Argos very wary about taking on winless Redblacks

The quarterback will lead the Toronto Argonauts (6-6) against the struggling Ottawa Redblacks (0-11) on Saturday afternoon. Kelly and Co. return to BMO Field just five days after a 37-22 Labour Day win in Hamilton while the visitors have been off since dropping a 45-24 home decision to the B.C. Lions on Aug. 30.

The game will also be Ryan Dinwiddie’s first in Toronto since leaving the club in the off-season to become Ottawa’s head coach/GM. Dinwiddie led the Argos to two Grey Cups (2022, ’24) and was the CFL’s coach of the year (2023) over his five seasons with the franchise (2021-25).

Kelly’s first four seasons with Toronto were with Dinwiddie, who also served as its offensive co-ordinator. Kelly enjoyed his best CFL season thus far under Dinwiddie, earning the league’s outstanding player award in 2023 with 4,123 passing yards, 23 TDs and 12 interceptions while posting a 15-1 regular-season record as a starter.

But this has been a very difficult campaign for both Dinwiddie and the Redblacks. The franchise has dropped 17 straight dating back to last season, a modern CFL record.

Kelly’s preparation to face Ottawa at home has involved channelling his inner Ryan Dinwiddie.

“I just look at it (as) how he would defend me,” Kelly said. “That’s kind of my mentality.

Ottawa had a few of the right answers in the first meeting of the season, a 44-24 Toronto win at TD Place on June 20. The Redblacks intercepted Kelly four times but the Toronto quarterback still threw for 424 yards and four touchdowns.

Kelly leads the CFL in passing (3,961 yards), touchdowns (27) and interceptions (18).

Ottawa will have 12 new faces on its roster Saturday, including 11 on defence. Five of those — cornerback Christian Matthew and halfbacks Adrian Frye and Travian Blaylock, defensive ed Luiji Vilain and defensive tackle Isaiah Mack — will start with linebacker A.J. Allen and defensive lineman Cleyon Laing, both veteran Canadians, will be among those available to see action.

“That’s why we have to be ready for whatever they do, make sure we’re detail oriented and fundamentally sound,” Kelly said. “Expect the unexpected.

“What kind of wrinkles are they going to try to pull out and we have to be ready for it.”

Ottawa has lost four of its last five visits to BMO Field. Toronto is 2-0 there this season.

Toronto is coming off its third win in its last four Labour Day visits to Hamilton. That victory not only gave the Argos the season series 2-1 but moved them firmly into second in the East Division, four points ahead of the Ticats with a game in hand.

Toronto head coach Mike Miller spent four seasons as Dinwiddie’s quarterback coach before succeeding Dinwiddie upon his departure. Miller is very well aware of just how dangerous a desperate team can be.