2020 Toronto Argonauts season explained

Team:Toronto Argonauts
Year:2020
Record:N/A
Division Place:N/A, East
Coach:Ryan Dinwiddie
General Manager:Michael Clemons
Stadium:BMO Field
Playoffs:Season cancelled
Shortnavlink:Argonauts seasons

The 2020 Toronto Argonauts season was scheduled to be the 63rd season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 148th year of existence. This would have been the first full season with Michael Clemons as general manager following his appointment mid-way through the 2019 season.[1] This would have also been the first season for head coach Ryan Dinwiddie.[2]

Training camps, pre-season games, and regular season games were initially postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto. The CFL announced on April 7, 2020, that the start of the 2020 season would not occur before July 2020.[3] On May 20, 2020, it was announced that the league would likely not begin regular season play prior to September 2020.[4] On August 17, 2020, however, the season was officially cancelled due to COVID-19.[5]

Offseason

Personnel changes

Following the end of a disappointing season for first-year head coach, Corey Chamblin, new general manager, Michael Clemons, stated that Chamblin's position would undergo a thorough review.[6] Over a month later, on December 12, 2019, it was announced that Chamblin would be relieved of his coaching duties and Ryan Dinwiddie would be named the team's new head coach, the 45th in team history.[2]

CFL National Draft

The 2020 CFL National Draft took place on April 30, 2020.[7] The Argonauts held the second selection in each round of the draft by virtue of finishing second to last in the 2019 league standings, less any traded picks.[8] They obtained another first-round pick and gained a third-round pick after trading Zach Collaros and a fifth-round pick to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[9] To acquire Collaros, the Argonauts traded their fourth-round pick to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.[10] The team swapped a third-round pick for a fifth-round pick with the Montreal Alouettes that saw the club acquire Ryan Bomben.[11] The Argonauts traded a seventh-round pick and Martese Jackson to Edmonton in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2019 CFL Draft.[12] [8] The team also traded an eighth-round selection to Montreal in exchange for Boseko Lokombo.[13]

The team also gained a territorial selection for the second consecutive year after finishing in the bottom two of the previous year's standings.[8] [14]

RoundPickPlayerPositionSchoolHometown
1 2 Mississauga, ON
1 9 Stettler, AB
2 11 Mississauga, ON
3 Brampton, ON
3 28 Strathroy, ON
5 42 Abbotsford, BC
6 48 Esterhazy, SK

CFL Global Draft

The 2020 CFL Global Draft was scheduled to take place on April 16, 2020.[15] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this draft and its accompanying combine were postponed to occur just before the start of training camp, which was ultimately cancelled.[3] [16] The Argonauts were scheduled to select second in each round with the number of rounds never announced.[15]

Planned schedule

Preseason

For the third consecutive season, the Argonauts were scheduled to play their home pre-season game at a U Sports football stadium.[17]

WeekGameDateKickoffOpponentTVVenue
ABye
B1Thu, May 2811:00 a.m. EDTvs. Hamilton Tiger-CatsVarsity Stadium
C2Sat, June 61:00 p.m. EDTat Montreal AlouettesMolson Stadium
[17] [18]

Regular season

The Argonauts were scheduled to be the home team for a neutral site game for the Week 7 match-up with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.[17] The league had been contemplating returning to Moncton, having been there in the previous season, but it was officially announced on January 23, 2020, that a Touchdown Atlantic game would be played in Halifax at Huskies Stadium.[19] [20] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced on May 20, 2020, that the game was cancelled.[4]

WeekGameDateKickoffOpponentTVVenue
11Fri, June 127:00 p.m. EDTat Ottawa RedblacksTSNTD Place Stadium
22Sat, June 207:00 p.m. EDTvs. Hamilton Tiger-CatsTSNBMO Field
3Bye
43Sat, July 47:00 p.m. EDTvs. Calgary StampedersTSNBMO Field
54Sat, July 117:00 p.m. EDTat Saskatchewan RoughridersTSNMosaic Stadium
65Fri, July 179:30 p.m. EDTat Edmonton Football TeamTSNCommonwealth Stadium
76Sat, July 254:00 p.m. EDTvs. Saskatchewan RoughridersTSNHuskies Stadium
87Fri, July 317:00 p.m. EDTvs. Winnipeg Blue BombersTSNBMO Field
98Sat, August 87:00 p.m. EDTat Calgary StampedersTSNMcMahon Stadium
10Bye
119Sat, August 224:00 p.m. EDTvs. Hamilton Tiger-CatsTSNBMO Field
1210Fri, August 287:00 p.m. EDTvs. Montreal AlouettesTSN/RDSBMO Field
1311Mon, Sept 71:00 p.m. EDTat Hamilton Tiger-CatsTSNTim Hortons Field
1412Sat, Sept 1210:00 p.m. EDTat BC LionsTSNBC Place
1513Sat, Sept 194:00 p.m. EDTvs. Ottawa RedblacksTSNBMO Field
1614Sat, Sept 267:00 p.m. EDTat Ottawa RedblacksTSNTD Place Stadium
1715Fri, Oct 27:00 p.m. EDTvs. BC LionsTSNBMO Field
1816Mon, Oct 121:00 p.m. EDTat Montreal AlouettesTSN/RDSMolson Stadium
1917Sat, Oct 177:00 p.m. EDTat Winnipeg Blue BombersTSNIG Field
20Bye
2118Sat, Oct 311:00 p.m. EDTvs. Edmonton Football TeamTSNBMO Field
[17] [18]

Team

Roster

Toronto Argonauts roster
Quarterbacks

Receivers

      • QB/WR
Running backs

Fullbacks

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

  • K
  • LS
Italics indicate American player • Bold indicates Global player • 89 Roster
Roster updated 2020-08-17 • Depth chartTransactions (argonauts.ca)Transactions (cfl.ca)More CFL rosters

Coaching staff

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CFL.ca Staff . Argos relieve GM Jim Popp of duties . CFL.ca . October 8, 2019 . November 2, 2019.
  2. Web site: Ryan Dinwiddie named 45th head coach in Argos history. Toronto Argonauts. December 12, 2019. December 12, 2019.
  3. Web site: Ambrosie issues statement on behalf of CFL. cfl.ca. April 7, 2020. April 7, 2020.
  4. Web site: CFL provides update regarding 2020. Canadian Football League. May 20, 2020. May 20, 2020.
  5. Web site: CFL not to play shortened season in the fall. Canadian Football League. August 17, 2020.
  6. Web site: Corey Chamblin's position as Toronto Argonauts coach pending review. The Star. November 3, 2019. December 12, 2019.
  7. Web site: CFL to hold global player combines in Europe, Mexico and, and Japan. press.cfl.ca. November 5, 2019. November 5, 2019.
  8. Web site: 2020 CFL Draft. CFL.ca. en. January 26, 2020.
  9. News: Bombers acquire Zach Collaros from Argos. October 9, 2019.
  10. News: Zach's Back: Argos acquire Collaros from Riders. July 31, 2019.
  11. News: Als, Argos swap Heath for Bomben in trade. July 29, 2018.
  12. News: Esks acquire Martese Jackson from Argos. September 10, 2018.
  13. News: Argos acquire rights to LB Lokombo in trade with Als. Canadian Football League. cfl.ca. January 31, 2020.
  14. Web site: CFL Draft to feature territorial picks. April 17, 2019. CFL.ca. en. November 2, 2019.
  15. Web site: Key dates to circle on your calendar in 2020. January 27, 2020. CFL.ca. en. April 7, 2020.
  16. Web site: CFL Global Draft rescheduled as lead-in event prior to training camp. March 24, 2020. CFL.ca. en. April 7, 2020.
  17. Web site: Argos 2020 schedule released. Toronto Argonauts. December 2019.
  18. Web site: 2020 CFL Schedule. cfl.ca. December 18, 2019.
  19. Web site: CFL commissioner envisions first international regular-season game in 2021. cbc.ca. January 7, 2020.
  20. Web site: The biggest CFL Touchdown Atlantic ever is coming to Halifax this summer. Canadian Football League. January 23, 2020.