MULTIPLE CONTRIBUTIONS

Ricky Ray was the Toronto Argonauts biggest acquisition during the 2012 offseason and he has certainly been everything the Argos have hoped for following four weeks of play in their 2012 CFL campaign. Ray currently ranks second in the CFL in passing behind Anthony Calvillo with 1,262 yards including six touchdowns and four interceptions. While Ray, a former Grey Cup MVP, garners much of the attention from the Toronto media, it is his receiving core that has made his transition to Toronto, truly that much easier in 2012.

Chad Owens, Jason Barnes, Andre Durie, Dontrelle Inman, Mike Bradwell, Jeff Johnson, and Spencer Watt have all played an important role in the Argonauts early season success on the offensive side of the football. It may be true that Ricky Ray does indeed have the ability to make everyone around him better, but you cannot deny the incredible contributions from his wide receivers game in and game out. Andre Durie has by far been the most consistent receiver for Ricky Ray this season and he currently leads the Argonauts with twenty-eight catches and 357 yards receiving so far in 2012. Durie is one example of a man who has evolved into a major offensive weapon for the Argonauts this season. Durie spent much of his first five seasons as a backup running back/ wide receiver and never held a prominent role in the Argos offense until this season.

Argonauts Head Coach, Scott Milanovich must also be given credit for creating specific plays that exploit certain areas of opposing defenses and also result in more opportunities for receivers to make big plays in the offense. The Argonauts have a good mixture of different types of receivers in their offense in 2012. Dontrelle Inman provides Ricky Ray with a deep threat that can stretch the field, make big plays, and also allow for openings in the short and medium passing game. Andre Durie provides toughness, physicality, and a guy who will fight for every inch of turf available. Chad Owens gives the Argonauts a very speedy and skilled receiver who can be used in the screen game and open up other opportunities down field for other receivers. This receiving core has the potential to be the best in the entire Canadian Football League. They complement one another nicely and all offer Ricky Ray something unique when on the football field.

The Argonauts have had three games so far this season in which eight different receivers have recorded at least one catch in the football game. There have been two games so far this season in which a receiver has recorded ten catches for the Argonauts. Cory Boyd is one of those individuals who has recorded ten catches in a game this season and he currently ranks third on the Argos with seventeen catches out of the backfield.  In week two against the Calgary Stampeders, the Argonauts had two different receivers eclipse the 100-yard receiving plateau. Andre Durie had ten catches in the game and Dontrelle Inman had only three, yet both were able to reach the 100-yard receiving mark.

This Argonauts receiving core is deepest and most diverse core that the Argos have had in recent memory. There are currently two receivers with over twenty catches and three receivers with at least ten catches so far this season. In total, nine different receivers have seen the football thrown in their direction so far this season. Ricky Ray has been given recognition for spreading the ball around and allowing all of his receivers the ability to be a game changer. While Ray will continue to get much of the credit for the Argos offensive success in 2012, we should not forget about those individuals on the other end of those passes. It is definitely important to give credit to where credit is due and the Argonauts receivers certainly deserve some, if not most of the credit for the Argonauts incredible offensive play so far in 2012.