Ray Looks Forward To Esks Second Exhibition Game

21/06/2009 19:28

EDMONTON — Step aside Jared Zabransky. Make room Lester Ricard. It’s Ricky Ray’s time to play.

Edmonton Eskimos fans can expect to see, or at least hear, a lot from the No. 1 quarterback come Tuesday in their second Canadian Football League pre-season game, this time in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions.

Of course, the game is not broadcast, so you’ll have to rely on Bryan Hall’s call come the opening half of play, and then some as Ray prepares for the start of the regular season, which starts nine days later at home against Winnipeg.

How much time does the six-year veteran need in his first appearance?

“I’ve gone through several scenarios over the years,” said Ray, of his previous pre-season experiences. “My first year I played a little bit. My second year I played both (games). A couple of times I was hurt so I didn’t play very much at all.

“For me, I’m looking forward to getting out there and playing at least a half and then it will be up to the coaches. Typically, usually a half feels good to me.”

Feel being the operative word as No. 15 settles in behind centre and looks to find his rhythm and touch. Ray isn’t known for overwhelming defences with his arm strength, but he can kill you with his pinpoint accuracy.

But it takes time to find that rhythm, especially when you don’t play a single second of the first exhibition game, a 45-12 win over Saskatchewan on Wednesday.

“I’m not the most fundamentally-oriented quarterback or have the best mechanics. I have to overcome a few lack of abilities there,” he chuckled. “I’m more of a touch guy. I don’t have the strongest arm, but I try to make up for that with decision making and accuracy.

“You have to try to play to the strengths of your game and not try and play out of what you have. Try and do what you do out there, and not do too much, I guess.”

Ray has looked good in scrimmages, airing balls in where Ray is known to drop them right in the receivers’ arms. His feel has been bang on and he’s bulked up during the off-season.

Now he finally gets his chance to play against a true opponent, 20 days after he first reported to quarterbacks and rookie camp on June 3.

“I’m ready to get back out there and get into game-like situations. Practice is practice, we’re not getting hit back there,” said Ray. “It will be nice to get in there where guys are coming after you and you have to make some decisions and take a few hits.”

Backup QBs Zabransky, Ricard and Jason Maas didn’t take many of them in that opening win. But Game 2 will be more about veterans, for both the Eskimos and Lions.

“Their starters are going to be playing a bit more. They’re going to be doing more things on defence that we haven’t seen. It will be more of a challenge than we saw in the first game,” insisted Ray.

One interested observer will be Esks head coach Richie Hall, who finally gets his No. 1 pivot into play.

“Whatever he feels comfortable with. I’d like to see him get at least a half, being that he didn’t play the first game,” said Hall. “If not, maybe a bit more than a half come in and play a bit of the third quarter.

“Ricky’s going to play and some of the veterans will get more time than they got last week as well.”

Esks on injury watch.

SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:

As long as the Eskimos have Ricky Ray playing quarterback, they’ll always have a chance.