TORONTO - Scott Milanovich isn't going to mess with success.
The Toronto Argonauts rookie head coach plans to go with many of the same offensive schemes used during his four seasons as the Montreal Alouettes' offensive co-ordinator.
In Montreal, Anthony Calvillo pulled the strings. In Toronto, Milanovich will look to newly acquired quarterback Ricky Ray.
"Ricky has a lot of the same talents that Anthony Calvillo has," Milanovich said Wednesday as the Argos officially introduced Ray at a news conference atop the CN Tower.
"The possibility of (Argos offence) looking somewhat similar to what you saw in Montreal I think is high now, but there are things Ricky does differently than Anthony and there are different types of players here so it's not going to be exactly the same.
"It's never going to be about one player but certainly the quarterback is going to have a lot to say about the success or failure you have in a season and we know we have a good one."
Toronto is counting on Ray to kickstart a league-worst offence. Under Cleo Lemon -- who was released at mid-season -- and Steven Jyles -- dispatched to Edmonton in the Ray trade -- Toronto went 6-12 and finished last in the East Division.
The sputtering, predictable offence left Toronto's defence on the field way too long and the Argos paid for it.
Jyles and Lemon finished a combined 269-of-436 passing (61.7 per cent) for 3,066 yards with 14 touchdowns against 15 interceptions. Ray completed 343-of-526 passes (65.2 per cent) for 4,594 yards and 24 touchdowns against 11 interceptions for the 11-7 Eskimos.
In nine seasons in Edmonton, Ray has developed into one of the league's top quarterbacks. The six-foot-three, 210-pound native of Happy Camp, Calif., -- which has a population listed at 1,190 residents -- has surpassed 4,500 yards passing six times and sports an impressive 66.8 per cent career completion average.
Ray, the Eskimos' career passing leader, led Edmonton to two Grey Cup titles and was named the 2005 game MVP.
And in an age when quarterbacks continue to flourish as they approach 40 -- Calvillo led the CFL in passing at age 39 -- Ray should have plenty of production left, barring injury.
He just thought it would be in Edmonton.
"I think every athlete dreams of being in one place their whole career but it just doesn't happen very often," Ray said. "I was one of those lucky guys to have been in one spot for so long but the way things are now athletes are moving around and you get different opportunities in different places.
"I just didn't fit into their plans and it's exciting to come to a place where I fit into the plans they have."
The Argos haven't had a marquee quarterback since Damon Allen retired following the '07 season.
Wednesday's news conference drew a healthy media contingent to a restaurant that provided a breathtaking view of the city's lakefront. But that was all lost on Ray, who has a fear of heights.
"I'm glad they don't have me outside," he said with a nervous chuckle. "I've heard they have a new outside walking area here and I don't think I'll be going out there.
"It's a little bit more low-key in Edmonton, we didn't have a big tower to go up into and a big city skyline to look out at. I'm from a small town in northern California and I'm not a big, flashy guy. But coming to a big city, my wife is going to love it but for me it's going to take a little getting used to."
Ray will have the benefit of a solid ground attack in Toronto with tailback Cory Boyd. Ray should also have a somewhat better offensive line although veteran starters Dom Picard, Taylor Robertson and Rob Murphy are all scheduled to become free agents in February.
But Toronto has work to do in matching the quality of the receiving corps Ray had in Edmonton with the likes of Adarius Bowman, Fred Stamps and Jason Barnes. The Argos' top receiver was return specialist Chad Owens (70 catches, 722 yards, no TDs).
Jim Barker, who relinquished coaching duties to concentrate on being Toronto's full-time GM, says Ray's deft passing touch should help the Argos' receivers.
"Ricky's accuracy and timing are everything," Barker said. "He throws the ball normally to a spot knowing his receivers are going to get there and just has the ability to do that.
"But to have Cory Boyd in the backfield with Ricky Ray pulling the trigger there's a lot to be said there. This is something that hopefully will give our fans a long off-season because they can't wait for training camp to start."
Toronto also sent kicker Grant Shaw and the second overall pick in the 2012 Canadian college draft to Edmonton in the Ray deal.
