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2016 Toronto Argonauts season
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CFL team season
March 2026
Toronto Argonauts 2016 5–13 4th, East Scott Milanovich Jim Barker BMO Field did not qualify Brandon Whitaker Lirim Hajrullahu Sean McEwen Argonauts seasons File:CFL TOR Jersey 2016.png
The 2016 Toronto Argonauts season was the 59th season for the team in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and their 144th season overall. The Argonauts finished in fourth place in the East Division with a 5–13 record and missed the playoffs for the second time in three years. It also marks the second straight year the Grey Cup hosts have failed to make the playoffs after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last season.
After the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the Ottawa Redblacks in overtime in week 18 on October 21, 2016, the Argonauts were eliminated from the playoffs while they were playing in the second quarter against the Calgary Stampeders. This was the team's fifth season under head coach Scott Milanovich, and the sixth under general manager Jim Barker. It was announced in January 2017 that Jim Barker would be relieved of his duties as general manager after a disappointing 2016 CFL season which saw the Argonauts win a league low 5 games that season, tied with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for league worst that season. Shortly after Jim Barker's termination, Scott Milanovich resigned from his duties as the Argonauts' head coach to work as an assistant coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This was the first season for the Argonauts at their new home stadium, BMO Field, as renovations now allow Canadian football to be played there.Argos hope move to fan-friendly BMO Field will boost flagging attendance The team had averaged 16,380 in fan attendance and had a season high 24,812 fans attend the home opener. The club also had a new ownership group, with Larry Tanenbaum and Bell Canada officially taking ownership on January 1, 2016.https://www.cfl.ca/article/bell-canada-and-kilmer-group-to-acquire-the-argos Bell Canada and Kilmer Group to acquire the Argos 2017-08-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20151118141458/http://www.cfl.ca/article/bell-canada-and-kilmer-group-to-acquire-the-argos 2015-11-18 dead
Offseason
CFL draft
The 2016 CFL draft took place on May 10, 2016. The Argonauts had nine selections in the eight-round draft after trading Bruce Campbell for another fourth-round pick.https://www.cfl.ca/2016/02/10/riders-sign-free-agent-receiver-returner-kendial-lawrence/ Riders sign Lawrence; trade for Argos' OL Campbell - CFL.ca CFL.ca Staff 10 February 2016 CFL.ca
Round Pick Player Position School/Club team 1 4 Brian Jones WR Acadia 2 13 DJ Sackey OL Toronto 3 22 Jamal Campbell OL York 4 27 Declan Cross RB McMaster 4 31 Llevi Noel WR Windsor AKO Fratmen 5 40 Curtis Newton LB Guelph 6 49 Chris Kolankowski OL York 7 58 Johnathan Ngeleka Muamba DB McMaster 8 66 Ryan Nieuwesteeg RB Guelph
Preseason
Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score RecordA Sat, June 11 4:00 p.m. EDT vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 25–16 1–0 None BMO Field 16,168 RecapB Fri, June 17 7:30 p.m. EDT at Montreal Alouettes L 22–15 1–1 TSN/RDS Molson Stadium 14,882 Recap
http://www.argonauts.ca/2016schedule/ 2016 Schedule 2016-02-21 2016-02-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20160223054520/http://www.argonauts.ca/2016schedule/ dead
#002147 # white Games played with colour uniforms.
Regular season
Standings
Schedule
Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score Record1 Thurs, June 23 7:30 p.m. EDT Hamilton Tiger-Cats L 20–42 0–1 TSN/RDS/ESPNEWS BMO Field 24,812 Recap2 Thurs, June 30 10:00 p.m. EDT @ Saskatchewan Roughriders W 30–17 1–1 TSN/RDS2/ESPN2 Mosaic Stadium 29,896 Recap3 Thurs, July 7 10:00 p.m. EDT @ BC Lions W 25–14 2–1 TSN/RDS2/ESPN2 BC Place 18,921 Recap4 Wed, July 13 7:30 p.m. EDT Ottawa Redblacks L 20–30 2–2 TSN/RDS BMO Field 12,373 Recap5 Mon, July 25 7:30 p.m. EDT Montreal Alouettes W 30–17 3–2 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 BMO Field 16,048 Recap6 Sun, July 31 7:30 p.m. EDT @ Ottawa Redblacks W 23–20 4–2 TSN/RDS2/ESPN2 TD Place Stadium 24,894 Recap 7 Bye8 Fri, Aug 12 7:30 p.m. EDT Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 17–34 4–3 TSN BMO Field 15,063 Recap9 Sat, Aug 20 4:00 p.m. EDT Edmonton Eskimos L 23–46 4–4 TSN BMO Field 15,157 Recap 10 Bye11 Wed, Aug 31 7:30 p.m. EDT BC Lions L 13–16 4–5 TSN BMO Field 17,509 Recap11 Mon, Sept 5 6:30 p.m. EDT @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats L 36–49 4–6 TSN Tim Hortons Field 24,512 Recap12 Sun, Sept 11 4:30 p.m. EDT Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 33–21 5–6 TSN BMO Field 17,214 Recap13 Sat, Sept 17 2:00 p.m. EDT @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 29–46 5–7 TSN Investors Group Field 25,943 Recap14 Fri, Sept 23 7:00 p.m. EDT @ Ottawa Redblacks L 12–29 5–8 TSN/RDS2 TD Place Stadium 25,088 Recap15 Sun, Oct 2 1:00 p.m. EDT @ Montreal Alouettes L 11–38 5–9 TSN2/RDS Molson Stadium 23,420 Recap16 Mon, Oct 10 4:00 p.m. EDT Calgary Stampeders L 20–48 5–10 TSN BMO Field 14,224 Recap17 Sat, Oct 15 4:00 p.m. EDT Saskatchewan Roughriders L 11–29 5–11 TSN BMO Field 15,023 Recap18 Fri, Oct 21 10:00 p.m. EDT @ Calgary Stampeders L 13–31 5–12 TSN McMahon Stadium 27,520 Recap 19 Bye20 Sat, Nov 5 4:00 p.m. EDT @ Edmonton Eskimos L 17–41 5–13 TSN Commonwealth Stadium 33,514 Recap
https://www.cfl.ca/where-to-watch-2016-broadcast-information/ Where to watch: 2016 Broadcast information 2017-08-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20170511015330/http://www.cfl.ca/where-to-watch-2016-broadcast-information/ 2017-05-11 dead http://espnmediazone.com/us/weekly-updates/espn-thisweek-july-26-2016/#e Sunday's CFL Contest Between the Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa REDBLACKS Now on ESPN2 2016-08-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20160821143010/http://espnmediazone.com/us/weekly-updates/espn-thisweek-july-26-2016/#e 2016-08-21 dead
#002147 # white Games played with colour uniforms.
white # #002147 Games played with white uniforms.
Team
The team was led at quarterback by Ricky Ray, who had three statistically brilliant seasons between 2012 and 2014, earning eastern Most Outstanding Player nominations in the latter two years. Ray battled injuries in each of his five seasons as an Argonaut and has not played an entire 18 game season since his last season in Edmonton. Following the departure of Trevor Harris to the Ottawa RedBlacks in early 2016, the backup QB situation was a bit of a revolving door; with Logan Kilgore, Dan LeFevour, Cody Fajardo, and Drew Willy all taking snaps under centre.https://www.cfl.ca/2016/09/11/bombers-trade-willy-to-toronto-acquire-glenn/ Blue Bombers ship Willy to Argos; acquire Glenn in trade with Als 2016-09-11 CFL.ca 2016-10-04
The receiving corps remained largely unchanged from the previous season with Tori Gurley, Kevin Elliott, and Vidal Hazelton (The Big Three) returning after posting productive seasons in 2015, also returning to the receiving group were Diontae Spencer and Kenny Shaw. On October 3, 2016, the team announced they had released Gurley, Elliott, and Hazelton, along with Phil Bates.https://www.cfl.ca/2016/10/03/argos-release-receiving-trio-elliott-hazelton-and-gurley/ Argos release receiving trio of Elliott, Hazelton and Gurley 2016-10-03 CFL.ca 2016-10-04 The move was considered a shock by most, but post-game comments by Scott Milanovich in Montreal on October 2, 2016 following a loss to the Als revealed the move which was about to take place was about more than just on-field issues. "We've got some good football players here that I'm not sure are real committed to what we need to have take place, and it's little things; being late, not showing up prepared, screwing around and that's where we're at right now, it's not going to stay that way."
Running back Brandon Whitaker was leaned on heavily and was having a productive season. He finished second in the league in rushing yards with 1009 on 186 carries, which was his second career 1000-yard rushing season, earning him a third consecutive Eastern All-Star award.https://www.cfl.ca/2016/11/09/shooting-stars-cfl-divisional-all-stars-announced/ Stars Aligned: CFL Divisional All-Stars announced 2016-11-09 CFL.ca 2016-12-01
On the defensive side of the ball, following last season's departure of star defensive linemen Cleyon Laing and Tristan Okpalaugo to the NFL's Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals respectively, the Argos were able to secure the services of Justin Hickman and Bryan Hall from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, as well as trade OL Matt Sewell and QB Mitchell Gale to the Saskatchewan Roughriders for DE Shawn Lemon and a conditional 2018 draft pick.https://www.tsn.ca/riders-trade-lemon-to-argos-for-sewell-gale-1.519857 Riders trade Lemon to Argos for Sewell, Gale 2016-07-02 2016-10-04 bot: unknown https://web.archive.org/web/20160702232817/http://www.tsn.ca/riders-trade-lemon-to-argos-for-sewell-gale-1.519857 July 2, 2016 Lemon seemed to fit into Defensive Coordinator Rich Stubler's system well, as he finished with 14 sacks (career high) in 16 games and earned his first East Division All-Star nomination.
Roster
2016 Toronto Argonauts final roster Quarterbacks
10 I Logan Kilgore
18 I Dan LeFevour
15 I Ricky Ray
2 I Drew Willy
Running backs
38 N Declan Cross
43 N Alexandre Dupuis
34 I Ben Malena
3 I Brandon Whitaker
Receivers
1 N Anthony Coombs
32 N Andre Durie
6 N Brian Jones
84 N Llevi Noel
80 I DeVier Posey
8 I Kenny Shaw
85 I Diontae Spencer
11 I Devon Wylie Offensive linemen
67 N Jamal Campbell T
57 N Tyler Holmes G
61 N Sean McEwen C/G
65 N D. J. Sackey G
52 N Wayne Smith G
62 I Greg Van Roten C/T/G
54 N Chris Van Zeyl T
56 N Corey Watman G
Defensive linemen
97 I Ken Bishop DT
4 I Bryan Hall DT
7 I Justin Hickman DE
40 I Shawn Lemon DE
93 I Eric Martin DE
98 I Tracy Robertson DT Linebackers
41 I Kyler Elsworth
30 I Thomas Gordon
27 N Cory Greenwood
36 I Marshall McFadden
48 N Thomas Miles
45 N Curtis Newton
47 N James Yurichuk
Defensive backs
37 I Marcus Alford
33 I Aaron Berry
39 N Matt Black
46 N Michael Carter
5 N Jermaine Gabriel
24 I A. J. Jefferson
19 I Devin Smith Special teams
70 N Lirim Hajrullahu K/P
58 N Jake Reinhart LS
Practice roster
23 I Ri'shard Anderson DB
90 I Trevonti Barber LB
86 N Kevin Bradfield SB
69 N Joe Circelli G
83 I Chuck Jacobs WR
44 I Chad Kackert RB
88 I Jameon Lewis WR
89 I Joe Morgan WR
49 I Terrance Plummer LB
42 I Winston Rose DB
64 I Davonte Wallace G
63 I Brandon Washington G
82 N Malcolm Williams WR Injured list
59 N Josh Bourke T
92 I Troy Davis DE
17 I Cody Fajardo QB
95 N Ricky Foley DE
25 I Isaiah Green DB
28 I Brandon Isaac LB
29 I Josh Mitchell DB
9 I Akwasi Owusu-Ansah DB
26 I Joe Rankin DB
35 I Rod Sweeting DB
75 N Cameron Walker DE
99 N Daryl Waud DT
Suspended
I Da'Rick Rogers WR
Italics indicate international player
Transactions (cfl.ca)
Coaching staff
2016 Toronto Argonauts staff Front office and support staff
Owner – Larry Tanenbaum / Bell Media
President and ceo – Michael Copeland
Special advisor – Michael Clemons
General manager – Jim Barker
Director of football operations – Ian Sanderson
Director of player personnel – Chris Rukavina
US Scouting Coordinator - Spencer Zimmerman
Director canadian scouting – Vince Magri
Consultant, Football Operations – Nick Volpe
Equipment manager – Danny Webb
Assistant equipment manager – Tom Bryce
Head athletic therapist – Scott Shannon
Assistant athletic therapist – Josh Shewell Head coaches
Head coach – Scott Milanovich
Offensive coaches
Offensive coordinator – Marcus Brady
Running backs – Anthony Ierullo
Receivers – Taylor Stubblefield
Offensive line – Mike Preston
Defensive coaches
Defensive coordinator – Rich Stubler
Defensive Line - Kit Lathrop
Linebackers – D. J. Wingate
Defensive Backs - Jordan Younger
Special teams coaches
Special teams coordinator – Kelly Jeffrey
Assistant special teams – Bradley Daye
→ Coaching staff
References
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Category:Toronto Argonauts seasons
Category:2016 Canadian Football League season by team
Toronto Argonauts
Category:2016 in sports in Ontario