Toronto Argonauts: 5 questions ahead of the 2018 season

3) Will the defence step up another level?

Depending on how much attention you paid, the Argos’ defence might not have seemed particularly impressive last year. For example, of the 12 defensive players selected to the 2017 CFL All-Star team, none came from Toronto.

However, this belies an impressive showing from the Toronto Argonauts’ defence, with the emphasis on the word ‘team’. Where do you want to look first?

Points allowed? The Double Blue finished fourth-best in the CFL, conceding an average of 25.3 points per game.

How about opponents’ net offence? Even more impressive, allowing the second-fewest yards over the course of 18 regular season games.

The run defence was particularly stout, as they led the league in allowing just 82.8 yards per game on the ground. The pass defence wasn’t far behind, allowing 267.9 yards through the air, to rank third-best in the CFL.

Now, what if we told you the defence might be primed to be even better in 2018? As surprising as this may sound, it’s entirely conceivable.

For a start there will be continuity, with the Argonauts re-signing some key components on the defensive side of the ball. Chief among these are Cleyon Laing and Bear Woods.

Now throw in some additions who can only make the Argos even stronger. Taylor Reed will join Woods as part of a formidable linebacking crew, while two-time CFL All-Star T.J. Heath returns to Toronto to bolster the secondary.

The CFL has traditionally been about showcasing offence powerhouses. However, the thought of an even stronger Argonauts defence is a scary proposition for the rest of the league to contemplate.