5 storylines to watch entering the 2024 CFL season
After what feels like an eternity, the CFL will kick off its 2024 season Thursday. It's one of the few times the league hasn't adopted any major changes entering a new season. The CFL experienced economic growth in three of its biggest markets (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver) last season and could continue growing ahead of the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in his state of the league address last November.
Let's take a look at some of the key storylines ahead of the three-down football league's upcoming campaign.
Will the Argos overcome Kelly's suspension?
One of the most publicized storylines entering the season is the fate of Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly.
The league suspended its reigning Most Outstanding Player for violating its gender-based violence policy in May. The veteran signal-caller missed the entire preseason and will be suspended for at least nine games during the regular season. Kelly, who formally withdrew from the Argos' training camp, must undergo confidential assessments and attend mandatory counseling sessions before possible reinstatement.
Cameron Dukes, who served as a backup in 2023, is expected to be the Argos' opening-day starter against the BC Lions on Sunday. Toronto also brought in Nick Arbuckle to provide a veteran presence.
Kelly captured most - if not all - the headlines surrounding the franchise this offseason. It's a complete 180 after Toronto finished atop the East Division with a franchise-record 16-2 mark in 2023. The eventual champion Montreal Alouettes stymied the team, which then lost several key figures in free agency - including A.J. Ouellette and Jamal Peters. Yet the Double Blue re-signed Shawn Oakman and added Ka'Deem Carey to their backfield. Kevin Eiben and William Fields will serve as co-defensive coordinators to keep the Argos' defense on course after former coordinator Corey Mace headed out West.
However, the uncertainty of Kelly's status - both amid and after his suspension - is expected to loom over the franchise for a majority of its 2024 campaign.
Corey Mace signals new era in Saskatchewan
Mace was integral for an Argos defensive unit that led the league in nearly every statistical metric last season, including with its 54 turnovers and 68 sacks. A three-time Grey Cup champion, Mace is now tasked with reforming the Saskatchewan Roughriders into a competitive outfit.
The rookie head coach is requesting accountability from everyone in the building. It's a welcome approach for the Riders faithful after back-to-back 6-12 seasons under Craig Dickenson that each ended with seven-game losing streaks.
General manager Jeremy O'Day was proactive in improving his roster this offseason. 2023 CFL All-Stars and prized free-agent signings Ouellette and Jermarcus Hardrick are poised to make Trevor Harris' second season in Saskatchewan much more enjoyable than his first. After being limited to just five games last season, the two-time Grey Cup-winning QB should easily improve upon his 1,274 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions.
The additions of veterans Malik Carney and Jameer Thurman should provide Mace, who's also the defensive coordinator, with a gritty presence on the other side of the ball. Expectations for the 38-year-old's first year as bench boss are fairly high. Ending a two-year playoff drought should be attainable for Mace & Co. in Year 1.
CFL to shine spotlight on BC throughout 2024 season
BC Place will host the league's championship game for the first time since 2014. Hosting the title game will give the Lions plenty of motivation, and they have every reason to believe they'll make it happen.
Vernon Adams Jr. produced a league-leading 4,679 yards last season to go along with 31 touchdowns compared to 18 interceptions. BC will lean on a receiving corps that features Alexander Hollins and Keon Hatcher, the latter of whom is recovering from an Achilles injury. Veteran standouts Dominique Rhymes and Lucky Whitehead both left the club in the offseason. The Lions are optimistic that the free-agent signing of halfback William Stanback will spark the run game to provide much-needed balance to the passing attack.
However, the Lions will need to exorcise the demons of back-to-back losses to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in West finals. Losing Mathieu Betts, the reigning Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year, to the NFL won't be easy to overcome, either. New additions Christian Covington and Pete Robertson should help BC's defense consistently pressure opposing passers.
Head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell has positioned the franchise to push to the top of the CFL. This roster is talented enough to make the Lions the first club to host and win the Grey Cup since Saskatchewan did so in 2013.
The Grey Cup won't be the only event spotlighting BC this season. After spending the past few years in the Maritimes, the CFL's Touchdown Series is shifting to the West Coast. The Lions will host the Ottawa Redblacks in the Touchdown Pacific game to be held in the province's capital of Victoria during Labor Day weekend.
Is the 111th Grey Cup destined to be a rematch?
The CFL enjoyed the final game of the 2023 season so much that it scheduled the rematch as the 2024 season opener.
Any conversation about earning a spot in the CFL's title game has to include last year's finalists: the Blue Bombers and Alouettes. After a memorable clash in Hamilton, the Alouettes were crowned the 110th Grey Cup champions. Could the teams compete in back-to-back championship games?
The Als have a target on their backs after reaching the mountaintop last season. Cody Fajardo tallied a career-best 3,847 yards to go along with 14 scores in 2023, then followed it up with a 290-yard, three-TD performance in the Grey Cup. Combined with a stout defense led by Marc-Antoine Dequoy, Montreal returns a roster that carries plenty of championship-caliber standouts.
Attrition comes with the territory for successful franchises. Standouts William Stanback (BC), Ciante Evans (BC), and Austin Mack (NFL) departed in free agency. General manager Danny Maciocia brought in Sean Thomas-Erlington, Dylan Wynn, and Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund to reload the roster.
To win the West, you have to take out the owners of the throne. Winnipeg has been the model of consistency, representing its division in each of the past four title games. The Bombers experienced their own key losses from last year's roster. Jackson Jeffcoat retired, while Demerio Houston (Calgary) and Hardrick (Saskatchewan) found new homes in free agency.
The Blue Bombers' core remains intact. Zach Collaros is back at the helm of the Bombers' offense. Winnipeg convinced young stars Brady Oliveira and Dalton Schoen to return to the fold. The rest of the West has improved - at least on paper - but the Bombers are accustomed to dealing with every team and remain ready for the challenge.
Will the addition of MBT save Chris Jones' job?
The Edmonton Elks raised some eyebrows this offseason when they signed McLeod Bethel-Thompson during free agency. General manager and head coach Chris Jones felt that the franchise needed a veteran arm despite the promise Tre Ford displayed in his sophomore campaign. Offensive coordinator Jarious Jackson could still incorporate the skill set of both players to maximize the potential of the offense.
Yet Edmonton is clearly banking on MacBeth stabilizing the offense despite his hiatus from the league in 2023. The two-time champion QB has surpassed 4,000 passing yards twice during his career, including topping the league with 4,731 yards in 2022.
The Elks are providing MBT with an abundance of talent in the huddle, highlighted by wideouts Eugene Lewis and Kurleigh Gittens Jr. and halfback Kevin Brown.
Five seasons have passed since the Elks last qualified for the playoffs. The franchise ended its dubious 22-game home losing streak last August, but there's clearly much room for improvement. Winning 11 combined games over the past three seasons puts Jones squarely on the hot seat in what'll be a pivotal season in the "City of Champions."
Jones brought in defensive coordinator Jason Shivers to help lighten his responsibilities. He drafted Joel Dublanko first overall in the CFL draft and pieced together an interesting defensive front with Jake Ceresna and A.C. Leonard no longer with the team. Earning a playoff spot would go a long way toward illustrating that the club's progression warrants an extended look with Jones at the helm.