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Shane Ray received a Tremendous Bowl ring on a defence that includes Von Miller.
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The 2 stay shut and Ray reached out to Miller when the sack specialist signed with the Buffalo Payments after incomes his second championship with the L.A. Rams final season.
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Ray, in the meantime, has taken his sport on the defensive position of the Argonauts to a degree that gamers of Miller’s ilk would respect by being a presence off the sting and attacking the backfield.
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Ray enters this Saturday’s matinee in Ottawa having posted back-to-back video games of recording a sack, an indication that he has lastly discovered his footing within the CFL.
When he joined the Argos final season, Ray was a revelation throughout coaching camp, however he obtained harm within the first quarter of his first sport,
Accidents reduce quick his NFL profession and so they adopted him by the 2021 schedule. He didn’t document his first sack in Double Blue till the East closing loss to the Tiger-Cats.
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At 6-foot-3 and 255 kilos, Ray, when wholesome, is an explosive participant who is hard to dam. And he’s lastly been in a position to play damage free — a relative time period in soccer right now of the season when most, if not all, gamers are coping with some form of ailment.
“He’s wholesome,’’ mentioned head coach Ryan Dinwiddie of Ray. “He’s beginning to hit his stride.”
Each the coach and participant insist there’s one other degree that may, and will likely be reached, which might solely assist the Argos defence.
In successful two video games in a row, the Argos feasted on a quarterback-poor Ticats crew.
The Redblacks have additionally received two in succession and determine to offer the Argos with a much bigger problem.
Ray’s purpose is to dominate the sting on each snap. He’s greater than able to having that form of presence, the type Miller had when he was named MVP of Tremendous Bowl 50 in 2016, when the Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10.
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In some unspecified time in the future this NFL season, Ray — a first-round choose of the Broncos in 2015 — is hoping to go to Orchard Park, N.Y., and watch Miller line up for the Payments.
He’s additionally making an attempt to rearrange a reunion with one other Broncos defender, DeMarcus Ware.
Ray can be seeking to have Miller and Ware attend an Argos dwelling sport.
For now, although, his focus is on Ottawa and sustaining his present degree of efficiency.
“After I’m wholesome, I’m among the finest there’s, no query,’’ mentioned Ray. “However that’s simply a part of the sport. Soccer is a troublesome sport. You face a whole lot of accidents.”
Taking higher care of his physique was one in every of Ray’s low season targets and he realizes he can solely get higher.
“I’m feeling pretty much as good as I must really feel,’’ mentioned Ray. “It’s a must to profit from this (assembly) as a result of it’s one other divisional sport and we want this sport.”
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The Redblacks upset the Argos in late July at BMO Subject — their first win of the season with Caleb Evans as their beginning quarterback.
Saturday’s starter will likely be Nick Arbuckle, Ray’s teammate final season till the Argos traded the QB to Edmonton halfway by the season.
“Quite a lot of respect to Nick,’’ mentioned Ray. “The man works tremendous, tremendous arduous. He’s one of many first guys in (when reporting for work), one of many final guys out.”
Ray believes the Redblacks are a greater passing crew with Arbuckle on the helm.
“He’s taking part in at a extremely excessive degree,’’ added Ray.
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Like Ray, cornerback Jamal Peters joined the Argos final season.
Not like Ray, Peters by no means obtained an actual shot at taking part in within the NFL following a knee damage.
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And like Ray, Peters is taking part in at excessive degree, flattening 5 interceptions — together with a pick-six — in his previous two video games alone.
“That’s Aqib Talib,’’ mentioned Ray of Peters, evaluating him to the star shut-down nook on Denver’s Tremendous Bowl defence.
“That’s an honour,’’ mentioned Peters when advised of the Talib comparability. “Being constant is the important thing, however there’s extra to be accomplished. I can get higher.”
The sport has slowed down for Peters, who says his confidence is at a excessive degree.
“I’m in that zone proper now and when you get into that zone, there’s actually nothing you may’t do,’’ he mentioned. “I simply must preserve working as a result of there’s nonetheless a whole lot of work that must be accomplished.”
When a participant corresponding to Ray is attending to the quarterback and a participant within the again finish corresponding to Peters is producing picks, good issues are inclined to occur on defence.
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“He’s a wholesome Shane Ray,’’ mentioned Peters. “Unbelievable. He can’t be stopped. The work ethic he has, his get-off, the facility he has, the title speaks for itself.”
The participant Peters should neutralize in Ottawa on Saturday is Redblacks wideout Jaelon Acklin, who leads the CFL in receiving yards.
“He’s a very good receiver,’’ mentioned Peters. “There’s nothing that must be mentioned aside from he’s an excellent receiver. If we play our sport, all the pieces else will converse for itself.”
The Peters-Acklin matchup looms massive.
“I take pleasure in going up in opposition to the highest guys,’’ mentioned Peters.
Acklin had 144 receiving yards and hauled in a landing on July 31 when the groups first met and is coming off a 159-yard sport final week when Ottawa beat the Als in Montreal.
JUSTIN TIME
Beginning centre Justin Lawrence (knee) was restricted in follow Thursday and formally listed as questionable for Saturday’s massive sport.
He’s anticipated to play.
Veteran Philip Blake dealt with the duties at centre on Thursday.
