Redblacks need some big-play magic to master the Alouettes
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
1.
Making big plays
Truth: The Redblacks have given up too many big plays while not creating nearly enough themselves. So either cut down the turnovers or start forcing some interceptions and fumbles.
Said defensive back Jonathan Rose: “All around, we’ve been good. What we have to be better at is making big plays and creating turnovers. We’re making the two-and-outs, we’re forcing the offence to make difficult plays, now we need to create more turnovers so we can get the ball back for the offence. You just have to fly around. We have to punch the ball out. It’s not one of those things you can plan for. You know touchdowns are going to happen, you know stops are going to happen, you just don’t know how the turnover battle is going to work out.”
2.
The Redblacks receivers
There’s been good chemistry between QB Trevor Harris and receiver Greg Ellingson, who has led the Redblacks in receiving yards in each of the club’s four games. He sits second in the league with 435 yards, just behind Toronto’s S.J. Green, who has 452. Both Ellingson and Brad Sinopoli (319 yards) are on pace to hit the 1,000-yard mark for the third-straight season. Ottawa needs to find a way to better utilize speedster Diontae Spencer (192 yards). Will Ottawa give speedster Daje Johnson an opportunity?
3.
Nik Lewis still going strong
The 35-year-old Alouettes receiver is becoming the Henry Burris of pass catchers. At 5-foot-10 and 240 pounds, he’s still getting it done, with 18 catches for 194 yards this season. Lewis has 995 career receptions for 13,321 yards. He needs five more catches to become the fourth CFLer to reach the career
1,000-catch mark, behind only Geroy Simon (1,029), Ben Cahoon (1,017) and Terry Vaughn (1,006).
4.
The kicking game
Montreal’s Boris Bede has been much better on field goals this season. After making just 11 of 21 in 2016, he’s nine of 10 this year. Ottawa’s Brett Maher is nine of 11.
5.
Uncle Ernie is back in town
Maybe best remembered in Ottawa for his game-winning overtime catch in last year’s Grey Cup, Ernest Jackson was spectacular as a Redblack, with sure hands and back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Now an Alouette after signing as a free agent, Jackson played briefly in a pre-season game between these two teams, catching one pass for eight yards. Establishing chemistry with quarterback Darian Durant, Jackson has 11 catches for 185 yards and is trending up.
THE KEY MATCHUP
The Redblacks offensive line vs. the Alouettes defensive line
William Powell, who missed all of the 2016 season with an Achilles injury and has been hobbled so far early in 2017, had just 15 carries for 46 yards in Edmonton last week. Part of it is on his offensive line, which has to move some bodies around out there and get their running back into space. Establishing a running game should eliminate some of the pressure opposing defences have been putting on quarterback Trevor Harris, who has already been sacked 10 times. On numerous other occasions, Harris has been hit. For comparison’s sake, Montreal has allowed just two sacks. Said Harris: “Sometimes I wake up the next day and feel like I was in two car accidents, sometimes I wake up and feel like I was in four.” It’s time to stop the car wrecks.
INSIDE THE GAME
It’s hard to figure out how the Redblacks have just a tie to go with three losses in four regular-season games. They’ve lost by margins of four, two and one. In each game, it’s been one or two big plays that have been difference-makers. Last week in Edmonton, it was a botched lateral pass that was picked up by Eskimos defensive back Brandyn Thompson and returned for a touchdown, plus a blocked punt. Receivers Ernest Jackson, Alex Pierzchalski, defensive tackle Keith Shologan and defensive back Mikael Charland (practice roster) are the other former Redblacks currently with the Alouettes. For you trivia buffs, linebacker Kyries Hebert played 34 games over two seasons (2004-05) for the Ottawa Renegades. A year ago, the Redblacks were 2-1 vs. the Als, winning both games in Montreal, but losing at TD Place. So far this season in home games, the Redblacks have a 31-31 overtime tie with Calgary and a 26-25 loss to Toronto. The Redblacks play again Monday, then have 10 days before playing again — the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are here Aug. 4.
PREDICTION
Ottawa 31, Montreal 23
The Redblacks haven’t won in four games, the Als have won twice, but the oddsmakers have made Ottawa five-point favourites. Great effort by the Als to beat the Stampeders last week, but I’ve got to give the home team the thumbs up here. I don’t buy into the “they’re due” argument, but this is where effort finally turns into results.