Ottawa Citizen

Redblacks players too happy when they lose, GM says

Players from previous generation­s took losses ‘a little more to heart’: Desjardins

- TIM BAINES

As far as general manager Marcel Desjardins is concerned, Ottawa Redblacks coach Rick Campbell’s job is safe.

On Tuesday, Desjardins answered plenty of questions from a season-record media turnout, which is what happens when your team is 3-10 and has won just one game in the past 10.

Asked if Campbell’s job was in danger, Desjardins said: “Not from my perspectiv­e, but that’s a discussion I’ll have with my bosses at some point ... I don’t see it as being a factor.”

While he was in the lockerroom at halftime of last Saturday’s 40-7 loss to the B.C. Lions, Desjardins made clear Tuesday that it was as an observer. He didn’t say anything to Redblacks players, at least not until after the game.

“I go down there to get a feel for the landscape of the lockerroom. That’s sometimes why I go down to the sideline: to get a sense for how guys are acting in the moment,” Desjardins said.

The GM was also asked if he thought Redblacks players seemed too happy after losses, given way too many of those defeats had been lopsided.

“I think they are (too happy),” Desjardins said. “But that’s the generation we’re in. To me, when you lose, there should be nothing that puts a smile on your face other than maybe your family. Sometimes guys just think, ‘It’s a loss. We’ll go out and enjoy the evening and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.’ I’m not saying everybody’s like that, but there are guys like that. That doesn’t sit well with me. But I do understand that’s the generation nowadays. That’s probably pretty common.”

Asked about the team’s quarterbac­k situation — it was announced Tuesday that Jonathon Jennings would start Saturday at home against the Edmonton Eskimos, although Dominique Davis would also rotate in — Desjardins said it would be “re-addressed (in the off-season). I think we can win with them, but we have to put them in the right situation. We have to help them out and they need to take ownership. When they’re calling a play, they have to be able to execute that play ... it’s something as simple as that.”

Asked how he felt about his team’s awful results in recent weeks, Desjardins said: “I’m mad, frustrated, disappoint­ed ... all of the above. I think (the effort) is there. I can’t say I’ve seen anybody quit. There’s no question guys are trying to do the right thing. We need to continue to fight, continue to play hard ... and show progress, show that we’re better than what we’ve shown the last several weeks.

“Deep down, I know we are. But, if we can’t put it out there on the field for people to see, then that’s on us. There are a number of things that aren’t working right now. We’re trying to figure it out week by week.

“It’s been a difficult road to get those answers on a consistent basis. We need to live in the moment and understand we need to be better across the board.”

Asked if there were things the team could have done better in the off-season, in particular after offensive co-ordinator Jaime Elizondo quit in early April, Desjardins said: “The only way you manage that better is have the proper depth within your coaching staff already so, when somebody leaves, you have an heir apparent.

“That’s easier said than done. To lose a co-ordinator in the off-season, to try and adjust to that, we’ve had some injuries ... it’s been difficult.

“(Campbell) is trying to manage it as best he can. It’s frustratin­g, it’s hard to explain, and I know everybody is trying to come up with the proper pieces. Obviously our formula hasn’t been working.”

Asked if he would do things differentl­y after not necessaril­y looking to replace star freeagent losses such as quarterbac­k Trevor Harris, receivers Greg Ellingson and Diontae Spencer and offensive lineman SirVincent Rogers, instead looking to build around roster players and adding complement­ary pieces, Desjardins said: “Obviously in hindsight, based on our record, it’s easy to say I would. A lot of the decisions we made were based on things we felt were going to work. As far as where we invested that money, a lot of that money is sitting on the sidelines (injured) and has been for a good part of the year.

“Other teams have had difficulti­es and they’ve been able to bounce back. We haven’t been able to do that and that’s disappoint­ing. I think our players, if put in the right situation, are able to get things done. When things start to go south, everybody’s looking at one another to see who’s going to make a play as opposed to standing up and saying, ‘I’ll be the guy who makes the play.’ That’s part of our dynamic right now.”

Asked about a fan base that had seen its team to go three

Grey Cups in four years, but was getting increasing­ly restless with the 2019 team, Desjardins said: “I would say we’re as frustrated and disappoint­ed as they are. We will do everything we can between now and the end of the season to win games and obviously revisit and review a lot of stuff in the off-season.”

Asked if the team was “too nice” and maybe needed players with more edge, he said: “Today’s player is probably a little different than the player of the past, who probably took it a little more to heart. Everybody will treat it differentl­y.”

SECOND AND LONG

Asked about playing both Jennings and Davis this week, Campbell said: “We don’t have a set rotation. I’m not going to paint myself into a corner on that one. We’ll see how the flow of the game is going, but the plan is to play both of them.”

 ??  ?? Redblacks general manager Marcel Desjardins says that, from his perspectiv­e, head coach Rick Campbell’s job is safe.
Redblacks general manager Marcel Desjardins says that, from his perspectiv­e, head coach Rick Campbell’s job is safe.
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