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TORONTO —
It's a move that's flown under the radar during a busy off-season, but Ralph Holley's return gives the Toronto Argonauts much more than a tenacious pass rusher.
The six-foot-one, 285-pound defensive tackle re-signed with Toronto in November following a stint with the NFL's Cleveland Browns. In 2024, Holley helped the Argos win the Grey Cup, finishing tied for the league lead in sacks in his first CFL season.
Holley and teammate Jake Ceresna were among five players to post eight sacks that season as Toronto registered a CFL-leading 48 overall. Folarin Orimolade, Derek Parish, and Canadian Robbie Smith all added six sacks for a front that had balance and could get to the quarterback on its own.
Only Parish spent last season with Toronto (five sacks) before being released in January. Defensive end Andrew Chatfield Jr. had a team-high seven sacks as the Argos (41) were fourth overall, but linebacker Aaron Casey was second on the squad with six as the defensive line had trouble mounting a consistent rush.
Enter Holley, who, from his position, has the most direct line to the passer.
"We always believe the closer to the ball, the better your team has to be," said Mike Miller, Toronto's first-year head coach. "Ralph coming back makes us better.
"Not just from a player standpoint but from a person standpoint, from a human being. Definitely the type of guy you want in your locker room."
GM Mike (Pinball) Clemons said Holley gives Toronto more than a dominant tackle.
"From a character standpoint, he makes us better from the word go," Clemons said. "As well, he's a tremendous leader on the team.
"He plays hard every down, he's a great example of what Coach Mike has really been speaking to this entire off-season. We're tickled to have him back."
Predictably, defence was a priority for Toronto (5-13) after missing last year's playoffs.
The Argos dipped into free agency to sign linebacker Adarius Pickett, defensive tackle Dewayne Hendrix, Canadian defensive end Jonathan Kongbo and veteran defensive backs DaShaun Amos, Robert Priester and Canadian Enock Makonzo after leading the CFL last season in most offensive points (28.8 per game) and offensive TDs (54) allowed.
The Argos also signed Canadian defensive end Paris Shand, a '25 draft pick who spent time with the NFL's Buffalo Bills.
Toronto finished tied with Calgary for most defensive TDs (five) while allowing the fewest pass attempts (500) and second-fewest completions (352). But the Argos were second-worst against the run (105.7 yards per game) and last in completion percentage (72.4), 30-plus yard completions (39) and TD passes (35).
The return of Amos and Priester will bolster Toronto's secondary. Both won two Grey Cups with the Argos (2022, '24) before spending last season with Hamilton and Ottawa, respectively.
A big hole Toronto must fill is at middle linebacker with the departure of veteran Wynton McManis (Hamilton Tiger-Cats). The six-foot, 220-pound McManis also helped the Argos win two Grey Cups and twice was a CFL all-star over his four seasons with the club.
McManis missed 11 games the last two seasons with injuries, allowing Issac Darkangelo to get playing time. Last season, the 25-year-old Darkangelo had 82 tackles (60 defensive, 22 special teams), two sacks and two forced fumbles.
Pickett's return -- he was the East Division's top defensive player with Toronto in 2023 -- will certainly help. He joins Canadian linebacker Cameron Judge, who posted a team-high 83 tackles (79 defensive, four special teams), three sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a TD last season.
Toronto's most important returnee, though, will be quarterback Chad Kelly. The 2023 CFL outstanding player didn't play last season after suffering a broken leg in the '24 East final.
Among Toronto's off-season moves was signing Canadian offensive lineman Dakoda Shepley. The six-foot-five, 290-pound Windsor, Ont., native spent time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2019) as well as in the NFL with San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas, Indianapolis and the New York Jets (2018, 2020-25).
Miller said Kelly, 32, has been cleared medically to participate in training camp, which opens in May.
"He continues to work and as I've said before, we have no reason to think otherwise," said Miller, who served as Toronto's quarterback coach from 2022-25. "He'll be ready to start training camp, and he'll be our No. 1 quarterback."
Last season, veteran Nick Arbuckle set career highs in starts (15), passes (504), completions (365, 72.4 per cent), yards (4,370), TDs (26) and interceptions (15). He's under contract through 2026.
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