Justin Medlock, a one-time Argo who took off to Hamilton, in free agency. 

Milanovich would contact O’Shea and the two began to discuss Hajrullahu. 

“I just asked him his thoughts,’’ said Milanovich. “ Sometimes you call and you don’t expect to get any information.  I knew O’Sh would be honest.  He just said he really liked the kid and that he had a rough year, he had lost his confidence a bit.  Something to that effect because I don’t want to put words in his mouth, but it went something like that. 

“I kicked a little in high school and in college and I know a little bit about it.  It’s like playing quarterback where you can lose your confidence quickly and just as quickly you can get it back.  Just look at (Boris) Bede in Montreal.  We thought we’d give him (Hajrullahu) a shot and we thought he’d rebound.  We looked at the ones he missed last year and they were barely missed.  We thought he’d have a good year.” 

It has been better than good, almost too good to be true. 

Following his five field-goal night in Ottawa, capped off by the game-winner, Hajrullahu was named as the CFL’s top performer for the week, an acknowledgment usually reserved for a skilled position. 

He had a six field-goal night in helping the Argos beat the host Lions and is 16 of 19 in six games.  From beyond 50 yards, Hajrullahu is a 3-for-3. 

He’s punting well, averaging 44.0 yards, and is kicking off well. 

All is well for Hajrullahu, who probably just needed a change in scenery to reignite, or reboot in his case, his career. 

Friday’s visit by the Bombers begins a three-game stretch in the month of August that features the Argos playing three Western teams at home, where Toronto is 1-2 at BMO Field. 

Hajrullahu has missed two field goals at home and one convert. 

There’s no ill will or any negative experiences when Hajrullahu looks back on his time in the ’Peg. 

“So many great people there, friendly people,’’ he began. “ I had an amazing time.  I still keep in great contact with families and I still keep in contact with some of the players.  You play two years with them and you become close to them, they become your teammates.  We’re on opposing teams now, but afterwards I’m sure we’ll be talking to each other. 

“It’s going to be exciting.  This has never happened to me before and I’m going to prepare the same way I’ve been preparing like any other situation, like any other game, and I’m not going to prepare any differently because there’s no reason for it.” 

Three-down football in the Peg is followed much more closely than in Toronto, the fans more passionate and less jaded, the microscope more intense. 

Despite Big Blue’s recent turnaround heading into this week, the team can’t win and hasn’t won with any regularity since appearing in the 2011 Grey Cup. 

Toronto’s move into BMO hasn’t been smooth, but the Argos are coming off a home win over Montreal and are now poised to put together, potentially at least, a nice run heading into Labour Day. 

“There’s nothing about the stadium,’’ continued Hajrullahu. “ Sometimes you can’t make all your kicks.  You try to make every single one, but sometimes you have a miss here or there.  I’m just trying to make those bad hits go in because that’s when you have a great year.  We bounced back against Ottawa and will be working extremely hard this week to help our team win.  When our special teams are working hard and doing what we’re supposed to do that’s when we’re successful.  With Winnipeg having such a stout special teams unit we look to match up and give them a great challenge.” 

Part of Hajrullahu’s early season success as an Argo was traced to the off-season, a time Hajrullahu and his coaches spent to review kicking mechanics. 

“I worked extremely hard this off-season with my coaches, returning to the mechanics I kind of stepped away from.  I’m just trying to have fun and help our team succeed.  So far we’re doing a great job.” 

Hajrullahu visits Winnipeg for the first time next month. 

BROWN REJOINS ARGOS

Veteran defensive back Jerald Brown is back with the Argos, one snap way from getting back on the field in live action. 

That’s the world football players live in, one minute they’re signed, released or decide to retire, the next they resurface when injuries strike. 

For the Argos, the team’s back end has been hit hard by the injury bug, the latest to starter Aaron Berry, whom head coach Scott Milanovich said will be lost for a couple of weeks with an undisclosed ailment. 

Berry becomes the fifth player in the back end to start and get injured in six games. 

Brown, who joined the Argos in free agency from Montreal, rejoined the team on Sunday. 

“We’re getting thin there until we get some guys healthy,’’ said Milanovich of his defensive secondary and the reason why the club reached out to Brown, who plays halfback.