Toronto Argonauts Need to Protect Ricky Ray
By Lance Keiser
Ricky Ray was left relatively unprotected during the Toronto Argonauts innaugural game at BMO Field. The three time Grey Cup champion was feeling the pressure from the Hamilton defense every quarter.
For the Argos to get back on track against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the green and whites home opener there are two goals that the Argos must complete to have a chance. Keep Ray clean and comfortable, and get after Darian Durant.
The first game plan seems quite obvious. Ray isn’t young anymore, although he does still have some pocket presence, but his lack of mobility is what makes this matchup with the Riders so intriguing.
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Chris Jones is now in charge of the Riders D and knows as good as anyone that in a passing league such as the CFL that if you can’t get any rhythm with the passing game that you are going to have a very long night, failing that an even longer year.
As frustrating as the double blue’s home opener was to witness there was still some hope. The Argos were out played on every down of every play in the first half but managed to avoid the game turning into an embarrassment, more or less just a bump in the long road that is the 18 game CFL regular season.
Ray and the boatmen will be looking to rebound from the loss to the Ti-Cats with an outstanding effort of football against the Roughriders, what this will include is obvious, playing four full quarters, not just two like they did in week one.
The Argos were out scored in the first and fourth quarter by a combined margin of 22-0, the exact amount of points that the double blue lost by, 22.
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An effort like that against your rival at a new stadium in front of a great atmosphere is not how you, I, or anyone expected the Argos to come out with. It was embarrassing. In the first quarter for the fans who were finally promised a football experience to come out to BMO Field and watch the Ti-Cats systemically take apart the home side on special teams, and defensively suffocate the Argonauts, is unacceptable.
What can we take from the Argonauts loss in week one and apply to the matchup tonight against the Riders and week two? Nothing, consider this performance a nightmare, chalk it up to nerves or perhaps just gelling of the first unit as they really saw limited playing time with each other over the past year.
Next: 3 Takeaways from Argos Season Opener
Keep in mind Ray wasn’t healthy last season, this is the first time that he has reportedly been throwing pain-free in quite some time. Will we see him air it to his group of young big receivers and watch plays be made? Only if he can manage to stay off his back side.