Argos relying on Ray-Trestman bond to lead turnaround
Ricky Ray and Marc Trestman are taking it slow.
The veteran Toronto Argonauts quarterback and the club’s new, QBfriendly head coach seem perfectly fit for each other. And the two didn’t over stress anything as the Argos’ quarterbacks and rookies assembled at York University on the first day of training camp.
Ray tossed very lightly, giving more reps to a solid group of backups that should be one of the strengths the Argos can boast after tying Saskatchewan for the worst record in the CFL in 2016.
But it is the presence of Trestman, who joined the team in February with GM Jim Popp, that will be a focal point for the Argos over the next three weeks.
“It all starts with Marc, he sets the tone,” Ray said Wednesday. “We have a lot of experienced coaches and they all do a good job but, for the most part, the next few weeks (of camp) are all about running Marc’s systems. We need to get everyone on the same page. But I’m excited to see how he does things and learn from him.”
The Argos, outside of Ray, were all business on the opening day of camp. The rookies, including offensive lineman Mason Woods, the team’s firstround draft pick, followed up a morning of introductions and video with some hardcore drills and play run-throughs. They will be joined by the veterans on Saturday.
Right now, the sure thing as far as the Argos are concerned is the RayTrestman relationship. Both are vet- erans of the CFL wars and both understand how to make the most of an offence.
The playbook, Ray said, will obviously feature new play and reads, but “if you look at it . . . it’s pretty much similar.”
The Argos, after a 5-13 season, are either retooling or rebuilding in several major areas, including the secondary, offensive line and receiving corps.
They’ll need to put up points, which is why Ray and Trestman represent such an important aspect of the team.
“Marc has a unique way of pulling all the quarterbacks together,” Popp said of his new head coach, who coached two of the GM’s three Grey Cup winners in Montreal and also served as either offensive co-ordinator or quarterbacks coach in the NFL with Miami, Tampa Bay, Detroit, San Francisco, Cleveland, Minnesota, Arizona, and Chicago.
“Marc’s a true pro, Ricky’s a true pro,” Popp said. “It will be a tremendous relationship, as it will be with all the quarterbacks. Marc does that well.”
A return to the Argos wasn’t an automatic decision for Ray, who had a good relationship with former coach Scott Milanovich. Ray, entering the last year of his contract, decided to come back early in the offseason but not before hearing what he needed to hear from Trestman and Popp.
Ray, sidelined by a fractured rib and a partially punctured lung, and later by a knee injury, appeared in just nine games in 2016, throwing for 2,397 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions. But at 37, with three Grey Cups and 54,833 career passing yards (fourth all time) on his resume, he doesn’t have to search for motivation.
“I love the game,” Ray said. “I feel I can compete, and that’s what drives you — to be successful at something you are good at. It’s great to be part of a competitive group, too. I don’t think long on that other stuff (age and accomplishments). I want to be playing football. I know my time is coming to an end, so I want to be out here, playing.”
Trestman doesn’t see Ray’s age as a factor.
“I don’t look at him as an old guy,” Trestman said. “There’s a lot of guys who play at a high level at 37 . . . so old is relative. I don’t think Ricky lives that (age), I don’t think he walks through life like that. He is excited to be there and that’s a good sign.”
If Ray should run into further health issues, Trestman and Popp appear to have a very strong supporting cast at quarterback, led by veteran Drew Willy.
Others include Cody Fajardo, Jeff Mathews, Dakota Prukop and McLeod Bethel-Thompson.