When the Toronto Argonauts elected to pass up on quarterback Trevor Harris for the aging (if talented) Ricky Ray, it was a gamble on their future. Harris performed relatively well during his first year as a starter in the CFL, even showing some brilliance in games, but he also looked green in others. That’s to be expected any time you bring in someone new. But it’s especially important given how important the Argonauts passing offence will be in the coming season.
Harris finished third in the league in total passing yards with 4,354 and first in total passing touchdowns with 33. Those aren’t numbers to be taken lightly. They were nearly identical to Ray’s 4,595 passing yards in 2014, and Harris actually had five more passing touchdowns than Ray, who had 28 in 2014.
Harris also had a better passing rating in 2015 compared to Ray’s rating in 2014. Now you would be a fool to flat out say Harris is the better option, but a year or two down the road, you might have some ground to stand on.
Ricky Ray is proven, he’s a winner, he is going to the CFL hall of fame. Trevor Harris might be that guy as well, but we just don’t know yet. And we are not likely to find out this season, either, as he’s heading to Ottawa to be Henry Burris’ back up. The Argos very well could be mortgaging their future by not re-signing Harris, but thinking of the future is not what this season is about.
The Argos management knows that 2016 is about putting the most exciting product on the field they can. That’s what will make this season a success, and Ray has the highest potential to bring them that.
This is not like any other season we’ve seen for a CFL team. Winning the Grey Cup is the ultimate goal, of course, for any team. But in Toronto it’s about putting people in the seats at the newly renovated BMO Field. A healthy Ricky Ray leading a successful, exciting passing attack will get people excited.
Ray will have weapons at his disposal, of course. Kevin Elliot had 50 catches for 642 yards and eight touchdown receptions. Tori Gurley is also a handful to cover: the 6’4″ wideout had 58 grabs for 791 yards and 10 touchdowns last season with the Argos. Vidal Hazelton is another big receiver for Ray to target. Last season he amassed 70 catches for 803 yards and six touchdowns.
The double blue also bolstered their air attack in the first round of the draft, taking 6’4″ 230 lbs Brian Jones out of Acadia with the fourth overall pick. The former Axeman had 45 catches for 630 yards in the CIS last season. Argos GM Jim Barker was on record stating,”we expect him to contribute immediately.”
Chad Owens, a familiar weapon for Ray, is gone of course. He was not offered a deal and signed with the rival Ticats. The elusive slotback will be missed, but this was a gamble to get some fresher legs out on the field for Ray, as the double blue are going for younger, bigger targets.
Running back Brandon Whitaker will also be returning for the Argos. Ray will rely on him heavily for pass protection, and when the opportunity presents itself, Whitaker showed his ability last season to roll out into the flats for a screen.
If the Argos are going to make some noise this year, it will come down to the passing attack. The new management desperately needs BMO to be full. The offence has been retooled and reloaded for – maybe – another magical season. This is a team that brought Ray in to help the program become something better in 2012, and he delivered, helping the Argos to the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto.
If Ray can stay healthy and the pass protection can stay clean, it’s not that absurd to say that the Argos are going to be in the hunt for the east division crown.
(stats provided by CFL.ca)
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