REDBLACKS PLAY FOR PRIDE AGAINST EQUALLY INEPT ARGOS
Ottawa holds remotest of playoff chances, but head coach still expects strong finish
While the Ottawa
TORONTO Redblacks somehow cling to the faintest of all playoff hopes — with a 3-11 record, they need a sorcerer to put some sort of hex on both the Edmonton Eskimos and B.C. Lions — the party’s already over for the two-win Toronto Argonauts.
Somehow, earlier this season, the Argonauts beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who blew a 20-point lead in a 28-27 defeat. And Redblacks fans won’t forget the 48-17 spanking the Argos put on the home club a bit more than a month ago, outscoring Ottawa 21-1 in the fourth quarter to break open a close game. It was a game the Redblacks had to win to stay in serious playoff contention.
Then the crap hit the fan for Ottawa. In the next two weeks, the Redblacks were embarrassed twice by the B.C. Lions — 29-5 and 40-7. Remember, at the time the Argos and Lions were the two worst teams in the CFL. Now, any conversation about the worst team in the CFL has to have the Redblacks in it.
Here’s the deal when it comes to the playoffs: Ottawa’s 21-16 loss to Edmonton two weeks ago was crippling. Ottawa would have to win out, the Eskimos would have to lose out. Oh, and then there are the Lions, who, even if the Eskimos lose out and the Redblacks win out, could still slide in as the crossover team into the East by winning each of their remaining three games.
So, while the Redblacks know realistically they’re likely not going to advance to the playoffs, they’re hoping they can find another gear — something that’s been elusive much of this season.
“I’m proud to be a Redblack, I’m proud of a lot of things this organization has done,” said coach Rick Campbell. “We need to keep fighting because B.C. and Edmonton play each other. Let’s make them work for it all the way till the end.”
Back to the Redblacks and Argos, who play Friday at BMO Field. Maybe the game will be a complete dud — bad versus bad. Or maybe the teams will finally rise up as the nights grow colder. The Redblacks will have quarterback Will Arndt making his first CFL start, while the Argos’ signal-caller will be McLeod Bethel-Thompson.
“I don’t think either team will wave a white flag,” Campbell said. “You’re trying to find a way to win. It’s our first time playing in Toronto (this season). They beat us once, we need to even the score. We had a good week of practice, but we need to go out there, be a motivated group and find a way to win.
“The big thing is focusing on winning this game, but we need to show progress as a team — part of that is we definitely have not scored enough points or touchdowns to win on a consistent basis. We absolutely want to show improvement there.”
There will come a time when Redblacks coaches and football operations folks will analyze the good and bad of a season that went wrong.
“When you’re analyzing things, you wonder (about the what-ifs), but either you get it done or you don’t,” Campbell said. “We’ve really hit a perfect storm of a lot of things combining to make our record what it is. You find a way to win close games and we haven’t been able to do that this year.”
It’s not like the Redblacks players can afford to mail it in at this point. Their effort is always under the microscope and a few of these guys are playing for their CFL lives.
“It’s real important we play hard, play well and win some games,” Campbell said.
“You learn a lot about people when you’re in tough circumstances. The Edmonton game is more indicative of the effort we need. We needed to make a few more plays — if we can combine that effort and attitude we showed in that game, mix in making a couple more plays and we’ll be able to get into the win column.”
SECOND AND LONG: Brendan Gillanders will be the starting running back for the Redblacks, but look for Greg Morris to get plenty of work in the backfield. It’ll probably be a pretty even split in playing time. Asked about the increased workload, Gillanders said: “My special teams role is going to diminish a bit, but I’m going to bring the same mentality to the offence — full speed every single rep, I’m going to be an effort guy and do what the team needs.” ... The TSN documentary on DB Sherrod Baltimore’s life — Only the Strong Survive — will be aired Friday on SportsCentre. You can also watch at tsn.ca ... Baltimore’s Redblacks teammate, Jonathan Rose, is featured in a terrific Episode 2 of Tea Party with the Twins (you can find it on YouTube). It’s not expected that Rose, who is injured, will return to the field this season ... Campbell expects DB Antoine Pruneau to return at some point after this week: “I would be shocked if he doesn’t play again this year. That’ll be up to a doctor; if Antoine’s making the decision, he’s playing (Friday). As soon as the doctor gives the thumbs up, he’ll be playing.” Asked if Pruneau’s stubbornness when it comes to injuries reminds him of anyone, Campbell said, “Maybe Jon Gott, he was the same kind of guy. He wasn’t coming out unless he couldn’t walk or something. Those are kind of throwback guys, they don’t ever want to let the team down. Sometimes you have to save those guys from themselves because they’re never going to take themselves out.” ... The seven-game losing streak is the second-longest in Redblacks history, two short of their nine-game losing run in 2014, the team’s expansion season. tbaines@postmedia.com
We had a good week of practice, but we need to go out there, be a motivated group and find a way to win