Ottawa Citizen

REDBLACKS READY TO FEEL THE HEAT

Harris, offensive line prepare for challenge from Argonauts’ formidable defence

- TIM BAINES

What Ottawa Redblacks coach Bryan Chiu says is the best offensive line in the CFL will get a good test Saturday night.

The Toronto Argonauts’ front seven, featuring former Redblacks Shawn Lemon and Cleyon Laing along with Marcus Ball and Bear Woods, will be looking to get in the kitchen of Ottawa quarterbac­k Trevor Harris and rattle some pots and pans while they’re there.

“If we’re going to say we’re the best in this league, we’re going to come out and play,” said Chiu, the offensive line coach. “We’re playing at home in front of our crowd with a lot on the line — so it’s time to man up.

“I take a lot of pride in our guys. At the end of the day, it takes 12 guys on offence to function. People look at the O-line, but a lot of other factors come into play — running backs blocking, receivers getting open, quarterbac­ks getting rid of the ball, all those different things. We’re together on this.”

With Nolan MacMillan out of the lineup and rookie Eric Lofton stepping in at left guard between SirVincent Rogers and Jon Gott, the Redblacks are trying to get a handle on the communicat­ion and chemistry that can take time.

“It’s definitely a challenge with their front seven, they do a lot of things well,” said Rogers. “Everything starts in the trenches. When we keep it clean, good things happen. We’re still putting it together. At the same time, we make no excuses. We know we have to keep Trevor upright. If we do that, we know he’ll slice defences apart.”

“I think they are the best offensive line in the league,” said Lemon, who has two of Toronto’s nine sacks (by comparison, Ottawa’s defence has two total sacks). “I’m just going to come out and compete and hopefully, it’s good enough to get some quarterbac­k.”

Lofton, out of Temple — where Henry Burris came from — said he’s ready.

“Listening to the older guys on the team — SirVincent and Jon Gott — that’s helped me speed the process up,” said Lofton. “I just have to stay true to who I am — don’t make the moment bigger than it is and go out and do my job.”

Moving the ball will be a challenge. In two games so far, the Argos have allowed an average of 295.5 net yards per game (Ottawa’s given up 416.5).

“We need to put more drives together early in the game,” said Harris. “We need to get in the red zone and finish, we’ve kicked too many field goals that are under 30 yards.

“There are always going to be ups and downs. There are going to be lulls in a 60-minute game, especially when the other team has profession­als, too — they’re not amateurs. You want to be hard on yourself, you want to play a perfect game, but at the same time once you make mistakes, it’s how you overcome them.”

William Powell will start at running back for the Redblacks, with Mossis Madu Jr. likely taking a seat.

The Redblacks come in with a tie in their first two games, both against Calgary, while the Argos beat Hamilton and lost to B.C.

“It’s a big game for both teams,” said Redblacks coach Rick Campbell. “It’s a divisional rival and we’re at home so we have to be ready to go.”

The Redblacks, according to the coach, will try to throw in different looks to knock the Argos off their aggressive defensive style.

“We can’t just make it about drop back pass all the time,” said Campbell. “We need to mix things up, running the ball, with some play action, some screens — make them defend everything, not just make them pass rushers because that’s a strength of theirs.” CH-CH-CH-CHANGES: Redblacks GM Marcel Desjardins said putting Lofton into the lineup was related to the unavailabi­lity of Jake Silas (shoulder), who is not quite recovered yet. Also in the lineup is Louis-Philippe Bourassa, who gets in as long snapper. Explained Desjardins: “Instead of keeping Tanner (Doll) at long snapper and adding another Canadian to go down and cover kicks, Tanner is so adept at it, we felt this was the easier move.” Receiver Dominique Rhymes steps in for injured Juron Criner (knee). THEY SAID IT: When asked if offensive linemen ever apologize to their quarterbac­k after he’s been sacked, SirVincent Rogers said: “Apologizin­g doesn’t change the fact that you’re peeling him up off the turf.” ... When asked about new guys stepping into the lineup, Trevor Harris said: “I would tell you our motto is Next Man Up. But I’m sick of everybody saying their team motto is Next Man Up. Everybody has that motto.” WELCOME BACK: Other than Lemon and Laing, there are a couple of other former Redblacks in Saturday’s game: Offensive lineman J’Micheal Deane and receiver Khalil Paden. Guard Tyler Holmes is actually from Ottawa. HELP TACKLE HUNGER: Fans are encouraged to bring nonperisha­ble food items or donate cash Saturday as part of Purolator’s Tackle Hunger Program. It’s hoped they can get 50,000 pounds of food donations. For a $5 donation, your name will go into a draw to win a signed Harris jersey. tbaines@postmedia.com Twitter.com/TimCBaines

 ?? AL CHAREST/POSTMEDIA ?? After finding himself under fire against the Calgary Stampeders last week, Redblacks quarterbac­k Trevor Harris is expecting more of the same from an aggressive Toronto Argonauts defensive line on Saturday night at TD Place.
AL CHAREST/POSTMEDIA After finding himself under fire against the Calgary Stampeders last week, Redblacks quarterbac­k Trevor Harris is expecting more of the same from an aggressive Toronto Argonauts defensive line on Saturday night at TD Place.
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