Redblacks’ receiver Spencer getting back to dominant form
Anybody who typed Diontae Spencer’s name into his or her TSN CFL Fantasy lineup last week is now likely quite fond of the Ottawa Redblacks receiver/returner.
After five weeks of non-Diontae Spencer-like statistics (11, 29, 26, 38 and 18 yards in receptions), he delivered a huge game in a 42-41 loss to Toronto, scoring 38.7 fantasy points, with eight catches for 145 yards and a touchdown, along with an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown. It was much more in line with what fans had expected of Spencer, who before the season had predicted he would “dominate” in 2018. His words certainly didn’t seem out of line, given a 2017 season in which he had nearly 1,000 yards in catches and several big plays on special teams, including touchdowns on a missed field goal and a punt return.
Spencer said he didn’t feel anything different last week.
“It happens. I went to the game, it was the same routine, same mindset,” he said. “You just have to weather the storm, stay the course, believe in yourself, believe in your teammates and the big plays will happen.
“It’s football; you have to let the game come to you. When you’re pressing and you want things to happen so bad, it can go bad. You just have to be yourself; hopefully I can continue to do what I’m doing. I come out and practise hard; you practise like you play.”
The 26-year-old receiver said the Redblacks have to take something from a game in which they blew a 24-point lead.
“We went in at halftime with a big lead, we have to close that out,” he said. “You come to work the following week and you don’t want to feel like that again. If we have to put up 70 points to win, then we have to score 70. It’s tough to win football games. The other team has the same mindset; they’re trying to win, too.”