For many CFL fans it was the news they didn’t want to hear; the Toronto Argonauts were resting Chad Kelly for Friday night’s game in Winnipeg.
Cameron Dukes was not one of those who was disappointed.
The rookie Argo quarterback will get the nod in a long-anticipated rematch of last year’s Grey Cup combatants; a Toronto victory Kelly played an instrumental role in.
“It’s just everything I’ve worked for, I mean, it’s exciting,” the Shepherdsville, Kentucky native told reporters. “The circumstances that it comes in is obviously great for the team. I’ve got great guys around me; I’ve just got to get the ball into the playmakers’ hands and stay efficient. I’m looking forward to it.”
To paraphrase Robert Frost, Dukes’ road to the CFL is one less travelled by. Not many have come from the NAIA via the Indoor Football League, but that’s been the path he’s taken.
He led Lindsey Wilson College to its first ever National Championship, being named his division’s Offensive Player of the Year as well as the Offensive Player of the Game when they won the title.
It’s still a long way from the CFL, especially with an announced sell-out crowd in Winnipeg for Friday’s game. Argonauts.ca asked Dukes what’s the biggest crowd he’s ever played before?
“This one, this week,” he said, breaking into a laugh. “I’m definitely excited for it. Being from a small school I never was in front of the big SEC crowds. It’s always been my dream; watching it on TV, the big crowds, everybody’s being electric, the noise. I’m looking forward to it, it’s going to be a great time.”
Head Coach Ryan Dinwiddie likes Dukes. In training camp, it was fait accompli that Kelly would be the starter, but the battle for the lead backup role was wide open between Dukes, fellow newcomer Bryan Scott, and returning QB Ben Holmes.
When the dust settle Dukes and Scott were in the two and three slots, while Holmes was released.
What did Dinwiddie see in Dukes?
“I think Cam can create,” he replied when asked by Argonauts.ca. “I thought he did a good job of that in the pre-season when things broke down. I just think he’s got a little athleticism to him that’s a different skill set. You watch Bryan (Scott) and how he operates, Bryan’s been doing a good job as well, so it’s close. We feel good about each one of them. Cam’s got our short yardage and he’s got more playing time, so we want to get him out there and get him comfortable and see what we’ve got.”
Dukes is ready for the game, but is he ready for the game?
His positional coach thinks so.
“We prepare for this,” quarterbacks coach Mike Miller told Argonauts.ca. “I know he and Bryan (Scott) both are excited for when and if (they get the chance to play) the rest of this season. They’ve both worked hard.”
Miller has worked with some of the best quarterbacks in the sport. His most notable stops came in Montreal as the offensive coordinator and QB coach with Anthony Calvillo, and with Arizona in the NFL, where he worked with Kurt Warner as the passing game coordinator then offensive coordinator, reaching the Super Bowl during his time there.
His best advice to a young QB making his first pro start?
“Trust in our preparation,” he said matter-of-factly. “Be disciplined in our rules, play within what the scheme provides, and execute. That’s it. You have to be a leader and communicate, and obviously going into Winnipeg is loud, so you’re going to have to handle all that kind of stuff too, but just trust in our preparation.”
The learning curve has been steady for Dukes, who says the biggest thing he’s gained an understanding of is something that most rookies point to.
“The speed of the game, the timing of throws. You’ve got to be on time, you’ve got to be sure with your reads and you’ve just got to trust what you’re seeing; trust your eyes and trust the guys around you that are going to make plays.”
Dukes has earned enough trust from Ryan Dinwiddie to earn the start Friday in Winnipeg. He’ll be looking to repay the coaching staff and his teammates for giving him that vote of confidence.