Jul
Ray finds holes in zone
Courtesy Canada.com:
When a team has a quarterback who almost routinely passes for 5,000 yards in a season, along with a career completion average of nearly 70 per cent and a receiving corps that scares defences, opponents are reluctant to play man-to-man coverage on defence.
Thus, Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray usually faces zone defences and still finds ways to complete most of his passes.
“It’s the model of most teams against us, a lot of zone coverage,” said Ray, who — barring injury –will surpass career milestones of 30,000 passing yards and 2,500 completions this season.
“A lot of teams don’t like to play man the whole game. They’ll mix it in to keep you off-balance. Like Calgary last year, the first games I think we threw for almost 900 yards against them and they were a pressman team.
“The third game, they came out and played a lot of zone. That’s where we have to be better, hitting some of those windows and the receivers turning it up and picking up first downs.”
In his seventh season with the Eskimos, Ray needs 278 completions to top 2,500 and 2,226 yards to reach the 30,000 mark.
ROOKIE STRUTS HIS STUFF
Richie Hall wasn’t tipping his hand totally, but he did indicate he was leaning toward starting Elliott Richardson at safety in place of injured veteran Scott Gordon.
Richardson and Jason Nugent have been battling for the right to start Thursday’s game against the Montreal Alouettes, and Hall said it’s a “good chance” the rookie Richardson will get the nod.
“He’s had a good training camp, playedwell. Nugent did a good job, but right now, Elliott is a little ahead.”
Nugent, however, said he’s ready to go whether he gets the starting assignment or is rotated in during the game.
“I just want the ‘W,’ that’s all that matters. I can play special teams, safety, whatever they want me to do. I’ve been watching films, studying my notes, listening to what the coaches say, trying to learn all the tendencies. I’m going to be prepared if I get my shot.”
CHANGEUP IN THE BACKFIELD
The safety won’t be the only new starter in the defensive backfield. Veteran Lenny Williams, who missed most of training camp with a nagging injury and saw some action against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the season opener, will start in his familiar halfback slot. Rookie Lamar Herron will slip into a backup position.
“It feels good to have a guy with his experience,” rookie cornerback Bobby Keyes said of Williams return.
“The game slows down for him. For me, the game is still a bit fast.”
If Keyes thought the Winnipeg game was fast, wait until he hits the field in Montreal and has to cover Alouettes speedy receiver Kerry Watkins.
“It’s going to be a tough challenge, but I like my chances against a guy like him,” said Keyes. “No disrespect, he’s a great receiver, but I like our team and the way it’s set up.”
Hall said going against Watkins –and, at times, Ben Cahoon–will be a learning experience for Keyes.
“They’re going to isolate him one-on-one. He’s going to get an opportunity to make some plays, to challenge himself, and that’s what you want. At corner, you can quickly go from the penthouse to the outhouse.
“You’re all going to get beat. If you haven’t, then you haven’t played. It’s not that you get beat, it’s how you get beat and what you learn from it.”
