Unser Chat » as an emerging young team, its

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- The Toronto Argonauts are Zach Collaross team for the foreseeable future. Collaros takes over as the starting quarterback after Argos coach Scott Milanovich dropped a bombshell Thursday, announcing incumbent Ricky Ray is out approximately six weeks with a shoulder injury. Ray, 33, was injured in the first quarter of Torontos 35-14 home loss to Calgary on Friday. After throwing the ball away, a scrambling Ray extended his right arm to brace his fall upon being hit by Stampeders defensive lineman Charleston Hughes. "Ricky has a partial tear (in) a muscle in his shoulder thats called the teres major, Milanovich said. "Ive been informed thats not part of the rotator cuff. "Hes going to be out approximately six weeks. It could be a couple of weeks less or a couple of weeks more depending on he responds to his rehab." The teres major muscle is located in the back of the shoulder. It helps rotate and extend the arm and damaging it causes pain in the back of the shoulder, back and upper arm. Fortunately, Ray wont require surgery. But Toronto (5-3) -- which tops the East Division ahead of Hamilton (4-4) and Montreal (3-5) -- will be minus its offensive catalyst for an important stretch that includes a home-and-home series with the Alouettes and a western road trip to Regina, Calgary and Edmonton before hosting the arch-rival Ticats on Oct. 4. "Pressure is what you make (of) it," Collaros said. "As long as were prepared as a team and Im prepared I think we all feel comfortable out there. "We have a big home-and-away series with Montreal . . . we just have to get after it this week and be ready." Ray missed three late-season starts last year with a knee injury before returning to lead Toronto on its Grey Cup march. "Hopefully we get a similar result," Milanovich said. "Its part of the game, theres injuries in the sport of football and I have faith Zach, Trevor (Harris) and Josh (Portis) will go out there and win games for us. "Obviously its the quarterback and its a different piece of the puzzle you have to replace but all teams prepare for this." The six-foot, 216-pound Collaros is anxious to be Torontos starter for the foreseeable future. "Its not a good thing that had to happen under these circumstances," he said. "But I look forward to leading this team these next few weeks." Collaros certainly has big shoes to fill. Ray has completed 148-of-189 passes (78.3 per cent) this season for 1,824 yards with 15 TDs and no interceptions. Ray was especially sharp in his four last starts, completing 69-of-79 passes (87.3 per cent) for 907 yards and nine TDs before his injury. Toronto boasts the CFLs top passing attack (320.6 yards per game) and is third in scoring, averaging 30.5 points. But the offence has struggled establishing the run as Torontos ground attack is ranked last in the CFL (82.5 yards). That something Milanovich wants to improve upon regardless of whos at quarterback. Collaros was impressive in his CFL starting debut. After a full week of practice replacing an injured Ray (knee), Collaros completed 21-of-25 passes for 253 yards and three TDs while adding 28 yards rushing July 30 in 38-12 home win over B.C. Pressed into action versus Calgary with little prep time, Collaros finished 16-of-26 passing for 221 yards with an interception -- Torontos first this season. "Last week really wasnt as much a function of him," Milanovich said. "One of the things I thought that hurt us against Calgary was we didnt run it very well or very often so we put pressure on Zach to drop back and make plays. "The one thing Ive talked to him about is just protecting the ball outside the pocket. Youre going to throw an interception now and then, I can live with those, just make sure youve got two hands on the ball at all times." Milanovich will give Collaros ample opportunity to lead Torontos offence. "Ive told Zach the same thing I did against B.C., which was its his game, theres no quick hook," Milanovich said. "Im not waiting for him to make a mistake to put someone else in. "Now if Zach were to not play well for an extended period of time wed always have to do whats best for the team but its his game. I dont anticipate that happening." Those are reassuring words for the former Cincinnati Bearcats star. "It makes you feel good to know they trust you," Collaros said. "I think thats a product of me coming to work every day and knowing what were supposed to do whether Im playing or not." Milanovich said Torontos offensive gameplan will change with Collaros at the helm. The 24-year-old is a much better runner than Ray and the Argos want to take advantage of that. "A lot of the principles are still the same but we may move him around a bit more, we may ask him to do some quarterback runs which makes it more difficult for a defence to have to defend the run," Milanovich said. "His mobility is obviously a lot different than Rickys and well do our best to take advantage of his strengths." Many CFL teams are rotating quarterbacks in games this season to create on-field mismatches and throw opposing defences a curve. When Ray suffered a knee injury July 19 in a 35-19 road win over Winnipeg, Milanovich alternated both Collaros and Harris but isnt looking to do the same this time around. "I wont say I will never do it but generally I like to give the ball to one guy and let him go, Milanovich said. "Coming off the bench as a backup quarterback is one of the hardest things I think there is to do in sports because you dont get any reps and youre cold and then youre asked to go in and win a game. "But thats what youre paid to do and I think Zach will embrace the fact hes going to get a full week of reps." Cheap Shoes Free Shipping Worldwide . Sam, who joined the Cowboys in early September, has spent the entire season on the practice roster. Cheap Shoes Wholesale Free Shipping . As each game passes (each has played close with the exception of last night) it becomes clearer just how evenly matched these two teams are and how one mistake, or one bad inning, is likely to sway the result. http://www.cheapshoeschinafreeshipping.com/. "Im not even that added up," the 39-year-old Australian replied. And to the Hall of Famers surprise, when all the math was done Sunday in the JTBC Founders Cup, she was the one posing for pictures with the big trophy. Cheap Shoes China Free Shipping .Boston beat the Nashville Predators 5-3 on Tuesday night and celebrated consecutive wins for the first time in more than a month. Cheap Shoes For Sale Online . Rasmussen didnt have a decision during his four appearances in May, when he gave up two hits and no runs in two innings. Toronto used five relievers while pulling off the second-biggest comeback in franchise history on Friday night, rallying from an 8-0 deficit to a 14-9 win.VANCOUVER -- The salsa music was cranked up loud in the Vancouver Whitecaps dressing room prior to a training session this week. The players looked relaxed and smiled as they filed out for practice. There was little evidence the teams confidence had been shaken by a pair of subpar performances and its first loss in eight Major League Soccer games. There was even talk about how the Seattle Sounders, Vancouvers Cascadia rival with the best record in MLS, are the right medicine to cure whatever ails the Whitecaps. "Its the perfect test to bounce back," forward Nigel Reo-Coker said about Saturdays game at BC Place Stadium. "Its a great test for the team. No one expects us to win this game. They are the most experienced team, I would say, in the league. For us, as an emerging young team, its a great time for us to prove to people we should be taken seriously as a team." The Whitecaps had a franchise record eight-game unbeaten streak (3-0-5) snapped in a 2-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids last week. Vancouver had also played poorly in a 0-0 draw to the Montreal Impact the previous game. A Vancouver team that had gone six of seven games scoring two or more goals has suddenly had problems putting the ball in the net. "The last couple of games I dont think our team has produced the same amount of opportunities they have in the past," said forward Erik Hurtado. "That is going to affect us scoring goals." Coach Carl Robinson doesnt see any big problems with the Whitecaps game, just areas that need little fixes. "Good teams are able to do the crappy jobs very well," said Robinson. "Weve done that the first part of the season. In the last two games I think we went away from that. "Our transition play needs to be a little bit better. Its the little details that make the big differences. If we get back to that, then everyone will put a smile on their face." Seattle leads the MLS standings with 35 points from a 11-3-2 record. One of those ties came against Vancouver last month. The Sounders have also scored 33 goals, more than any other team in the league. Vancouver is fifth in the Western Conference, 13 points behind Seattle with a 5-3-7 record. Steven Beitashour, who is returning to the Whitecaps lineup after playing for Iran at the World Cup, said the last two results are a minor bump in a long season. "We were on a nice streak," said the 27-year-old right back. "The guys did well during that. "The league is going to have runs, good runs, bad runs. I dont think two is bad at all. Im confident this weekend we will have a good result, then we will start a new winning streak.dddddddddddd" The last time the teams met Seattle salvaged the tie on a late penalty kick after a controversial call. Sounders coach Sigi Schmid doesnt expect things to be any easier in the rematch. "They are going to be a team that is motivated," Schmid said on the Sounders website. "Im sure they havent been happy with their last two games they played, they havent scored any goals. "Coach Robinson will be under them and motivating them. That team is going to be hungry when they play us." One reason the Whitecaps have had problems scoring goals is teams are dropping back defenders to counter Vancouvers speed. Robinson said his team must be smarter with the ball when they have possession. "We have to get back to maintaining possession, dictating possession, but also being a threat in the final third," he said. "We know we have quick players, but have we got players with an understanding how to move (opposition) players out of position? Seattle is a very organized team. They like to get eight, nine men behind the ball. We are going to have to be open and expansive but also a little bit creative in our final third play." Vancouver could also improve its set plays. The Whitecaps have been unable to take advantage of some good deliveries from midfielder Pedro Morales. "I think the service has been there," said Robinson. "Now its the challenge for the players to get in the right position. Its about movement in the box." The Whitecaps have been guilty of giving up leads. Robinson said thats a result of his team still learning how to deal with certain game situations. "The top teams are able to grind out results," he said. "I havent got an experienced core. I have a young group. "When we bend we might break at the moment. Its important we learn from scenarios like that. At the moment we have broken but we will learn form certain things." One player thrilled to be back in the Whitecaps lineup is Medhi Ballouchy. The 31-year-old midfielder from Morocco spent 11 months recovering from anterior cruciate ligament surgeries on both knees. During that time he also lost his father to cancer. Ballouchy played 20 minutes against Colorado and called the experience "amazing." "Taking something from a soccer player ... its always hard," he said about his long recovery. "Im just happy (and) at this point dont even want to think about it. "I hope I can stay in this phase for a long time." ' ' '