ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO– Sunday’s matchup between the Toronto Argonauts and the Montreal Alouettes is a true historic battle at the quarterback position. For the last decade, Ricky Ray and Anthony Calvillo have been two of the top quarterbacks in the CFL, and they meet again at Percival Molson Stadium…
On the other side of the ball is Montreal’s Anthony Calvillo. Calvillo sits second in the CFL in passing with 3,396 yards, trailing TiCats pivot Henry Burris who has already played his week 13 game.
In his last start against Toronto, Calvillo threw for 317 yards, but only finished with a passer rating of 81.2. He completed only 25 of 42 passes on the day for a 59.5% completion percentage.
The Argos defence was able to disrupt Calvillo as the 59.5% is one of only four games Calvillo has fisnished with a completion percentage of under 60.
Calvillo threw for only one TD pass on the day and was also picked off by Pat Watkins in the end zone on a ball intended for Jamel Richardson.
A key for the Argos will be stopping the returning Brandon London. Last time the Argos and Als met, London had five catches for 102 yards, consistently torching the Argos secondary deep down the field.
With the recent injury to Brandon Whitaker, expect the Als to lean even more on Pro Footballs All-Time leading passer.
The acquisition of Ricky Ray has been a massive component to the Argos turnaround campaign, as a year ago at this time the club was 2-9 heading into week 11.
Ray currently sits just 32 passing yards behind Calvillo, who has a total of 3,396 yards through the air. Since week 10, Ray has thrown for 300+ yards in three consecutive games; the first time he has hit that mark as a member of the Double Blue.
Dating back to the 2008 season, Ray’s travels to Montrealhave not exactly been successful. In his last five visits to McGill Stadium, Ray’s record sits at 1-4, with his only win coming as an Argonaut. Personally, Ray has played relatively well recording 240+ yards in four of the five games,but only managing to throw a total of 4 touchdowns in five game. Two of those came earlier this season.
The last time Ray and the Double Blue travelled to Montreal in week five, Ray completed 20 of 30 passing attempts for 280 yards and found Chad Owens in the end zone twice. Ray’s performance in week five was also the last time he threw multiple touchdowns in a game.
Speaking of Owens, if Ray is able to find him for at least 62 yards worth of receptions on Sunday afternoon, Owens will become the Argos first 1,000 yard receiver since the 2008 season (Arland Bruce III).