#ProTops: Dowling Set To Make CFL Debut vs. Edmonton

Tonight, Jonathan Dowling seems set in line to make his Canadian Football League debut against the Edmonton Eskimos, as he’s listed second…

Tonight, Jonathan Dowling seems set in line to make his Canadian Football League debut against the Edmonton Eskimos, as he’s listed second on the Argos’ depth chart.

Game Info:

Time: 8p.m. CT
Location: Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
TV: ESPN2

Dowling will become the first former Topper to play in the CFL this year, after Antwane Grant (formerly of the Saskatchewan Roughriders) was cut just a couple of weeks into preseason camp.

J-Dowl is behind former Mississippi DB Cassius Vaughn on the depth chart, who has so far made nine tackles and forced three fumbles through three games.

In what appears to be a bit of a notebook, the Toronto Sun reported how Dowling could fit in on the field for Toronto:

Jonathan Dowling will make his CFL debut as the Argos go with more height and athleticism on defence, where Dowling is listed on the depth chart as a backup to starting SAM linebacker Cassius Vaughan.

Dowling can also drop into the secondary, if need be, but he looms as a valuable special teams player.

It sounds like the Argos could use a bit of an upgrade — or at least a change — on defense, as they enter the matchup with Edmonton having allowed the most yards per game so far this year (434.7), with a bulk of that coming from the air (CFL-worst 306 passing yards allowed per game). It’ll be needed against the Eskimos, who boast the third-best overall offense (444.5 yards per game) and the top passing attack (342.5 ypg) in the league.

The run defense, has actually been pretty solid, but they still lie middle of the pack (sixth — 124 ypg) in the league.

I was talking with some Argos fans in various corners of the internet yesterday, and they seemed unsure of how much play he’d actually get, but here’s to hoping he sees the field, and that he can make something of a difference.