Ottawa Redblacks vs. B.C. Lions: 5 issues to look at for Saturday

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Ottawa Redblacks at B.C. Lions

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4 p.m. PT, Saturday, B.C. Place

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TV: TSN. Radio: AM730

The Ottawa Redblacks have misplaced six straight and are available into B.C. Place a determined squad. However the B.C. Lions are additionally motivated to get the win as they attempt to maintain tempo with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for first place within the West.

Right here’s 5 issues to look at:

ALEX HAUL-INS

Coming into the season, the cash was on Dominque Rhymes, Keon Hatcher or Fortunate Whitehead to be the Lions’ main receivers.

All three cracked the 1,000-yard mark final yr, and all three constructed chemistry with quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. within the low season.

Then the accidents struck.

First, a foot damage brought on Hatcher to overlook most of coaching camp, and the primary three video games of the season.

Whitehead received damage within the first sport of the season, and has been out and in of the lineup since. Identical for Rhymes, who’s marketing campaign began with a 109-yard, two-TD efficiency in opposition to Calgary. He’s presently on the six-game injured checklist, having not performed since aggravating an ongoing knee damage earlier than the sport in opposition to Calgary.

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However all of the whereas, Mr. Consistency has been Alex Hollins.

The second-year participant leads the crew in receptions (57), yards (879), touchdowns (6) and catches over 30 yards. He’s taken over the mantle of deep menace from Whitehouse, serving to Adams to a CFL-best 39 completions over 20 yards, with Hollins hauling in a CFL-best 15 of these.

Cracking the 1,000 yard mark isn’t out of attain this weekend for the joke-cracking yahoo out of Yazoo Metropolis, Miss., as he already has a 161-yard sport underneath his belt this yr, and the Redblacks surrender a CFL-high 325.8 yards by means of the air and essentially the most 30-plus yard completions.

“It’s robust to get 1,000 yards on any degree. Faculty, skilled … that’s robust to get,” mentioned Hollins, who’s fourth general in complete receiving yardage, 92 yards behind league chief Austin Mack of Montreal.

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“To be near and dealing towards it reveals you all of the onerous work that I put in. It’s a blessing to be within the class with these different kind of men.

“I’m didn’t have a aim for no 1,000 yards, man,” he added, laughing.

“I knew that I used to be going to have the chance for a beginning place this yr, and possibly have some performs referred to as for me … however , I wasn’t pondering that I’m gonna be 1,000-yard man. It simply type of occurred.”

NEXT MAN UP

Lions coach Rick Campbell beforehand mentioned that Rhymes would come off the injured checklist after the bye week. He didn’t specify which sport.

With 13 days since their final sport, the longest hole of the yr, the Lions No. 1 receiver nonetheless isn’t able to resume his duties, and can sit out Saturday’s sport. He hasn’t performed since Aug. 3.

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“He’s not enjoying this week. However I’d say his return is imminent,” mentioned Campbell. “I had a cope with him that he was going to be feeling 100 per cent (earlier than he got here again). He and I are each on the identical web page; we wish him to be an impression participant for the house stretch, so (his return) goes to be a matter of per week or two.

The Lions can even be with out linebacker Bo Lokombo (ribs), whose spot shall be crammed by Josh Woods.

SCHRÖDINGER’S OFFENCE

Just like the well-known cat-in-a-box supposition, the Redblacks offence is each good and dangerous. They lead the league in offensive performs per sport (56.8), and infrequently shoot themselves within the foot, averaging the fewest penalty yards and offensive penalties within the CFL.

But their internet offence is by far the worst of all 9 groups, trailing Edmonton — Edmonton! — by 18 yards at 313.9 per sport. Their common achieve per play, simply 5.5 yards, additionally citing the rear in opposition to their compatriots.

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It’s as a result of in a pass-happy league, the Redblacks prefer to run. You possibly can virtually have Ottawa’s Bob Dyce put on a fedora and have him run blasts out of the T formation.

Their 132.8 speeding yards per sport is second solely to Winnipeg, whereas their passing yards (207.9) sit manner down on the backside. Their six passing touchdowns — six! — is almost half the full of the next-worst crew, Montreal (11).

There’s not a single Ottawa receiver within the prime 10, with Jaelon Acklin’s 602 yards and one landing main the best way.

FIELD OF (POSITION) DREAMS

B.C.’s return sport has been mediocre this yr. Protected, for essentially the most half, however decidedly common (4th general). They’re tied alongside 4 different groups with 5 big-play returns, and sit bagelled with three others within the landing return column.

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It’s a giant half why their common beginning place is the worst within the league, scrimmaging from the 34.4 yard line.

“As a participant, you wish to be the very best, you wish to put it in the long run zone, you wish to make huge performs,” mentioned return Terry Williams. “I would like the strain of telling myself ‘You are able to do higher — maintain working.’ Everyone’s purchased into it. We’re all locked in, the entire unit. We’re working towards onerous, so it’ll occur. Received to have religion.

ODDS AND ENDS

• There shall be no playoff clinching this week for B.C., whose magic quantity is 2. If the Lions win Saturday, and Calgary loses to Montreal subsequent week, they’re within the post-season. It’d be the primary consecutive appearances since their 20-year streak resulted in 2017.

If B.C. strikes to 9-4 this week, they’d be 5 video games forward of the Stamps — the one crew that may catch them from behind within the West. The one manner the Lions don’t make it’s a convoluted three-way tie with Saskatchewan and Calgary at 9-9. The defining issue is factors differential, and with B.C. at +43 to Calgary’s -39 and the Riders’ -4, just some huge blowouts would tip the scales for the Prairie groups.

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• Campbell retains transferring up the Lions all-time teaching ladder. A win Saturday would go Eagle Keys for seventh all time in B.C. historical past (26). He’s additionally an ideal 4-0 in opposition to his outdated crew — which hasn’t received in B.C. since he coached them in 2017.

• The Lions didn’t surrender a sack in opposition to Montreal final sport out, the primary time since Week 1 in opposition to Calgary their quarterback remained unscathed.

•  Talking of quarterbacks, Adams comes into the week third in CFL passing yards (2,957), second in passing TDs (20) and third in QB score (105.3), however with a league-high seven 300-yard video games. He’s hit 300 in 4 straight video games and thrown 11 TDs in that span, the very best four-game stretch of his profession.

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