Redblacks a united front on back end
Despite losing White, Hightower, Richards and Kanneh, team’s defensive backfield looking strong
OTTAWA — Not really talked about much — but at the core of Ottawa’s Grey Cup victory over the Calgary Stampeders last year — was the heroic effort of the Ottawa Redblacks’ defensive back end, the DBs.
Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and the Stampeders were flustered through most of the game by a well thought out Ottawa game plan and the athleticism of the Redblacks defenders. So when three of the guys in that Ottawa mix — Mitchell White, Forrest Hightower and Jeff Richards — left to sign NFL contracts and another, Abdul Kanneh, signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as a free agent, RNation collectively reached for the panic button.
But a bit more than three weeks from the start of the CFL regular season, it’s looking like a position of concern could turn into a strength. In fact, there was never reason to get worked up, according to defensive backs coach Ike Charlton.
“On paper, everybody says we lost this, we lost that,” said Charlton. “… But if you’ve paid attention to the Redblacks since 2014, we’ve always been a defensive back by committee team.”
Through four days of training camp, Jerrell Gavins, who spent the latter part of last season playing SAM linebacker, is getting most of his looks at defensive back.
“We lose an all-star in Abdul, we put another all-star in his position — Jerrell,” said Charlton. “We lose Mitch, who was an all-star, we put another all-star in his position — A.J. Jefferson. Imoan Claiborne, he played, so it’s not like he’s new to the CFL. We have Nick Taylor who’s going to be playing SAM (linebacker) — he’s played, too. It’s not like we have guys coming in who have never played for us.”
Claiborne, 24, made 14 tackles in 2016. Look for him to make a lot more in 2017.
“The kid can run, he’s got speed,” said Charlton.
When told he was getting noticed, Claiborne said: “Yes, sir. That was my plan coming in.”
Claiborne said he’s more comfortable and at ease with the Canadian game.
“It’s all about knowledge,” he said. “I know the size of this field and the angle change, that’s the big part.”
During practice, the defence goes against the offence, with one of the sides doing pushups. For the most part, the offence has been doing the pushups — which points to what a good job the defenders are doing.
HIGH INTENSITY: Redblacks coach Rick Campbell likes the pace that’s being set by his team: “Even at the end of practice, guys are competing hard. We need to clean up on some penalty issues we’re having, we’re tracking everything in practice … I’m definitely impressed with their enthusiasm, especially in Day 4.”
THE END AROUND: It was QB Trevor Harris’ 31st birthday Wednesday. “He just got dunked with ice,” said Campbell following practice. “He was telling everybody (his birthday) wasn’t until the fall, but we all know that’s not true.” ... Receiver Kenny Shaw left practice early. Said Campbell: “I don’t think it’s overly serious. I talked to him quickly and he said, ‘I’ll be all right.’” ... During non-contact 1-on-1s, receiver Jake Harty was hauled down by Mikael Charland and didn’t look like he liked it. Antoine Pruneau stepped in, trying to be the peacemaker, and joked later about how the DBs stick together: “We’re like a bunch of hyenas, we’re sneaky and we attack as a pack from behind.”