Carlos Verde | @Carlos77Verde
After settling for a tie against Calgary on home turf last week in a Grey Cup rematch, the Ottawa REDBLACKS (0-0-1) will have another crack at the very same Stampeders (0-0-1) this Thursday in Alberta, where the two teams will meet in the highly-anticipated back end of a home-and-home series.
“We did a lot of good things — there was a reason we were up in the fourth quarter — but there’s always things to work on,” said REDBLACKS head coach Rick Campbell. “We talked about moving on from (that) game: This is a great opportunity to go out to Calgary, find a way to win, and to start the season 1-0-1.”
While Ottawa was in control for the majority of last week’s meeting, Calgary’s fourth-quarter comeback was a costly reminder of what the Stamps, owners of a league-best 15-2-1 record a year ago, are capable of.
“They’re talented, they have depth and they’re well-coached, with competitors that make it tough on you,” explained REDBLACKS receiver Josh Stangby, who scored his first career touchdown with Ottawa in the Week-1 tie. “It’s a big game — you want to go in each week and try to grab a W, especially in a place like Calgary.”
Storylines
Tight Ball Games — Including last year’s Grey Cup, four of the last six meetings between the REDBLACKS and Stampeders have needed overtime. Both teams boast elite talent at various positions, and there will be enticing one-on-one matchups all over the field come Thursday.
Give Me Some “Mo” — All healed up after sitting out last week’s contest, running back Mossis Madu Jr will make his 2017 debut for the REDBLACKS this Thursday. With William Powell out, Madu — an Oklahoma Sooners product who averaged 5.3 yards-per-carry last season — should get the majority of touches in the back field.
Pressure the Pocket — Neither team recorded a sack in last week’s meeting, and while that rare statistic is definitely a feather in the cap of the respective offensive lines, you can be sure both defences will mix up packages this week in an extra effort to create pressure.
Scouting the Opposition
As per usual, the Stampeders roster is littered with all-star talent at various positions.
Standouts in last week’s tie included quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell (376 pass yards, two pass TDs), slot back Marquay McDaniel (game-high 114 receiving yards) and defensive back Jamar Wall (INT, 2 FFs). Star Calgary running back Jerome Messam was limited through the first three quarters, but ultimately ended Week 1 with 65 rushing yards and a touchdown.
On the injury front, the Stamps will be without return man Roy Finch, who was suspended two games for violating the CFL’s drug policy, while standout receiver DaVaris Daniels is listed as unlikely with a neck injury.
What They’re Saying
“(Their inactive list) isn’t going to change our approach much. They have good depth, they’ll have quality guys step in. We talked about moving on from (Week 1), because it was quite an emotional game with the ups and downs and swings. It took a little bit longer to get over than normal.”
— Head Coach Rick Campbell
“We’ve always been a good run team. We’ve got to come out, put body on body and compete. When (Brendan Gillanders) came in (in Week 1), he ran really good. He had 80 on them. We know they’ll make adjustments and we have to make them as well.”
— Running back Mossis Madu Jr
“As the weeks continue to crescendo, we’re hoping to go in and play our type of football. We know those guys are going to come out with a ton of energy, and we have to match that. We can’t beat ourselves — we need to eliminate our penalties, clean up our game and be focused.” — Offensive lineman SirVincent Rogers
GAME INFO
Ottawa REDBLACKS at Calgary Stampeders
Week 2 | June 29, 2017
Kickoff | 9:00 p.m. ET
McMahon Stadium
BROADCAST INFO
TV (EN): TSN | TSN GO | TSN.ca/LIVE
TV (FR): RDS
TV (US): ESPN3
TV (INT’L): BT (UK and Ireland)
Radio (EN): TSN 1200 | TSN1200.ca
Radio (FR): FM 104,7 Outaouais | FM1047.ca
