REDBLACKS LACK FIGHT IN LATEST PAIR OF LOSSES
Ottawa players searching for any source of motivation after ‘embarrassing’ outcomes
In nine of their last 10 games, the Ottawa Redblacks, who somehow won their first two games of the CFL season, have fallen.
Like an aging boxer, the Redblacks absorb a left jab, a right hook, followed by a stinging uppercut to the chin. During the past two losses — 46-17 to Toronto and 29-5 to B.C. on Friday night — they’ve been staggered, then dropped to the ground. The Redblacks get up to one knee, but can never really seem to shake off the effects of all those haymakers, never able to figure out how to deliver a counterpunch that will give them a chance to win.
“A loss is a loss,” said Redblacks running back Mossis Madu. “But losing this way is embarrassing. It’s the same bulls--t out there. Like I said, it’s embarrassing. We know we’re better than this, but we’re not showing it.
“Who are we, really? If that’s what we keep putting out there, that’s what we’re going to be. We have to right this ship. It starts with effort. These are games we really, really need.”
The thing is, what you see is what you get.
Sure, there will be key players soon returning from a lengthy injury list. But this team is going to have to try to fight through complacency and incompetency on its own.
“No magic person is coming in to save the day,” Redblacks coach Rick Campbell said. “We’re what we’ve got.”
What’s happening is not sitting well with the players. It’s not like they’re not trying, but what they’re doing isn’t enough, not even close.
“This is frustrating,” said Redblacks quarterback Jonathon Jennings. “You want to go out and compete. Sometimes you say, ‘They got the best of us today. We competed. We tried.’ But you never want to lose like we did (Friday).”
“Obviously, any time you lose, which has been a lot this year, it’s difficult,” said Redblacks defensive tackle Ettore Lattanzio. “When a team gets a jump on you like that — if we as a team can’t rally together and come back and score and they just keep doing it — it puts us in a bind.
“It’s been a rough go. We have to keep pushing and not give up. There’s still football to be played, whether people think it’s meaningful or not.”
The coach concurs.
“It’s hard,” Campbell said. “Football is only a game. There are a lot bigger things happening in the world. But this is the way the coaches and the players make a living and pay their bills. When you’re not getting it done, it does take a toll. We have to get these guys’ chins up and keep battling.”
Asked about the play of Jennings, who completed 19 of 31 passes for 239 yards with two interceptions and no touchdown tosses, Campbell said: “It’s a reflection of our whole football team. When you’re functioning at a high level, people make each other look good. I would guess Jonathon would say he wishes he played better and I know there are a bunch of other guys that need to help him more.
“There are a lot of proud guys in that locker-room. We have to play (the Lions) again next week. We need to come out at home with a great effort we can all be proud of.”
Jennings knows he has to be better.
“We have to stop having so many missed assignments,” the quarterback said. “That starts with me. We have to find a way to be cleaner in our reads and assignments. After that, it’s about competing. Sometimes you just have to beat somebody.”
Madu says the Redblacks offence must do its part.
“We had our chances,” Madu said. “The defence is busting their butts for us and we go out there and put that display out there. We have to fix it, and fix it fast. Our focus has to be the next play, the next game ... the now. We have to get better. We have to watch this film and get better.”
The Redblacks went into these last two games — against teams that only had one win each — with the easiest remaining schedule of the nine clubs. Throw that out the window. There are six games remaining and probably six wins needed to gain a playoff position. But the Redblacks can’t be thinking about the playoffs or really anything beyond their next game — Saturday at home.
“I don’t think anyone here should worry about the math (what it’s going to take to get into the playoffs); let the coaches worry about that,” Lattanzio said.
“When you’re losing, it’s embarrassing. It’s almost like they’re non-contested losses. It’s almost like we’re not even there. We have to look in the mirror and ask, ‘What can we be as players to get better and compete?’
Campbell said: “We have to stay away from (thinking about) playoffs or win streaks or anything like that. The thing we do have control over is making sure we’re functioning up to the ability of our players and coaches and we’re giving great effort and hustling. I believe that will happen. Things can get lost or go sideways when you lose confidence.” tbaines@postmedia.com
Who are we, really? If that’s what we keep putting out there, that’s what we’re going to be. We have to right this ship