Redblacks want to limit Jackson’s action

Ottawa will have its hands full with Argos speedster

TORONTO When the Argos’ Martese Jackson last had a football kicked his way July 13 against Winnipeg, he ran a staggering total of 339 yards in the other direction.

One of the punt returns was a 78yard touchdown, one of the kickoffs (84 yards) should have been a 109-yard touchdown and won $1 million for fan Karen Kuldys.

Remember that whole #WhatAboutKaren thing on Twitter?

The illegal block called by officials that prevented the touchdown sure looked bogus and Kuldys, who still collected some awesome prizes, lost out on a million bucks in the Sobeys/Air Miles contest. A fan can win big if two kickoffs are returned for touchdowns in the same game (Winnipeg ’s Ryan Lankford had returned one earlier in the game).

Ottawa’s special teams need to make sure it’s not a repeat performance for Jackson when the Redblacks face the Argos on Monday night at BMO Field.

“Martese showed some burst; he’s shown if he can get to the perimeter, he can finish,” said Redblacks special teams co-ordinator Bob Dyce on Sunday. “But every week we face a guy like that. Not to take anything away from him, but whether you play a Hamilton or a Roy Finch in Calgary, we really try not to concern ourselves with who’s back there, we focus on what our job is.”

So far, so good for Ottawa’s cover teams, which allowed a puntreturn touchdown to former Carleton Ravens star Tunde Adeleke in Week 2.

“They’ve been extremely disciplined and they’ve covered fast with great integrity and fire,” Dyce said. “We did give up the one in Calgary, which was a little disappointing. That hopefully was just a blip. Before that and after that, our guys have done a great job.”

While he’s not listed on their depth chart as returning kickoffs, it’s possible, maybe even probable, the Redblacks could give William Powell a look there — there is some concern from Redblacks fans about using the running back in that capacity.

Said Dyce: “Sometimes on kickoff return, it’s almost like seeing a running play develop where you’re trying to open up a gap. Willie being a running back and being a strong vertical runner should work well in our schemes and how we’re trying to attack this week.”