The 2016 Toronto Argonauts season was the 59th season for the team in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and their 144th season overall. The Argonauts finished in fourth place in the East Division with a 5–13 record and missed the playoffs for the second time in three years. It also marks the second straight year the Grey Cup hosts have failed to make the playoffs after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last season.
After the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the Ottawa Redblacks in overtime in week 18 on October 21, 2016, the Argonauts were eliminated from the playoffs while they were playing in the second quarter against the Calgary Stampeders. This was the team's fifth season under head coach Scott Milanovich, and the sixth under general manager Jim Barker. It was announced in January 2017 that Jim Barker would be relieved of his duties as general manager after a disappointing 2016 CFL season which saw the Argonauts win a league low 5 games that season, tied with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for league worst that season. Shortly after Jim Barker's termination, Scott Milanovich resigned from his duties as the Argonauts' head coach to work as an assistant coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This was the first season for the Argonauts at their new home stadium, BMO Field, as renovations now allow Canadian football to be played there.Argos hope move to fan-friendly BMO Field will boost flagging attendance The team had averaged 16,380 in fan attendance and had a season high 24,812 fans attend the home opener. The club also had a new ownership group, with Larry Tanenbaum and Bell Canada officially taking ownership on January 1, 2016.
Offseason
CFL draft The 2016 CFL draft took place on May 10, 2016. The Argonauts had nine selections in the eight-round draft after trading Bruce Campbell for another fourth-round pick.
Round Pick Player Position School/Club team 1 4 Brian Jones WR Acadia 2 13 DJ Sackey OL Toronto 3 22 Jamal Campbell OL York 4 27 Declan Cross RB McMaster 4 31 Llevi Noel WR Windsor AKO Fratmen 5 40 Curtis Newton LB Guelph 6 49 Chris Kolankowski OL York 7 58 Johnathan Ngeleka Muamba DB McMaster 8 66 Ryan Nieuwesteeg RB Guelph
Preseason Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score RecordA Sat, June 11 4:00 p.m. EDT vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 25–16 1–0 None BMO Field 16,168 RecapB Fri, June 17 7:30 p.m. EDT at Montreal Alouettes L 22–15 1–1 TSN/RDS Molson Stadium 14,882 Recap
Games played with colour uniforms.
Regular season Standings
Schedule Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score Record1 Thurs, June 23 7:30 p.m. EDT Hamilton Tiger-Cats L 20–42 0–1 TSN/RDS/ESPNEWS BMO Field 24,812 Recap2 Thurs, June 30 10:00 p.m. EDT @ Saskatchewan Roughriders W 30–17 1–1 TSN/RDS2/ESPN2 Mosaic Stadium 29,896 Recap3 Thurs, July 7 10:00 p.m. EDT @ BC Lions W 25–14 2–1 TSN/RDS2/ESPN2 BC Place 18,921 Recap4 Wed, July 13 7:30 p.m. EDT Ottawa Redblacks L 20–30 2–2 TSN/RDS BMO Field 12,373 Recap5 Mon, July 25 7:30 p.m. EDT Montreal Alouettes W 30–17 3–2 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 BMO Field 16,048 Recap6 Sun, July 31 7:30 p.m. EDT @ Ottawa Redblacks W 23–20 4–2 TSN/RDS2/ESPN2 TD Place Stadium 24,894 Recap 7 Bye8 Fri, Aug 12 7:30 p.m. EDT Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 17–34 4–3 TSN BMO Field 15,063 Recap9 Sat, Aug 20 4:00 p.m. EDT Edmonton Eskimos L 23–46 4–4 TSN BMO Field 15,157 Recap 10 Bye11 Wed, Aug 31 7:30 p.m. EDT BC Lions L 13–16 4–5 TSN BMO Field 17,509 Recap11 Mon, Sept 5 6:30 p.m. EDT @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats L 36–49 4–6 TSN Tim Hortons Field 24,512 Recap12 Sun, Sept 11 4:30 p.m. EDT Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 33–21 5–6 TSN BMO Field 17,214 Recap13 Sat, Sept 17 2:00 p.m. EDT @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 29–46 5–7 TSN Investors Group Field 25,943 Recap14 Fri, Sept 23 7:00 p.m. EDT @ Ottawa Redblacks L 12–29 5–8 TSN/RDS2 TD Place Stadium 25,088 Recap15 Sun, Oct 2 1:00 p.m. EDT @ Montreal Alouettes L 11–38 5–9 TSN2/RDS Molson Stadium 23,420 Recap16 Mon, Oct 10 4:00 p.m. EDT Calgary Stampeders L 20–48 5–10 TSN BMO Field 14,224 Recap17 Sat, Oct 15 4:00 p.m. EDT Saskatchewan Roughriders L 11–29 5–11 TSN BMO Field 15,023 Recap18 Fri, Oct 21 10:00 p.m. EDT @ Calgary Stampeders L 13–31 5–12 TSN McMahon Stadium 27,520 Recap 19 Bye20 Sat, Nov 5 4:00 p.m. EDT @ Edmonton Eskimos L 17–41 5–13 TSN Commonwealth Stadium 33,514 Recap
Games played with colour uniforms. Games played with white uniforms.
Team The team was led at quarterback by Ricky Ray, who had three statistically brilliant seasons between 2012 and 2014, earning eastern Most Outstanding Player nominations in the latter two years. Ray battled injuries in each of his five seasons as an Argonaut and has not played an entire 18 game season since his last season in Edmonton. Following the departure of Trevor Harris to the Ottawa RedBlacks in early 2016, the backup QB situation was a bit of a revolving door; with Logan Kilgore, Dan LeFevour, Cody Fajardo, and Drew Willy all taking snaps under centre.
The receiving corps remained largely unchanged from the previous season with Tori Gurley, Kevin Elliott, and Vidal Hazelton (The Big Three) returning after posting productive seasons in 2015, also returning to the receiving group were Diontae Spencer and Kenny Shaw. On October 3, 2016, the team announced they had released Gurley, Elliott, and Hazelton, along with Phil Bates. The move was considered a shock by most, but post-game comments by Scott Milanovich in Montreal on October 2, 2016 following a loss to the Als revealed the move which was about to take place was about more than just on-field issues. "We've got some good football players here that I'm not sure are real committed to what we need to have take place, and it's little things; being late, not showing up prepared, screwing around and that's where we're at right now, it's not going to stay that way."
Running back Brandon Whitaker was leaned on heavily and was having a productive season. He finished second in the league in rushing yards with 1009 on 186 carries, which was his second career 1000-yard rushing season, earning him a third consecutive Eastern All-Star award.
On the defensive side of the ball, following last season's departure of star defensive linemen Cleyon Laing and Tristan Okpalaugo to the NFL's Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals respectively, the Argos were able to secure the services of Justin Hickman and Bryan Hall from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, as well as trade OL Matt Sewell and QB Mitchell Gale to the Saskatchewan Roughriders for DE Shawn Lemon and a conditional 2018 draft pick. Lemon seemed to fit into Defensive Coordinator Rich Stubler's system well, as he finished with 14 sacks (career high) in 16 games and earned his first East Division All-Star nomination.
Roster 2016 Toronto Argonauts final roster Quarterbacks
Running backs
Receivers
Offensive linemen T G C/G G G C/T/G T G
Defensive linemen DT DT DE DE DE DT Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams K/P LS
Practice roster DB LB SB G WR RB WR WR LB DB G G WR Injured list T DE QB DE DB LB DB DB DB DB DE DT
Suspended WR
Italics indicate international player Transactions (cfl.ca)
Coaching staff 2016 Toronto Argonauts staff Front office and support staff Owner – Larry Tanenbaum / Bell Media President and ceo – Michael Copeland Special advisor – Michael Clemons General manager – Jim Barker Director of football operations – Ian Sanderson Director of player personnel – Chris Rukavina US Scouting Coordinator - Spencer Zimmerman Director canadian scouting – Vince Magri Consultant, Football Operations – Nick Volpe Equipment manager – Danny Webb Assistant equipment manager – Tom Bryce Head athletic therapist – Scott Shannon Assistant athletic therapist – Josh Shewell Head coaches Head coach – Scott Milanovich
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Marcus Brady Running backs – Anthony Ierullo Receivers – Taylor Stubblefield Offensive line – Mike Preston
Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Rich Stubler Defensive Line - Kit Lathrop Linebackers – D. J. Wingate Defensive Backs - Jordan Younger
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Kelly Jeffrey Assistant special teams – Bradley Daye
→ Coaching staff
References