GAME THREAD / Week 9 / Montreal @ Toronto

[Wobbler]

Dave Naylor is reporting that Ray is taking first team reps and throwing in practice today. Excellent.

[Stevoman]

Good news. We need a victory.

[BATKINSON001]

I don't think ray will start saturday but maybe the game after that if he is already throwing the ball a bit. team cannot afford to rush him back before he feels he is ready.

[gilthethrill]

I am so pumped to attend this game. Hopefully Cash and Posey will join Ray in the lineup. To echo Stevoman, yes we really do need this game.

[AngeloV]

I don't think ray will start saturday but maybe the game after that if he is already throwing the ball a bit. team cannot afford to rush him back before he feels he is ready.

If he's taking first team reps in an actual practice, and not just a walk through, he will definitely start. Of course, barring a set back. If he wakes up with pain after a day of actual throwing, then that might change the plan.

[1971GreyCup]

We'll watch this game on ESPN3 and report the experience. Not great in the past, but technology moves forward.

[doubleblue]

Dave Naylor is reporting that Ray is taking first team reps and throwing in practice today. Excellent.

I hope Dave has more concrete evidence this time around before issuing his Breaking News. lol

[Rich]

If he's taking first team reps in an actual practice, and not just a walk through, he will definitely start. Of course, barring a set back. If he wakes up with pain after a day of actual throwing, then that might change the plan.

Which would mean that Fajardo would start and be expected to perform at a high level, again without taking a full week of starters reps. If Ricky was at all borderline this week they should have rested him to make sure, if only to see what Fajardo can do with a full week of practice as a starter. Rushing Ricky back could be a lose-lose proposition.

[Wobbler]

I hope Dave has more concrete evidence this time around before issuing his Breaking News. lol

Heh.

He also mentioned that the OL has been working hard on pass protection this week. Which begs the question of what they've been working on during past weeks...

[AngeloV]

Heh.

He also mentioned that the OL has been working hard on pass protection this week. Which begs the question of what they've been working on during past weeks...

I took that as they were looking at different schemes.

[argopete]

The answer on Cody's been sitting in my inbox all dayI was just too busy to read it. In my regular email from the Argos, after saying Ray practised with the first team on Tuesday it says "If Ray remains injured, dual threat Cody Fajardo will have another opportunity to display his dynamic style of play after leading the team to 229 yards of offence in the 2nd half last week."

That's very complimentary and answers who starts behind Ray.


Excellent news

[jerrym]

With the Als trading Vernon Acams to the Riders, it looks like Willy will be the backup.

[Bleeds Double Blue]

Too bad they can't push the game back to Monday. A total solar eclipse would make for a hell of a half time show.

[Scooter McCray]

I hope Dave has more concrete evidence this time around before issuing his Breaking News. lol

He's still working on trying to destroy the Hamilton Tiger Cats by egging them on to sign Manziel. I believe that he wanted the Argos to sign Manziel earlier in the year. We would have had a crappy team but I guess the stadium would be full.

[Antwon]

Which would mean that Fajardo would start and be expected to perform at a high level, again without taking a full week of starters reps. If Ricky was at all borderline this week they should have rested him to make sure, if only to see what Fajardo can do with a full week of practice as a starter. Rushing Ricky back could be a lose-lose proposition.

Yes I hope they don't rush Ray back if he's not 100%. And give Fajardo the full practice reps.

But if they do start Ray I'm interested how Trestman will run the offence. If's it like every other game of 80% pass, then Ray will take more hits.
My fear is the Als will pin their ears back and attack Ray. They were back on their heals a bit last game when they had to respect Fajardo's running threat and the Argos push to run the ball more.
Hopefully Trestman sees that he needs a running game to keep the defense honest and Ray on his feet.

[AngeloV]

Yes I hope they don't rush Ray back if he's not 100%. And give Fajardo the full practice reps.

But if they do start Ray I'm interested how Trestman will run the offence. If's it like every other game of 80% pass, then Ray will take more hits.
My fear is the Als will pin their ears back and attack Ray. They were back on their heals a bit last game when they had to respect Fajardo's running threat and the Argos push to run the ball more.
Hopefully Trestman sees that he needs a running game to keep the defense honest and Ray on his feet.

Problem with that is when they were running the ball with Ray, they were getting 1 or 2 yards. What's worse for Ray than throwing every down (in terms of being a sitting duck), is having a lot of 2nd and long situations when the D knows the passing play will be a longer developing one. What the Argos really need to do is improve their hitch screen game. That will keep LB's honest as much as the run will.

[PullTogether73]

I'm still hopeful that they have Ricky run a naked bootleg on occasion to keep the defences honest.

[Argo]

Dave Naylor is reporting that Ray is taking first team reps and throwing in practice today. Excellent.

I think it likely that Ray will be knocked onto the shelf again in rather short order. Veteran pure pocket passer + porous O Line + extremely tenuous running game = bad news.

[timlb01]

We'll watch this game on ESPN3 and report the experience. Not great in the past, but technology moves forward.

Are you away in the States? I have at times been able to watch CFL games in the US on my computer on ESPN3 but lately I have had issues streaming them.

[jerrym]

Yes I hope they don't rush Ray back if he's not 100%. And give Fajardo the full practice reps.

But if they do start Ray I'm interested how Trestman will run the offence. If's it like every other game of 80% pass, then Ray will take more hits.
My fear is the Als will pin their ears back and attack Ray. They were back on their heals a bit last game when they had to respect Fajardo's running threat and the Argos push to run the ball more.
Hopefully Trestman sees that he needs a running game to keep the defense honest and Ray on his feet.

Problem with that is when they were running the ball with Ray, they were getting 1 or 2 yards. What's worse for Ray than throwing every down (in terms of being a sitting duck), is having a lot of 2nd and long situations when the D knows the passing play will be a longer developing one. What the Argos really need to do is improve their hitch screen game. That will keep LB's honest as much as the run will.

I'm still hopeful that they have Ricky run a naked bootleg on occasion to keep the defences honest.

I agree that the Argos have often been gaining only a few yards on running plays, but that speaks to the weakness of the OL that has also led to his being hit so often. Having Ray run injured bootlegs or doing much running in general I don't think is wise with him coming off an injury if he plays at all.