Argos coach fine with team’s underdog status heading into new season

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They’ve completed atop the East Division standings three straight years and are coming off a 16-win season, however head coach Ryan Dinwiddie and the Toronto Argonauts will likely be flying beneath the radar in 2024.

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And that’s fine with Dinwiddie, the CFL’s coach of the yr final season.

“I actually like being an underdog … I’m looking forward to that,” mentioned Dinwiddie, who additionally serves as Toronto’s offensive co-ordinator. “I think it might add some fire in our locker room where everyone is doubting us.

“There’s nothing you can do, a lot of stuff is out of our control. We can only control what we can control.”

Toronto has a formidable 36-14 regular-season file beneath Dinwiddie, who enters his fourth yr as head coach. The Argos additionally gained the ’22 Grey Cup.

Toronto appeared poised to defend its title in 2023 after posting a 16-2 regular-season file. The 16 wins was a single-season membership file and tied the CFL mark for many victories in an everyday marketing campaign.

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Toronto’s stellar season ended with a 38-17 residence loss to Montreal within the East Division ultimate. The Alouettes surprised the BMO Field gathering of 26,620 — the biggest crowd for an Argos sport since they moved there in 2016 — by forcing 9 turnovers.

Toronto dedicated a CFL-low 27 turnovers through the common season.

Many of the important thing cogs of Toronto’s ’23 marketing campaign gained’t be in uniform Sunday night time when it opens the season internet hosting the B.C. Lions. The most notable absentee will likely be quarterback Chad Kelly.

The CFL’s excellent participant final season will miss at the very least Toronto’s first 9 regular-season video games for violating the CFL’s gender-based violence coverage. The league additionally banned Kelly from the Argos’ two pre-season contests following an impartial investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach in opposition to Kelly for sexual harassment and the membership for wrongful dismissal.

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So the Argos will likely be Cameron Dukes’ workforce, at the very least although to the halfway level of the season. Kelly’s reinstatement is contingent upon his attending necessary counselling periods performed by a gender-based violence skilled and present process assessments by an impartial skilled.

If he doesn’t full the periods and assessments to the CFL’s satisfaction, the self-discipline in opposition to him may very well be modified.

Dukes, 25, began twice final season, his first with Toronto. The six-foot-one, 205-pound quarterback cut up these contests whereas ending 63-of-96 passing on the yr for 760 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Dukes additionally usually served as Toronto’s short-yardage quarterback, dashing 35 occasions for 126 yards (3.6-yard common) and eight TDs.

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Fortunately for Dukes, Toronto’s beginning offensive line _ anchored by deal with Dejon Allen, the CFL’s prime lineman final season _ returns intact. Veteran DaVaris Daniels (52 receptions, 1,009 yards, eight TDs) once more anchors the receiving corps that additionally embody Damonte Coxie (39 catches, 787 yards, 5 TDs) and options prime draft decide Kevin Mital, the ’22 Hec Crighton Trophy winner from Laval.

But Canadian Kurleigh Gittens Jr. was dealt to Edmonton this off-season in a deal that noticed defensive lineman Jake Ceresna come to Toronto.

Also gone are defensive co-ordinator Corey Mace (Saskatchewan head coach), 1,000-yard rusher A.J. Ouellette (Riders), linebackers Adarius Pickett (Ottawa) and Jordan Williams (traded, Hamilton), defensive lineman Reggie Barlow and DeWayne Hendrix (each Hamilton), cornerbacks Jamal Peters (Hamilton) and Qwan’tez Stiggers (NFL’s New York Jets) and returner Javon Leake (Edmonton), who was the CFL’s prime special-teams participant final yr.

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Toronto did signal Ka’Deem Carey (CFL-high 1,088 yards in 2022 with Calgary) in free company whereas Canadian Daniel Adeboboye — who’s additionally a special-teams dynamo — returns.

Toronto’s defence, the CFL’s stingiest final season, will function loads of new faces, each on the sector and alongside the sidelines.

Kevin Eiben and Williams Fields will function co-defensive co-ordinators. Eiben will even coach linebackers whereas Fields will proceed to coach the Argos secondary.

Defensive finish Folarin Orimolade had a team-high 10 sacks final yr and leads what needs to be a strong defensive position with Canadian Robbie Smith, towering deal with Shawn Oakman and newcomer Ceresna, who’s coming off consecutive double-digit sacks seasons.

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Also again are standout linebacker Wynton McManis, Canadian security Royce Metchie and veteran defensive again DaShaun Amos, who suffered a season-ending ankle harm final September.

Canadian kicker Lirim Hajrullahu re-signed with Toronto following 4 seasons attempting to hook on south of the border. Australian John Haggerty will once more deal with punting duties.

And newcomer Janarion Grant definitely supplies big-play capacity within the return sport.

2023 file: 16-2, first East Division. Lost 38-17 to Montreal Alouettes in division ultimate.

Did you understand? Toronto set a club-record for many regular-season wins final yr whereas tying the CFL single-season mark.

Key additions: DL Jake Ceresna, Okay Lirim Hajrullahu, KR Janarion Grant, QB Nick Arbuckle, RB Ka’Deem Carey.

Key losses: QB Chad Kelly (suspended), KR Javon Leake (Edmonton), RB A.J. Ouellette (Saskatchewan), Okay Boris Bede (launched), CB Jamal Peters (Hamilton), LB Adarius Pickett (Ottawa), LB Jordan Williams (Hamilton), WR Kurleigh Gittens Jr. (Edmonton).

Players to look at: QB Cameron Dukes, Carey, Ceresna, WR DaVaris Daniels, DB DaShaun Amos.

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