Milanovich says Argos need wins, no matter where
TORONTO — Scott Milanovich says the Toronto Argonauts didn’t come into this Canadian Football League season looking to be a .500 team, but that’s where they sit as they chase their first win in their new home.
Toronto hosts the Montreal Alouettes on Monday night in its third game at BMO Field. While the Argos (2-2) boast a perfect road record, they’re 0-2 so far this season at Exhibition Place.
The Argos kicked off the 2016 season dropping a 42-20 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at BMO Field, then lost a 30-20 decision to the Ottawa Redblacks on July 13 in their last game.
“It’s important to get a win. Period,” said Milanovich, Toronto’s head coach. “(When) you’re 2-2, it means you’re average and we didn’t start off the season to be average.
“Obviously, getting one at home, there’s that much more pressure because we want to do well in front of our fans.”
Montreal (1-2) is coming off a 31-7 home loss to Hamilton on July 15. Quarterback Kevin Glenn returns under centre after not playing versus the Ticats due to an inflamed eye.
Rakeem Cato earned the start and was 18-of-25 passing for 203 yards as Hamilton took control of the game by outscoring Montreal 26-3 in the second half. He was replaced by youngster Vernon Adams Jr., who was 4-of-9 passing for 35 yards.
Montreal is averaging a CFL-low 14 points per game and will be without slotback S.J. Green and tailback Tyrell Sutton, who are both on the injured list.
Anthony Calvillo, pro football’s all-time passing leader, is in his first season as the Als’ offensive co-ordinator.
Regardless of Montreal’s offensive struggles, Milanovich said he has a healthy respect Glenn and veteran receivers Duron Carter and Nik Lewis, who’ve both publicly lashed out regarding the Alouettes’ offensive struggles thus far.
“Duron is as talented a receiver as there is in this league . ... You just can’t play him one on one or he’s going to get his opportunities,” Milanovich said.
“Nik is as good an all-round football player as this league has (and) Kevin Glenn over the past 10 years has been one of the top quarterback in our league.
“Our defence will certainly have its hands full.”
Still, Montreal has recorded just two passing TDs and their passing average is a league-low 7.1 yards per play. The Als are averaging 282.7 passing yards, ahead of only Toronto, and 336.7 total yards offensive.
So far this season, Toronto quarterback Ricky Ray has completed 86-of-122 passes (70.5 per cent) for 1,000 yards with six TDs and just one interception. Ray, 36, missed most of the 2015 campaign recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.
Against Ottawa, Ray moved into fourth in all-time CFL passing yards and needs one more TD pass to move past Damon Allen (77) into second in club history behind Condredge Holloway (97).
But Milanovich feels Toronto has been its own worst enemy in its losses.
“The positive thing is you can see what we can be if we get out of our own way,” he said. Ray agrees. “We haven’t played one of our games where we feel really really good about it.” Ray said. “It’s just coming down to a handful of plays where we’re just not executing, whether it’s missed assignments, a penalty or just making a bad play.
“We just haven’t played well enough at home our first two games.”