ARGOS CHAD KELLY BACK UNDER CENTRE IN WEEK 18

TORONTO – Chad Kelly returns to the Toronto Argonauts’ starting lineup with a new perspective.

Kelly watched from the sidelines last week as Cameron Dukes and Bryan Scott took the snaps in Toronto’s 31-21 road loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Argos (12-2) could give Dukes and Scott all of the playing time having already cemented top spot in the East Division.

And that allowed Kelly to watch the game much like a coach, which he did often in ’21 as the offensive co-ordinator at East Mississippi Community College.

“It was good to kind of take a step back and understand what it means to be a coach,” Kelly said. “Coach puts a lot of effort into making sure guys understand what they’re doing and I think I lost a little bit of that one play at a time.

“I was always thinking deep ball, deep ball, big play, big play. Now it brings me back a little bit more to, ‘Hey, let’s go one play at a time.’ We’re not looking to hit the home-run ball each play, just do your 1/12th each and every snap.”

That’s not to say Kelly’s approach before last week wasn’t working. He led Toronto to wins in 12 of his 13 starts, having completed 223-of-325 passes (68.6 per cent) for 3,396 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Dukes got the bulk of the snaps in Winnipeg, completing 17-of-24 passes for 231 yards with an interception. Scott finished 0-for-4 passing.

“I thought both did well for the situation they were in,” Kelly said. “I’m sure they wish they could have a few things back but it’s all about learning and understanding that two or three plays could be the deciding factor in a game.

“I was happy about how they went out and handled themselves.”

Toronto enters this week’s action second overall in offensive points (29.1 per game) and offensive TDs (45) and third in net offence (368.4 yards).

Also returning this week are linebacker Wynton McManis and defensive tackle Shawn Oakman. Both didn’t play against Winnipeg.

Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said while Kelly will start, he’d also like to give both Dukes and Scott time against Edmonton.

“We’ll see if we have to play (Kelly) the full 60,” Dinwiddie said. “I want to get Cam out there again, I feel like he’s earned the right to prove to us that we have to get him going a little bit and see what our backup quarterback is all about.

“I thought (Scott) did some good decision-making, things just didn’t work out his way. I want to get Bryan out there one more time to get him on the field and give him some experience.”

Canadian Tre Ford will make his eighth start this season for Edmonton (4-11). Ford, 25, of Niagara Falls, Ont., has guided the team to all of its wins and back into playoff contention, although either a loss to Toronto or Saskatchewan Roughriders home win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday would eliminate the Elks.

(Canadian Press)