Johany Jutras/CFL
CFL.ca Staff
With files from OttawaREDBLACKS.com
CALGARY — The Ottawa REDBLACKS enter their Week 8 rematch with Calgary battling for their spot atop the East Division standings and, more than that, among the CFL’s top teams.
So far they’ve justified all of the off-season hype over a new-look squad, winning four of their first six games including a win over last year’s defending Grey Cup Champion Calgary Stampeders. Unlike a year ago, the REDBLACKS are winning close games while their offence and defence, ranked fourth and second respectively, are putting up the numbers to back up their success.
Yet not all fans are convinced they’re a contender. A CFL.ca fan poll revealed this week that only 49 per cent of fans think the Ottawa REDBLACKS have proven they’re a contender for the Grey Cup in 2015:
The biggest difference this season has come down to winning close games. All four of the REDBLACKS’ wins so far have involved fourth-quarter comebacks, including a last-minute 26-23 win over the Montreal Alouettes on the strength of a late Henry Burris touchdown run. Ottawa also came from behind to tie the game late against Calgary back in Week 5, setting up an eventual overtime win on a Delbert Alvarado field goal.
“Last year we had that attitude of fighting and clawing our way in most games, we just couldn’t find the way to make the plays at the end of the game to win it whereas we have this year,” Head Coach Rick Campbell told OttawaREDBLACKS.com.
“We’ve been trying to be very honest with the players in that most games in pro sports are close,” he added. “You should anticipate that the game’s going to come down to the fourth quarter and not be surprised by that, and then in the fourth quarter you’re going to find a way to step up and get it done.”
Don’t let the four close comeback wins fool you, though — this isn’t a team merely fluking out victories.
Ottawa was 3-2 going into last weekend’s game against the 2-3 Alouettes, the biggest game of the season for either team up to that point. A loss for Ottawa and the REDBLACKS would lose their early edge over the Als in the standings, while a win would create a two-game cushion and clinch a victory in the season series. That matchup was as good a time as any for the REDBLACKS to fall back to earth and waiver, but as the nation watched — wondering whether Ottawa would crumble under the pressure — the REDBLACKS came through.
They recorded 31 first downs against one of the CFL’s top defences, the most by any team this season and tied for the most by any Ottawa team since July, 2002. Ottawa had 19 first downs in the second half alone against Montreal last weekend while gaining 254 net yards in the final 30:00 to pull out the win.
Now, however, Campbell says his team is done patting itself on the back. An even tougher test awaits if the REDBLACKS are going to prove they belong among the CFL’s top dogs.
“It’s a good start for us,” conceded Campbell. “We’re excited about how things have gone so far but we’re also keeping our eyes down the road on what’s ahead and that’s Calgary.”
“We’re done patting ourselves on the back for this past week and we’re onto Calgary, which is going to be a tough game.”
If fans aren’t convinced yet that the REDBLACKS aren’t just an illusion, surely they will be if Ottawa can win on Saturday on the road. The REDBLACKS pulled off what was then considered a major upset back in Week 5, getting to overtime on an 84-yard catch and run by Chris Williams then winning it as a result of Keith Shologan’s forced fumble off Bo Levi Mitchell.
Williams had 162 receiving yards that day while Henry Burris threw for 389 yards and three touchdowns, as Ottawa improved to 3-2 off a 29-26 win.
The Stampeders, however, are a different team at home, where they’re 4-0 this season. They’re also coming off a bye and have had plenty of time to prepare. For those reasons the REDBLACKS are a heavy underdog in this game, much like they’ve been throughout most of the season to this point.
And once again, on Saturday night everyone will be watching — wondering, is this the weekend the bubble bursts for the Ottawa REDBLACKS?
Certainly not if they have anything to say about it.
