ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – The Canadian Football League announced the Argonauts’ team award nominees for the 2013 Gibson’s Finest CFL Player Awards. Coming off an incredible performance in week 18, in which the Argonauts locked up first place in the East Division, QB Ricky Ray has received his first Argos team nomination for Most Outstanding Player. Andre Durie has also received his second consecutive unanimous nomination as the Argos’ Most Outstanding Canadian Player.
The players were selected by voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and the CFL head coaches. In this first ballot, FRC representatives from each CFL city plus the respective head coach submitted votes for the six categories. Voters were asked to select players from their local CFL club who through on-field performance and excellence, best represent the awards’ titled – Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Canadian Player, Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Most Outstanding Lineman, Most Outstanding Rookie, and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
Here are the Toronto Argonauts’ 2013 nominees in each category:
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AWARD |
PLAYER |
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Outstanding Player: |
QB Ricky Ray |
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Outstanding Canadian: |
SB Andre Durie* |
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Outstanding Defensive Player: |
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Outstanding Lineman: |
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Outstanding Special Teams Player: |
K/P Swayze Waters |
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Outstanding Rookie: |
WR John Chiles |
* – unanimous selection
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QB Ricky Ray has been selected as the Argos’ nominee for the Most Outstanding Player award. This is the seventh time Ray has been his team’s nominee for the award (six prior nominations as a member of the Edmonton Eskimos). Ray was named CFL Player of the Week twice in 2013 for his performance in week one (1) against Hamilton when he had 368 yards and four (4) touchdowns, as well as in week 18 when he threw for a career high 505 yards and three (3) touchdowns. Though Ray only played in ten (10) games this season, his accuracy at the position will go down in CFL history. In 2013, Ray has completed 77.2% of his passes (234-of-303) which will break the All-Time CFL Record of 74% held by Dave Dickenson. Ray has passed for 2,878 yards (4th in the CFL), 21 touchdowns and only two (2) interceptions. Ray’s touchdown to interception ratio (21:2) is the best amongst all CFL quarterbacks this season, and his 126.4 QB Rating is both the highest in the CFL and the highest of his career. Ray also put his name in Argonaut record books by breaking multiple club records including:
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SB Andre Durie has received the Argos’ nomination for Most Outstanding Canadian for the second straight season. In 2013, Durie has established himself as an elite receiver in the CFL and cemented himself as one of the best in the league with the ball in his hands in the open field. Durie currently leads the CFL in yards after the catch (YAC) by a large margin with 718 (next closest player is teammate Chad Owens at 508). He currently sits first on the team in receiving yards (986) and second on the team in receptions (92). He has also added three touchdowns this season. Playing his hybrid RB/SB position, Durie has also added 16 carries for 107 yards so far in 2013. His receiving yards total is good for second amongst all Canadians. Durie earned CFL Canadian Player of the Week honours in week 3 of this season for his seven (7) catch – 100 yard, one (1) touchdown game against the Roughriders. |
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LB Robert McCune experienced a career year with the Boatmen in 2013. Starting 16 games this season, McCune currently sits second in the CFL with 99 tackles as the man in the middle for Chris Jones’ linebacking unit. His 99 tackles through 17 games are a career high, team high, and 30 more than any other Argonauts defender. The team’s defensive captain has also had four (4) sacks in 2013 which ties him for second on the team, and chipped in with an interception in week 18 in a win against Winnipeg. This is the first time that McCune has been named the Argos’ nominee for Outstanding Defensive Player and the first time in his career that he has been nominated for a team award. |
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C Jeff Keeping has been a staple on the Argos’ offensive line all season, snapping for both QB Ricky Ray and Zach Collaros. Starting all 18 games so far for the Boatmen, Keeping is part of an offensive line that has blocked for multiple running backs in 2013 and has seen five (5) separate players who are expected to finish the season with over 100 total rushing yards on the year (Kackert, Collaros, Norwood, Steele & Durie). Keeping is also part of an offensive line unit that allowed only 45 sacks thus far, fourth best in the CFL and second fewest allowed in the East. This is the first time Keeping has been named the Argos’ nominee for Most Outstanding Lineman and his first nomination since 2005 when he was named the Argos’ nominee for Most Outstanding Rookie. |
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K/P Swayze Waters has found his stride in Double Blue since returning from the 9-game injured list. With his booming leg, Waters currently sits atop the CFL in punting average at 46.5 yards per punt for a total of 2,094 yards on 45 punts and four (4) singles. He has also improved on his directional and situation punting improving his Net Average to 43.4 thus far in 2013. Waters put his power on display in week 13 when he connected on an 80-yard punt, the longest punt in the 2013 CFL season thus far. On field goals in 2013, Waters has connected on 18 of 25 attempts for a 72% completion percentage entering the final week, with a long of 50 in week 14 against Edmonton. He is part of a kicking unit that is fourth in the league in most field goals with 33. Waters does more than kick as he has added four (4) special teams tackles this season. This is the first time Waters has been named the Argos’ nominee for Most Outstanding Special Teams Player. |
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Rookie WR John Chiles burst onto the scene in 2013 and has received the Argos’ nomination for Most Outstanding Rookie. Chiles immediately became a favourite target of whichever Quarterback the Argos lined up behind centre. Of his eight (8) touchdowns in 2013, five (5) came from QB Zach Collaros, while three (3) came from the arm of Ricky Ray. Entering this week, he leads all CFL rookies with 8 receiving touchdowns and is second among all CFL rookies in total touchdowns scored (8). Chiles had a dominant mid-season stretch from week 10 to week 13 when he caught a touchdown pass in four straight weeks. His best game, however, came in week eight (8) when he had five (5) receptions for 135 yards in a 36-33 win over Edmonton. |