Toronto Argonauts’ quarterback Chad Kelly has impressed a franchise legend in his first two games as the team’s starter.
Legendary dual-threat QB Damon Allen is scheduled to be enshrined as an All-Time Argo at halftime of Monday’s clash with the B.C. Lions. He’s been paying close attention to Kelly’s rise and has nothing but positive things to say about the young pivot.
“Boy, he’s doing a really good job. His confidence in himself and his ability to throw the ball down the field and to be aggressive as a quarterback; what can you say?” Allen told TSN 1050 earlier this week. “I think he’s just gonna get better and better because now he’s in the position to be the starting quarterback.”
Through two games, Kelly has completed 27-of-46 passes (58.7 percent) for 502 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while rushing eight times for 52 yards and three scores on the ground. The result has been a pair of wins, with Toronto outscoring opponents 75-45.
The 29-year-old is in his second CFL season, having taken over the Argos’ starting job after veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson left for the USFL. He started just one game in 2022, going 23-of-35 for 264 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while rushing six times for 35 yards and a score in the regular-season finale against Montreal, but rose to prominence after coming off the bench to secure an upset Grey Cup victory against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The offseason was rife with debate about whether Kelly was ready for the increased role but Allen believes he has risen to the challenge.
“It’s a different thing than coming off the bench and playing a few series or playing three minutes of the game. Yes, it’s different because now you’re starting quarterback and you have to be able to adjust and see and figure out, especially in the first quarter, if they’re playing the same way you prepared for all week,” he explained. “You have the potential to make those adjustments and to follow the game plan. So far, he’s doing a great job and they’re undefeated.”
Few are more qualified than Allen to speak on the quality of a quarterback’s play. The Cal-State Fullerton product played 23 seasons in the CFL, throwing for a then-pro football record of 72,381 yards, 394 touchdowns, and 278 interceptions while rushing for 11,920 yards and 93 scores on the ground.
Five of those seasons came with Toronto, where he won a Grey Cup in 2004 and his only Most Outstanding Player award in 2005. He remains the third-leading passer in Argonauts’ franchise history with 13,974 yards.
Kelly has a long way to go before he can claim to be in that echelon. Still, Allen believes watching him test a potent B.C. Lions’ defence that has allowed just a single touchdown this year will be worth the price of admission.
“I look forward to seeing all the fans. This gonna be a battle of the best teams in the CFL, so you should get your tickets and be down at BMO Field.”
The Argos (2-0) are scheduled to kick off against the Lions (3-0) at 7:00 p.m. EDT on July 3. The winner will be the last remaining undefeated team in the CFL.
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