TORONTO ARGONAUTS

LAST YEAR: 9-9 - 3RD IN EAST DIVISION - LOST TO MONTREAL IN EAST FINAL

Toronto entered 2010 simply looking for some franchise stability after a disastrous 2009, and they ended up with much more than that. Head Coach Jim Barker – in his first year with the Argos – used strong defensive and special teams play to lead the Argos to a 9-9 record and a playoff spot. The Boatmen even managed to upset the Tiger-Cats in the East semifinal in Hamilton before falling to the eventual Grey Cup champion Alouettes in the East final.

KEY ADDITIONS

Steven Jyles, QB: While he wasn’t technically named the starting quarterback when he was acquired from the Blue Bombers in late March for the Argos first-round draft pick, Jyles certainly jumped to the top of the depth chart. Toronto struggled with their QB play last season and will look to Jyles, who put up a 100.9 QB rating in 14 games in Winnipeg last year, to right the ship.

Wes Lysack, S: Lysack, entering his ninth-year in the league, will bring leadership and a veteran presence to an Argonauts secondary that already has a lot of good pieces in place. The 33-year-old has spent the majority of his career in Calgary where he has accumulated 228 tackles and 12 interceptions. Lysack should be a valuable non-import piece on Toronto's defence.

Other Notable Acquisitions: Ray Cheatham, DB; Dovonte Edwards, DB; B.J. Hall, QB, Nate Robertson, DT; Claude Wroten, DT

KEY DEPARTURES

Adriano Belli, DT: The Kissing Bandit will be missed not just by the Argos, but by fans of the game across the country. While Belli will likely be best remembered as a great teammate, a character both on and off the field, and a great ambassador for the game, he was also a Canadian who could start – and at times dominate – along the defensive line.

Eric Taylor, DT: Compounding the loss of Belli to retirement for the Argos was the loss of another defensive lineman – Taylor – who earlier signed with the Lions in free agency. Toronto was stout against the run last season and part of the reason was Taylor’s play at defensive tackle. The 30-year-old finished with 17 tackles and three sacks in 13 games last year.

Other Notable Departures: Jamie Boreham, K/P; Ken Dorsey, QB; Reggie McNeal, WR

THE EXPERTS WEIGH IN

Chris Shultz's Team Overview: Everybody will be watching and evaluating Steven Jyles as a quarterback from the moment he steps onto the field. If Jyles can perform close to what a QB like Anthony Calvillo can, then the Argos can compete with anybody in the league. And if he can't, then another 9-9 season may be duplicated. More...

Matt Dunigan's Quarterback Analysis: What a difference a year makes for the Toronto Argonauts' QB scenario. Last season, head coach Jim Barker went with the unknowns in Cleo Lemon, Dalton Bell, Ken Dorsey, and Danny Brannagan. With a season under his belt - both mentally and physically - Cleo Lemon will be better, I can guarantee you that! More...

Duane Forde's Canadian Content: The Argos need defensive end Ricky Foley to shake off last year’s groin injury and regain the form that made him the league’s Top Canadian in 2009. Meanwhile, linebacker Kevin Eiben remains one of the CFL’s leading tacklers, but the club’s newfound ratio flexibility means that imports may challenge him for playing time this season. More...

DRAFT OVERVIEW

The Argonauts went into the Canadian Draft without a first-round selection – having traded their pick to Winnipeg in the Steven Jyles deal – but managed to trade back into the first round and select offensive lineman Tyler Holmes. Holmes is returning to school and won’t be available for the Argos until at least 2012, but with six picks in the third round and beyond, Toronto will have plenty of first-year players to choose from when filling out their non-import roster spots and practice squad.

Draft Results

2010 Team Statistics