New Argos coach high on quarterback

Dinwiddie applauds Bethel-Thompson as he becomes a free agent

New Toronto Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie likes what he’s seen on tape from veteran quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson.

Bethel-Thompson was just 4-9 as Toronto’s starter last season but guided the Argos (4-14) to all of their 2019 victories, three coming against the 3-15 Ottawa Redblacks. But Dinwiddie, who Toronto hired last month after Corey Chamblin was fired, said Bethel-Thompson’s record doesn’t tell the whole story.

The six-foot-four, 205-pound San Francisco native threw a league-best 26 touchdown passes last year while completing 335 of 493 passes (68 per cent) for 4,024 yards, third in the CFL. Bethel-Thompson threw for more than 400 yards in a game twice last year, including career-best 464 in a 2822 home loss to Montreal on Aug. 25.

Bethel-Thompson, 31, ran 26 times for 160 yards (6.2-yard average) and a touchdown. After three seasons with Toronto, he’s scheduled to become a free agent next month.

“I like McLeod, he played well last year,” Dinwiddie said this week from the CFL’s winter meetings in Collingwood. “The wins and losses weren’t what you wanted but I don’t think that was his fault. I thought he did a good job … I still believe in him and we’ll look at some other guys to bring in and we’ll see.”

Toronto heads into the offseason with Canadian youngster Michael O’Connor as the only quarterback under contract for next season. Veterans Bethel-Thompson, James Franklin and Dakota Prukop are scheduled to become free agents Feb. 11.

An anemic offence contributed mightily to Toronto’s woes in 2019. The Argos were last in second-down conversions (41 per cent) and second-last in scoring (20.7 points per game), explosive plays (34) and turnover ratio (minus-15). And while Toronto was third overall in passing (294.6 yards per game), it was also second-last in rushing (73.6 yards) and No. 7 overall in net offence (345.3 per game). Upgrading the quarterback position is one of many priorities for new Argos GM Mike (Pinball) Clemons and VP of player personnel John Murphy.

One quarterback option in free agency could have been Calgary youngster Nick Arbuckle, someone Dinwiddie was familiar with after serving as the Stampeders’ quarterbacks coach. But Ottawa GM Marcel Desjardins acquired Arbuckle’s rights.