Coverage units work to improve costly mistakes
Two huge plays on Saturday night in Regina aside, Ottawa Redblacks special teams co-ordinator Bob Dyce says he’ll take his guys over any of the other coverage units in the CFL.
Thirteen seconds into Saturday’s game in Regina (a 30-25 win for Ottawa), the Redblacks did something they rarely do — give up a special-teams touchdown — a 97-yard kickoff return by Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Marcus Thigpen.
Then, early in the second half, it happened again — Kyran Moore fielded a 56-yard Richie Leone punt at the Saskatchewan 20 and ran through Ottawa’s coverage unit for a 90-yard touchdown.
“I told the guys in the meeting today, they’ve shown they’re the best group in the league,” said Dyce following Tuesday’s practice at TD Place. “We had a couple of lapses. We call it a Bomb Squad with our punt team because one mistake and things can blow up — regrettably it did. We have to correct the errors we made.
“Part of it is me. I have to make sure all the details are taken care of. We have to be more disciplined when it comes to leverage. But I’ll tell you what, I will take this group over any group in the league. They fight, they work hard every single week. Regrettably we had a tough game.”
“Our cover units have been possibly the best part of our football team this year — the most consistent group,” Redblacks coach Rick Campbell said. “We definitely had an off day. I’ll give Saskatchewan credit, they’ve been giving people problems. But we want to be better than that. It shows you how important special teams are and how much field position and momentum can swing a game. We’re looking at getting back on track with our cover teams this week. I’m looking at it more as an aberration because they’ve been so good the other 11 games of the year.”
Needless to say, in a light practice Tuesday (no helmets, no shoulder pads), the Redblacks spent extra time on their special teams coverage.
“They’re both obviously disappointing, but the kickoff was probably even more disappointing than the punt because some of the things we had talked about doing, we didn’t execute them,” Dyce said. “I told the players the sun rises today, we go back and work on the things we have to work on. Then we’re better and we take care of our business for the rest of the year. I would much rather have a clean sheet with no touchdowns against us. If we’re disciplined and do what we need to do or what we can do, those ( big returns) don’t happen. One of the things I always talk about is taking our shots — you can never make a tackle you don’t try to make.”
While the defence has been consistently good this season, the offence has sputtered at times. But the special-teams play has been solid right up to the game against the Roughriders.
“We’re thankful offence and defence did a good job and were able to cover us,” Dyce said. “But that’s part of being a good team. They went out there and took care of us. We talk about winning two of the three phases — it was offence and defence this week. That’s how it works. I’m happy we’re able to get out with a win, even though it didn’t feel like it (for the special teams coverage units).”
POWELL A TOP PERFORMER
William Powell has been named one of the CFL’s Shaw Top Performers for last week. The running back was a major contributor offensively in Ottawa’s 30-25 win over the Roughriders, with 18 carries for 148 yards — including 69- and 19-yard touchdowns. Powell is now the CFL’s leader in rushing yards with 994.
LOOKING BACK
Campbell was asked about the strong bounce-back effort against the Riders after the Redblacks, especially on the offensive side of the ball, had looked lethargic against both Montreal and B.C. in back-to-back losses. “I’ve never had an issue with our effort or our demeanour or anything like that,” he said. “It was making some big plays — obviously being able to run the ball and then making some big throws and catches. (QB) Trevor (Harris) threw well and we had some receivers step up and make some big plays and obviously that changes the whole complexion of the game.”