QB DAVIS MAKING MOST OF HIS SHOT
2019 season provided some tough lessons he's looking to build on with starting role
Dominique Davis admits he was frustrated, maybe a bit angry at himself when the Ottawa Redblacks took a nosedive in the 2019 CFL season, losing 11 straight and finishing with a 3-15 record.
It's tough to pin the team's lack of success in the second half on Davis — he didn't play in five of the last seven games. But by then, the team's confidence in him as a starting quarterback had eroded. One stat that stands out is five touchdown passes, with 14 interceptions — way too many mistakes. But he was also thrown into an unfair situation with no offensive co-ordinator (Jaime Elizondo had quit not long before training camp) and a group of receivers who didn't match the skill level the group had from 2015 to 2018.
And now he's being given the ball again. Davis will be the Redblacks' starting quarterback Saturday night in Vancouver when they look to knock off the B.C. Lions. Redblacks head coach Paul LaPolice removed starter Matt Nichols early in the second quarter of last Friday's ridiculously one-sided 51-29 loss to the Montreal Alouettes. Nichols completed two of five passes for 23 yards and an interception before being taken out. Davis completed 23 of 33 passes for 291 yards in relief, also throwing a couple of interceptions.
“I've been working my butt off waiting for the opportunity to come, if it ever came,” Davis said after Tuesday's practice at TD Place. “Nothing's ever guaranteed in this league, but it was a great feeling, getting back out there. It's been a long time, especially with the cancelled season last year.
“Every quarterback in this league has faced some type of adversity. Everyone's story is different. Everyone's basically on the same river, just a different boat. (The 2019 season) was one of the toughest things I've ever had to go through. No one is a bigger critic than I am of myself. Every single week it was frustrating, and I was the hardest on myself. If you don't have an offensive co-ordinator and a quarterback coach around you, it can be tough, and it started to show once the season got going. I did get in my own head a bit. It is what it is — learn from it, it's just battle wounds.”
Asked about his performance Friday, Davis said: “There were some good things, there were some things I want to correct. But I felt pretty good out there. We didn't have the outcome we wanted, but as far as my production and the offence, we did some good things and there was some stuff we can build on.
The Redblacks are paying Nichols more than $300,000 (he's already been paid a $200,000 report-and-pass bonus) to be their starting quarterback. But he hadn't shown enough for the Redblacks to believe they could win going forward. So, at least for now, Davis has the job.
“Not sure what it is, Matt's arm or whatever, but it didn't look good,” LaPolice said. “We're probably being a little hard on Matt because people around him still have to play better.
But Dom led us down for some touchdowns, so we'll give him the opportunity. Matt's a really good pro. Certainly I'm going to do my best to communicate to him reasons why this is what it is and make sure he understands the why.”
Asked about what Davis did to earn this week's start, LaPolice said: “He moved the ball, he did a good job of putting us in positions. He's got to clean up a lot of things, he made a bad decision on the interception — you can't have those mistakes.”
VACCINATIONS MANDATORY
OSEG has tightened up its safety protocols for entry to TD Place. Effective Sept. 12, all guests (12 years and older) and TD Place employees must be fully vaccinated (two doses plus 14 days). Guests will need to provide proof of vaccination along with photo identification in order to get into TD Place. Other than for verified medical and Ontario Human Rights Code exemptions, proof of a negative COVID-19 test will no longer be accepted for admittance. For the next Redblacks game, on Sept. 22, the verification process will occur at the gates and guests will need to arrive with a copy of proof of vaccination, along with photo ID. And finally, there won't be as much cause to worry about all the people who defy the mask rule in the stadium. Even with vaccination, masks are still a good idea when you're sitting close to other people.
THE END AROUND
Receiver Charone Peake, who started for the Redblacks against B.C. two weeks ago, left the team last week. Said LaPolice: “He went home, he said he wanted to move on from football.” … Timothy Flanders likely returns as the starting running back this week. Said LaPolice: “He's had a good week practising, he was feeling better last week.” … Receiver Anthony Coombs was a full participant Tuesday. Sitting out practice were receiver/ returner DeVonte Dedmon (calf ) and running back Justin Davis (knee). … Offensive lineman Na'Ty Rodgers, who left Friday's game with a knee injury, may avoid being out for a lengthy period of time. It looks like his replacement this week could be Jamar McGloster. … There were a couple of questionable calls by officials in Friday's loss to the
Als. Asked why the Redblacks didn't challenge either, LaPolice said: “If it's not conclusive, it's really hard to do. We didn't get a view in time to be able to use the challenge. You want to hold the challenge as long as you can. It better be conclusive if you use it.” … There's been one constant in the CFL Power Rankings; the Redblacks have been ranked last (ninth) every week. Ranked first this week is Winnipeg, with Saskatchewan at No. 2 and Hamilton third. Ottawa's opponent this week, B.C., is ranked seventh, with Calgary eighth.
I've been working my butt off waiting for the opportunity to come, if it ever came.