TORONTO — Ralph Holley’s return hasn’t made the biggest headlines this off-season. But for the Toronto Argonauts, getting him back means something significant.
The defensive tackle re-signed in November after a brief NFL stint with Cleveland. He’d just helped Toronto win the Grey Cup in his debut CFL season. His eight sacks tied for the league lead that year. That kind of production from the interior is rare and valuable.
Holley and teammate Jake Ceresna were among five players to post eight sacks that season. Toronto registered a CFL-leading 48 overall. Folarin Orimolade, Derek Parish, and Canadian Robbie Smith all added six sacks each. The front had balance and could pressure quarterbacks without scheming exotic blitzes.
Only Parish spent last season with Toronto before being released in January. He managed five sacks in that campaign. Defensive end Andrew Chatfield Jr. led the team with seven sacks. But linebacker Aaron Casey was second with six. That tells you the defensive line struggled to generate consistent pressure.
Holley changes that calculus immediately. From his tackle position, he has the most direct path to the quarterback. Interior pressure collapses pockets faster than edge rushes alone.
“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.”
Miller didn’t stop at Holley’s on-field contributions. “Not just from a player standpoint but from a person standpoint, from a human being,” he added. “Definitely the type of guy you want in your locker room.”
GM Mike Clemons echoed that sentiment. “From a character standpoint, he makes us better from the word go,” Clemons said. “As well, he’s a tremendous leader on the team.”
Clemons emphasized Holley’s relentless approach. “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.”
Defence became Toronto’s primary focus after a disappointing 5-13 season. Missing the playoffs will do that. The Argos allowed the most offensive points in the CFL last year at 28.8 per game. They also surrendered the most offensive touchdowns with 54.
Toronto addressed those shortcomings aggressively in free agency. They signed linebacker Adarius Pickett, defensive tackle Dewayne Hendrix, and Canadian defensive end Jonathan Kongbo. Veteran defensive backs DaShaun Amos, Robert Priester, and Canadian Enock Makonzo also joined. The Argos added Canadian defensive end Paris Shand, a 2025 draft pick with NFL experience in Buffalo.
Some defensive metrics weren’t entirely bleak last season. Toronto tied Calgary with five defensive touchdowns. The Argos allowed the fewest pass attempts at 500 and second-fewest completions at 352. But other numbers told a harsher story.
Toronto ranked second-worst against the run, allowing 105.7 yards per game. They finished last in completion percentage allowed at 72.4 percent. Opponents also torched them for 39 completions of 30-plus yards and 35 touchdown passes. Those are numbers that lose you close games.
Amos and Priester returning should shore up the secondary. Both won two Grey Cups with Toronto in 2022 and 2024. They spent last season with Hamilton and Ottawa respectively. Their familiarity with Miller’s system and championship experience matter.
Toronto faces a significant challenge replacing Wynton McManis at middle linebacker. The veteran departed for Hamilton after four seasons with the Argos. McManis won two Grey Cups and earned CFL all-star honors twice during his tenure.
Injuries limited McManis to just seven games over the past two seasons. That gave Issac Darkangelo valuable experience. The 25-year-old posted 82 tackles last year, including 60 defensive stops. He added two sacks and two forced fumbles. Whether Darkangelo can handle the role full-time remains an open question.
Pickett’s return helps considerably. He was the East Division’s top defensive player with Toronto in 2023. He’ll pair with Canadian linebacker Cameron Judge, who led the team with 83 tackles last season. Judge contributed three sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a touchdown. That’s a versatile, productive combination.
But Toronto’s most important returnee isn’t on defense. Quarterback Chad Kelly missed all of last season after breaking his leg in the 2024 East final. The 2023 CFL outstanding player has been cleared medically for training camp in May.
“He continues to work and as I’ve said before, we have no reason to think otherwise,” Miller said. “He’ll be ready to start training camp, and he’ll be our No. 1 quarterback.”
Kelly’s return should ease concerns about offensive continuity. Nick Arbuckle filled in admirably last season, setting career highs in virtually every category. He started 15 games and threw for 4,370 yards with 26 touchdowns. But he also tossed 15 interceptions and completed 72.4 percent of his passes. Arbuckle remains under contract through 2026 as a capable backup.
Toronto also strengthened the offensive line by signing Canadian Dakoda Shepley. The Windsor native brings CFL experience from Saskatchewan in 2019 and extensive NFL time. He’s spent time with San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas, Indianapolis, and the New York Jets between 2018 and 2025. At six-foot-five and 290 pounds, he adds size and professional experience up front.
The Argos led the CFL last season with 28.8 offensive points per game. They also scored the most offensive touchdowns with 54. That offensive firepower didn’t translate to wins because the defense couldn’t hold leads or get stops when needed.
Holley’s return addresses that core problem. Interior pass rushers who can collapse pockets change game plans. Quarterbacks can’t step up into throws. Running lanes disappear. Offensive coordinators have to account for inside pressure with chips and slide protections.
Those adjustments create opportunities for edge rushers and coverage players. It’s why Holley’s eight sacks in 2024 had ripple effects across Toronto’s entire defensive performance. His absence last year coincided with the team’s drop from 48 sacks to 41. That seven-sack difference reflects more than one player’s production.
Miller’s emphasis on players “closer to the ball” reflects sound defensive philosophy. Dominant interior linemen and middle linebackers dictate tempo and limit offensive options. Toronto now has Holley and Hendrix inside with Judge and potentially Pickett at linebacker. That’s a solid foundation.
The secondary additions of Amos, Priester, and Makonzo should reduce big plays. Last season’s 39 completions of 30-plus yards often came from coverage breakdowns or quarterbacks having too much time. Better pressure and experienced defensive backs working together should fix both issues.
Training camp will reveal how quickly this revamped defense meshes. New coordinator appointments and scheme installations take time. But Toronto has addressed clear weaknesses with proven talent. Holley’s leadership and production anchor those improvements.
His quiet November signing might prove the off-season’s most important move. Championships get built from the trenches outward. Toronto learned that lesson winning Grey Cups in 2022 and 2024. Last year’s defensive collapse taught them what happens when that foundation cracks.
Holley’s return restores it. Everything else Toronto added on defense builds from there. That’s worth more than headlines suggest.
