Several seasons ago, your humble typist asked linebacker Toronto Argonauts linebacker Jason Pottinger about playing in a late-season game that meant nothing in the standings. After thinking about it for a second, the man who is now the president of the Argonauts Alumni Association replied “There are no ‘nothing’ games. Every play is on video, and video doesn’t lie and it lasts forever.”
That’s the approach Argo players will be taking when they take to the field in their season finale this Saturday in Calgary. As shown by their effort in Regina last week, the Boatmen still have plenty to play for.
Veterans want to remain in the good graces of management and the coaching staff, while for younger players it’s a chance to show what they can do in a game situation, rather than on the practice field.
The three quarterbacks who will play on Saturday, Jarret Doege, Tucker Horn, and Max Duggan, all have something to prove. Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie says the plan is to get all three some playing time.
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“Jarret will get the start,” Dinwiddie confirmed to Argonauts.ca. “We’ll see how that goes. He’ll probably play the first half, maybe into the second quarter, we’ll see how the game is going. Then Tucker will get the next shot, and then we want to see what Max can do. We’ll get him on the field for short yardage, he hasn’t been here long enough to give him a heavy load, but we want to get him on the field and get him comfortable in a CFL game.”
With an injury to Nick Arbuckle, Doege is suddenly the veteran of the group. While now in his third season in the CFL, last week’s start in Saskatchewan was just the fourth of his career. He’ll continue to get game reps as the starter on Saturday, but the Argos have been able to compile ample video on him and have an idea of what he can do now, and what his upside can be.
The same is not true for the other two quarterbacks as they’re still CFL newbies.
Horn has been the sometimes second, mostly third-string QB on the depth chart this season. He finally saw the field last week in Regina, completing four of his five passes for 35 yards. He was out of football for a year after starring at Trinity University, where he was named the conference’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player three times and led the Tigers to as many conference championship games.
After not playing anywhere in 2024, getting on the field last week and completing his first CFL pass was a fantastic feeling.
“It was awesome,” he said with a smile. “It’s kind of how I envisioned it in my head. I’ve been working hard to succeed when I do get my opportunity, so I wasn’t nervous. Mike (quarterbacks coach Miller) has prepared me really, really well, and I’ve learned from great quarterbacks in Chad (Kelly), Nick and Jarret.”
This week has been a bit different for the native of Graham, Texas, a two-hour drive due west of Dallas. Third-string QBs are regulated to just taking “mental reps” during practice. Quarterbacks who aren’t taking the snap during scrimmage stand behind the quarterback, usually the starter, sometimes the second stringer.
They’ll see the field the way the starter does, doing the footwork in the process, but won’t actually throw against the defence. The end of practice is the chance for the backups to throw, usually with other backup receivers.
This week was different for Horn. He had the chance to work against a defence and made the most of those valuable reps.
“This week it’s been a lot more physically taxing,” he explained to Argonauts.ca. “I’m actually getting in on reps, getting to see how things move, how fast they move, how I need to speed up my feet, progressing my reads, things like that. It’s been really, really good.”
Also expected to see some action on Saturday is newcomer Max Duggan, who signed with the Argos in late August. Of the three, Duggan has the highest pre-CFL profile. He led TCU to the NCAA championship game three years ago and was the runner-up to Caleb Williams for the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding player in college football.
This spring he played eight games for the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks, going 5-0 as a starter before heading north. He’s enjoyed his time in Toronto.
“It’s been awesome,” he told Argonauts.ca. “It’s a great group. It’s been a lot of fun learning the league and being a part of it. It will be fun to learn the league and figure out how guys play at this level and have success.”
Duggan was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 but was released after spending a year on the practice roster. He did get a taste of pro football in St. Louis before signing with the Argos in a league that should play to his mobility.
“It’s a little bit different,” he replied when asked of the adjustments he’s had to make to Canadian ball, “Twelve guys on the field, the waggle, the bigger field. At the end of the day it’s still football with a little bit of change.”
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Dinwiddie can relate to what the three young pivots are going through. He got his feet wet as a pro in Hamburg, Germany playing in NFL Europe before coming to Canada a season later. He knew he was going to get into each game because the league mandated that two QBs be used.
“In NFL Europe you played two quarterbacks, they wanted to evaluate them there,” Dinwiddie explained, “so I knew I was going to play. As a backup or a starter you’ve got to be prepared like you are the starter.
“At the same time, you’re trying to prove to the coaching staff that you’re a valuable asset that should compete for the starting quarterback job. They don’t have to be heroes, they just have to make the right throws, the right reads, and let the game come to them.”
As Pottinger said, video doesn’t lie, and it lasts forever. With a strong outing against the Stamps, the trio of young quarterbacks will give the coaching staff something positive to look at this off-season.