Harris expected to be ready for season opener
Redblacks increasing QB’s workload as he recovers from pre-season leg injury
Forgive Ottawa Redblacks fans if they’re getting a bit nervous.
With the Redblacks’ Canadian Football League season opener a week away, quarterback Trevor Harris still isn’t a fully participating in practice.
Not to worry, the team says. Harris will be increasing his involvement each day and we’re assured he’ll be ready well before the Redblacks host the Saskatchewan Roughriders at TD Place stadium on June 21.
They have the luxury of easing Harris back into full-time duty. With a bye in Week 1 of the schedule, the Redblacks, even though they’re practising this Thursday and Friday, haven’t started actual game preparations yet.
“He’s doing more and more each day,” Redblacks head coach Rick Campbell said. “These are two extra days for us. We’re not preparing for Saskatchewan for a couple more days. We’re being smart about things. (Friday) you’ll see a bunch more of him.”
While there doesn’t appear to be much question about a return to action by Harris, who injured his left leg in the preseason opener at home against the Montreal Alouettes, there is still plenty of uncertainty about the offensive line. Neither Jason Lauzon- Séguin or Nolan MacMillan is practising fully, though MacMillan has been increasing his involvement daily.
"(MacMillan and LauzonSéguin) are a work in progress,” Campbell said. “Nolan did some stuff today and you’ll see him advancing. He’s a little bit ahead of Jason right now. I’m not the doctor, so we’re following medical advice to ramp them up as opposed to racing them into something and having them suffer a setback. I can’t tell you the date, but I know they’ll be available sooner rather than later.”
CFL rules require each team to include seven Canadians among the 24 starters on offence and defence. If the Redblacks decide to go with four Canadian offensive linemen, they can go with two Canadian receivers and a defensive back (Antoine Pruneau).
If MacMillan isn’t healthy, they could go with rookie Mark Korte as the fourth Canadian. In that scenario, Korte would likely play left guard with Evan Johnson shifting to right tackle. That was how they lined up on Thursday.
If the coaches decide to start two American tackles — SirVincent Rogers and possibly Eric Lofton — they’ll have to start a second Canadian on defence, likely at tackle.
“We’re going to keep both options, whether we start four Canadians on the offensive line or three,” Campbell said. “We’re really open to either. I told the players today we’re using these two days … it’s almost like a bonus training camp for us. We’re in the mode of still working on ourselves. We’ve moved a few guys around. Definitely, you’ll see that get cleaned up as we get through the weekend and start preparing for Saskatchewan in earnest.”
Can Korte, the Redblacks’ firstround draft pick last month, step in so soon?
“That’s why the priority for us is always drafting Canadian offensive linemen,” Campbell said. “(Korte has) definitely shown he’s going to be a good player in this league.”
A KICKING COMPETITION: The Redblacks added kicker Félix Ménard-Brière after he was released by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Ottawa had released Sergio Castillo, leaving punter Richie Leone and kicker Lewis Ward still in camp. Asked if Leone and Ward would do the kicking duties against Saskatchewan, Campbell said: “That’s been the plan.” Even so, the Redblacks were happy to bring in MénardBrière, a former University of Montreal Carabin who was drafted 34th overall by Winnipeg in 2017. “You always have to be flexible,” Campbell said. “When you can bring in a good player like Félix, it’s kind of a pleasant surprise.”
STAYING AROUND: When the Redblacks asked defensive back Sherrod Baltimore, a secondyear CFLer, to go on the practice roster, he could have declined and become a free agent. He surely would have been snapped up by one of the other eight CFL teams. However, Baltimore chose to stay. “He’s a smart guy,” Campbell said. “He’s the type of person we want around here. He shows up to work every day. He’s a good player and a good guy. Sometimes you go through things, the ebbs and flows. People on the practice roster are here because they’re good players. Almost everybody gets a shot as the weeks go by, so I know he’ll just keep working.”
CFL FOOTBALL OPS ON TWITTER: Fans who want explanations for in-game officiating decisions made by the CFL Command Centre can now get the scoop at the new @ CFLFootballOps Twitter account. The account will provide explanations, outline what the rules say about unusual plays, provide interesting stats and keep fans abreast of the latest news involving league decisions. “If you have ever wondered or debated, for example, whether the Command Centre ruled a pass incomplete because the receiver’s feet were out of bounds, or because he was bobbling a pass, this will give you the answer,” said Darren Hackwood, the CFL’s Senior Director of Officiating.
THE END AROUND: In polls leading into the regular season, the Redblacks haven’t received a lot of respect. In a media poll, not one of 73 participants picked the Redblacks to win the Grey Cup. The Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats each got one vote, while Edmonton led with 17.
In a 3DownNation poll, Justin Dunk went against the flow and picked the Redblacks to win the CFL East and Trevor Harris to win the Most Outstanding Player award ... The initial CFL.ca Power Rankings have the Redblacks at No. 5, behind Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton and Saskatchewan ... Several Redblacks have changed jersey numbers. Quarterback Will Arndt is now wearing No. 8, kicker Lewis Ward is No. 10, receiver Noel Thomas Jr. is No. 18, defensive back Justin Howell is No. 21, defensive lineman J.R. Tavai is No. 44, receiver Seth Coate is No. 87, defensive lineman George Uko is No. 92 and defensive end A.C. Leonard is No. 99 ... The Redblacks added offensive lineman Josue Matias, who was released by the Calgary Stampeders, and cut Armando Bonheur ... Defensive lineman Faith Ekakitie, who was drafted first overall in 2017 by Winnipeg, was cut on the weekend. He quickly found a new CFL home with Montreal.