Daniele Franceschi – Argos Admirals Insider
TORONTO – By football standards, 292 yards passing and zero turnovers is not necessarily a poor quarterbacking performance. In fact, this particular stat line usually coincides with that of a winning quarterback. However, this was not the case for Argonauts starting pivot Ricky Ray last week. Despite completing 28 of 36 pass attempts (78%) and accounting for 305 yards of total offence, Ray was on the losing end of a 34-15 score line in week three.
In terms of offensive execution, Ray was disappointed by the Argonauts’ lack of success in the red zone. The Boatmen failed to record a touchdown against Rich Stubler’s hard-hitting, fast-paced defensive unit. Frustrated by Saturday’s embarrassing loss, Ray did not hesitate to acknowledge his team’s poor offensive outing and affirms that an improved effort is required in order to emerge victorious this week against the Ottawa RedBlacks.
“We just didn’t do a good job of executing in those areas. We gave ourselves some opportunities in the red zone and just didn’t capitalize,” commented Ray. “Those situations are wins for the opposing defence. When they hold you to a field goal, it becomes really frustrating. We need to do a better job of executing and find the end-zone.”
In many ways, Ray is the Argos’ epitome of consistency. From his unflappable demeanor, to his remarkable on-field exploits, Ray is one of the most reliable quarterbacks in the Canadian Football League. Week-in and week-out, he simply goes about his business and prepares for the task at hand.
When all is said and done, Ray will likely be recognized as one of the greatest signal caller’s in pro football history. The manner in which he commands the huddle and orchestrates methodical offensive sequences is truly remarkable. It is no coincidence that he is often referred to as “The Professor”.
Since joining the Double Blue prior to the 2012 CFL season, Ray has experienced tremendous success within Scott Milanovich’s pass-heavy offensive system. In 28 regular season contests, the Happy Camp, California native, has completed nearly 74 per cent of his pass attempts for a grand total of 7,919 yards, while registering 46 touchdown passes and yielding just 13 interceptions.
Statistically, the Argos’ offence has been one of the most dominant units in the Canadian Football League over the course of the past three seasons. Nevertheless, there is always room for improvement. Every team has flaws. For the Boatmen, perhaps the lone fault within their explosive offensive system stems from an unbalanced pass-to-run ratio. On average, Ray has thrown approximately 385.5 passes per season since making the transition from Edmonton to Toronto. Consequently, the Argonauts’ offence has finished last in the CFL in rushing attempts over the course of the past two seasons.
Speaking to reporters following Tuesday’s practice, Ray delved into the nuances of the Boatmen’s complex read-option schemes. While an improved rushing attack would certainly ease the load off of his shoulders, the 12-year CFL veteran is confident that the Argonauts will be able to establish an effective offensive balance. This week, the Boatmen will again use RB Curtis Steele in the starting spot, but Argos fans will have their first opportunity to see RB Steve Slaton who will make his CFL debut against Ottawa.
“I feel like we’ve had enough balance. A lot of our run plays are pass-run options where I have the ability to pull it based on what the defensive end is doing,” stated Ray. “We are calling the runs but it just happens to be that I’ve been able to pull the football and get some of our passing game involved in that manner. We definitely want to be balanced and have two equally formidable methods of attack.”
Often times, the most minor miscues become magnified when they occur in defeat. Scott Milanovich’s offence is very detail-oriented, and therefore it is relatively easy to pinpoint the numerous errors that are committed throughout the course of a game. It may sound cliché, but truthfully, wins and losses are determined by the details. The great teams are those that collectively possess a unique mindset regarding the importance of preparation.
“It’s time to pick up our intensity and refine our execution. We’re not that far off. That’s the hard thing about losing. It comes down to little things and they really make a big difference in the outcome of a game,” said Ray. “We just need to focus a little better and eliminate the mistakes that we’re making out there. You’re not going to eliminate all of them but if you eradicate a few, you’re going to give yourself a better chance to win.”
As the Argonauts continue to prepare for this Friday’s divisional showdown with the Ottawa REDBLACKS, Ray will be without three of his top receiving targets. Slotback’s Andre Durie and Chad Owens will be sidelined for the foreseeable future while the severity of Jason Barnes’ lower-body injury remains unclear. Despite the Boatmen’s injury woes, Ray refuses to make any excuses. The Double Blue embodies a “Next Man Up” mentality and the Argos’ 34-year-old signal caller is confident that he and his teammates will be ready to rebound following last week’s sub-par offensive performance.
“Anytime one of your starters isn’t out there, you’re going to miss them,” admitted Ray. “That’s why they’re out there in the first place. However, the motto here is, ‘Next Man Up’. We expect everybody to be locked in and ready to go.”
INSIDER EXTRA – Preparing For The Noise
It has been nearly eight years since a CFL game has been played in the nation’s capital. Friday night’s game in Ottawa will certainly be a momentous occasion as the REDBLACKS play host to the Argonauts at the newly renovated TD Place. As for Ricky Ray, this will not be the first time that he leads the Double Blue into hostile territory. The Boatmen have played in four playoff games over the course of the past two seasons, one of which took place at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. The most significant adjustment that teams make when it comes to contending with deafening noise is altering their snap count. When asked to comment regarding the various challenges that correspond with playing in an intimidating environment, Ray promptly responded, “There are a few things that we do in terms of communication and adjusting our snap counts.”
“We began the year in Winnipeg which is a pretty loud place to play. We do have in-game experience this season with the noise,” added Ray. “For us, it’s just about making sure we communicate. It’s going to be hard for the outside guys to hear so we have to echo the calls and make sure we’re all on the same page.”