Logan Kilgore wastes no time putting shaky outing versus Winnipeg behind him

“We’re not going to change anything we do, we can’t afford to . . . because when Ricky is back we’ve got to continue to roll. We can’t all of a sudden become an extremely conservative offence and then switch another gear when he comes back. We’re going to take shots when we get a chance.”

Ray will miss a third straight start since suffering a sprained knee in Toronto’s 30-17 home win over Montreal on July 25. The Argos (4-3) took Ray off the six-game injured list this week and he could return Aug. 31 against B.C.

Toronto head coach Scott Milanovich said Kilgore didn’t change his approach against Winnipeg despite the interceptions.

“The thing I was proud of him for was even after he had a couple of interceptions he didn’t get tentative,” Milanovich said. “He’s got a bit of a gunslinger in him and I like that mentality.

“With any quarterback when you throw five it can shake you a bit but he came back strong this week.”

Toronto’s offence will be bolstered by the return of receivers Vidal Hazelton and Kevin Elliott. That’s significant because not only were Hazelton and Elliott first and third, respectively, in Argos receiving last year, both are six foot three and give Kilgore big options downfield.

“Both KE and Vidal are great at attacking the ball when it’s in the air,” Kilgore said. “It’s a lot of what this offence is about, manipulating coverages to get one-on-one opportunities and taking advantage of it.

“When those guys are in the lineup it gives us a definite advantage.”

Newcomer Jason Vega will start at defensive end for Edmonton while Brandyn Thompson heads into the secondary at halfback. This week, the Eskimos placed defensive lineman Marcus Howard on the six-game injured list.

Edmonton also has two pretty good receivers in Derel Walker (55 catches, CFL-high 800 yards, three TDs) and Adarius Bowman (56 catches, 789 yards, four TDs). Spearheading the offence is Reilly, last year’s Grey Cup MVP who’s the CFL’s passing leader with 2,481 yards.

“Those guys (Bowman and Walker) are going to present challenges for any defence because they complement each other so well along with the quarterback,” said Argos defence back A.J. Jefferson. “We’re not going to change anything we do . . . we just have to key on those guys and know where they are at all times and communicate across the board.

“If there’s pressure up front and we’re forcing the quarterback to make bad throws, we should come up with some turnovers.”

Kilgore and Co. will have to contend with an Edmonton defence that didn’t allow a touchdown in last week’s 23-12 win over Montreal.

“They seem to be settling into what they want to do defensively,” Milanovich said. “They can still rush the passer, (linebacker) J.C. Sherritt I’ve always believed, is a great player and (former Argos cornerback) Pat Watkins is a different guy because of his length.”

This will also be the first head-to-head matchup between Milanovich and Edmonton head coach Jason Maas. Maas played briefly for Milanovich in 2007 when Milanovich was Montreal’s quarterbacks coach and five years later Maas began his CFL coaching career on Milanovich’s Grey Cup-winning Toronto staff.

“Jason is a natural leader,” Milanovich said. “He just has that magnetism to his personality that people are going to follow him.

“I knew he was a high-energy guy who was 100 per cent dedicated to football and was going to essentially work his butt off to learn the craft.”

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Logan Kilgore wastes no time putting shaky outing versus Winnipeg behind him

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