It certainly is disappointing for CFL fans that Toronto Argonauts star quarterback Chad Kelly will not start on Friday in a much-anticipated Grey Cup rematch against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
However, any criticism of the Argos and coach Ryan Dinwiddie, it says here, is misguided.
Thanks to their own outstanding play and lack of same from their East Division foes, the Argos (12-1) clinched the division title and a bye to a home-field East final with six games left in the regular season.
The challenge for Dinwiddie is to keep his team as healthy as possible while trying to keep their competitive edge during what will be a nearly two-month stretch between meaningful games — the Argos clinched the division on Sept. 15 and host the East final on Nov. 11.
If Dinwiddie feels limiting Kelly’s snaps against a fierce Winnipeg defensive front fits into that plan, who are we to argue with him?
Full disclosure — I had major doubts about Dinwiddie as a head coach during his rookie 2021 season. He made a series of head-scratching calls throughout the year and the Argos ended up losing the East final at home to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. I thought he wasn’t long for the job.
To his credit, Dinwiddie has improved — in a big way. The Argos won the Grey Cup last year over heavily favoured Winnipeg, with Kelly entering in relief of an injured McLeod Bethel-Thompson and playing a huge role. This year, the Argos easily are the class of the league with Kelly proving to be the right choice as starting QB. Dinwiddie, a former QB, has done a masterful job in developing Kelly.
As we’ve seen all year in the CFL, many teams need more than one quarterback to achieve success. It’s as good a time as any to start the inexperienced Cameron Dukes and see what he can do against a top team in front of a hostile, sold-out crowd.
Kelly has started every game this year, with Dukes playing the majority of the Argos’ lone loss in Calgary after Kelly was hurt. Kelly is listed as the third-stringer for Friday’s game behind Dukes and Bryan Scott.
Now, one can say playing in Winnipeg would be a good opportunity for Kelly, too. Before this year, he hadn’t been a full-time starter since his final year at Ole Miss in 2016. A start in this environment could help.
But Dinwiddie has earned the right to make this choice. The Argos host a much weaker Edmonton Elks team next week in the team’s 150th anniversary celebration — where guys like Doug Flutie and Rocket Ismail are expected to be in attendance. It would be stunning if Kelly doesn’t start on a night that is more important for the Argos as an organization.
For now, Dinwiddie is doing what he thinks is best for his team. He has shown he knows his team really well, so he gets the benefit of the doubt.
Is there a Better Playoff Format?
The Argos’ early clinch clearly isn’t the best thing for the league.
It makes one wonder whether having two divisions really is the best thing.
The National Lacrosse League made an interesting move this week, eliminating East and West conferences and putting all 15 teams in one grouping for the coming season.
Each team plays each team once in an 18-game schedule with the other four games preserving rivalries — eg two games between the Toronto Rock and Buffalo Bandits. The top eight make the playoffs for quarterfinals, semifinals and the championship
The CFL do something similar with all nine teams in one grouping — the top six overall make the playoffs with Nos. 1 and 2 getting the bye and home-field for the semifinal round.
The downfall is the chances of an East-West Grey Cup become significantly slimmer. But you also can pretty much guarantee avoiding something like this year with a third of the Argos’ season being meaningless.
What We Liked in Week 16
• The Ottawa Redblacks finally finding a way to win, though they flirted with yet another collapse against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
• The play of the B.C. Lions defence against Tre Ford and the Elks. Ford wasn’t bad by any means, but B.C. found a way to limit his running ability — a huge key to the win.
• Montreal Alouettes rush end Shawn Lemon notching two sacks and an interception against the team he played for last year — the Calgary Stampeders. Lemon now has 99 career sacks.
What We Didn’t Like in Week 16
• The Tiger-Cats falling to 0-4 against the Argos. Hamilton needs to find a way to be more competitive against its rival.
• The Stampeders falling flat at home in a 28-11 loss to Montreal. Calgary’s 17-year playoff streak is in big jeopardy.
Power Rankings
1. Toronto Argonauts (12-1, first last week): If the Argos upset Winnipeg, could they make a run at setting a record for best finish in CFL history in an 18-game season (16-2)?
2. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (10-4, second last week): Coming off a bye, Blue Bombers have had lots of time to prepare for Toronto.
3. B.C. Lions (10-4, third last week): Showdown with Winnipeg looms next week.
4. Montreal Alouettes (7-7, seventh last week): Do not play a team with a winning record in final four games.
5. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-8, fourth last week): The good news is they don’t play the Argos again in the regular season.
6. Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-8, sixth last week): Have lost three in a row, but still in good position to make playoffs.
7. Edmonton Elks (4-11, fifth last week): Played much closer game against Lions after getting shut out in first two tries versus B.C. this year.
8. Ottawa Redblacks (4-10, ninth last week): If the Redblacks can sweep a home-and-home with the Alouettes, their playoff hopes aren’t done.
9. Calgary Stampeders (4-10, eighth last week): So strange to see the Stamps at or near the bottom of the league.
Week 17 Picks
Toronto Argonauts at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-7.5), Friday, 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT: Blue Bombers need a win, Argos do not. PICK: Winnipeg
Saskatchewan Roughriders at B.C. Lions (-9.5), Friday, 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT: This feels like an awfully big spread. PICK: Saskatchewan
Montreal Alouettes (-2.5) at Ottawa Redblacks, Saturday, 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT: Redblacks snapped a seven-game win streak last week. They’ll ride the momentum. PICK: Ottawa
Calgary Stampeders at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (-1.5), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. MT: Ticats can take a huge step toward securing a playoff spot with a win. PICK: Hamilton
2023 Picks Record: 32-31
All odds from FanDuel as of Thursday.
from Sportsnet.ca https://ift.tt/0wBokRd
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