"Ryan Dinwiddie criticizes Toronto Argonauts for showing 'insufficient bravery' in their defeat against Ottawa"
Toronto Argonauts Head Coach Ryan Dinwiddie Slams Lack of Mental Toughness and Accountability in Loss to Ottawa Redblacks
Ryan Dinwiddie, the head coach of the Toronto Argonauts, has criticized his players following a 46-42 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks, citing a lack of courage, accountability, and mental toughness as the primary reasons for the defeat.
In a post-game interview, Dinwiddie expressed his deep frustration, stating that the team had "some pretenders in the building" who talk big but do not show up on game day. He lamented that despite leading by 21 points early, the Argonauts failed to maintain the lead, surrendering six touchdowns and 373 passing yards.
The loss was particularly disappointing for Dinwiddie as it came after a back-and-forth game that Toronto could not close out. Critical mistakes, such as an objectionable conduct penalty that set up Ottawa at the one-yard line, leading to a late touchdown, played a significant role in the defeat.
Dinwiddie emphasized the importance of unity in the locker room, stating that "Can't bicker and point fingers - offence, defence, special teams, whatever." He urged his players to avoid assigning blame for the poor start and to focus on improving individually.
The Argonauts' struggles to handle adversity and lack of accountability were a recurring theme in Dinwiddie's critique. He emphasized that his message to the team was about commitment and love for the game, saying "if you don’t love it, let me know."
Despite the struggles, Dinwiddie did not express any intention of quitting as the head coach of the Argonauts. He suggested a drastic solution to improve tackling, such as a live scrimmage on Day 1 of the next week.
The Argonauts will visit the Edmonton Elks on Friday, August 15. The team is currently at the bottom of the East Division with a record of 2-7. The upcoming game against the Edmonton Elks will be a six-day week with West travel.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Dinwiddie has publicly criticized his players. In Week 3, he threatened to cut players and publicly criticized a lineman after a loss.
The Argonauts' special-teams coverage unit has allowed a pair of touchdowns and two kicks inside the 10-yard line in recent games. Chad Kelly, the franchise quarterback for the Argonauts, remains on the injured list with a broken leg suffered last year. Nick Arbuckle, the quarterback for the Argonauts, had a good performance, completing 84.2% of his passes, but committed a turnover.
Justin Hardy of the Redblacks scored a touchdown in the late stages of the fourth quarter, while Dustin Crum of the Redblacks scored a touchdown on a QB sneak, set up by an objectionable conduct penalty by Anthony Lanier.
In a positive note, the Toronto Argonauts managed to secure their first victory the week after Dinwiddie's rant. Dinwiddie acknowledged feeling frustrated with the team's performance, stating that he sounds like a "broken record talking to them after games." However, he emphasized his love for the game, stating "I know I love it, and I ain't gonna quit."
In the disappointing 46-42 loss against the Ottawa Redblacks, erratic play and a lack of mental toughness by the Toronto Argonauts' players came under fire, particularly from Head Coach Ryan Dinwiddie. Despite Nick Arbuckle's impressive 84.2% completion rate, an objectionable conduct penalty by Anthony Lanier set up a crucial touchdown for the Redblacks, highlighting the team's vulnerability in sports like football, specifically during field goal situations.
