REDBLACKS visit Ticats for pivotal East contest

Ottawa REDBLACKS

The Ottawa REDBLACKS will head southwest this week for a must-win edition of Friday Night Football against the winless Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Tim Horton’s Field (7:30 p.m.).

The REDBLACKS (1-6-1) have dropped six of their eight games by a single score this season, while five of the Ticats’ (0-7) seven losses have come by more than one score.

Naturally, stats will be thrown out the window this week in Steeltown as both teams know the importance of Friday’s contest.

“No team in this league is a bad team, (and) you have to be at your best to beat anybody,” said Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell. “That’s where they are right now, (0-7), but we can’t worry about them. It’s really important we focus on ourselves and make sure we’re taking care of what we’re doing.”

Storylines

Desperation Time — Screws have been tightening in Hamilton dating back to a 60-1 drubbing suffered in Calgary three weeks ago, while tensions are running high in a REDBLACKS camp that widely agrees it has underachieved thus far. The good news: Neither team is out of the playoff picture yet. The bad news: Another couple losses could make it tres difficult to climb back into the picture — especially for Hamilton.

Injury Update — Ottawa will get receiver Kenny Shaw back from a leg injury that sidelined him in Week 1; the Orlando native was a 1,000-yard man with the Toronto Argonauts last season and could provide a boost to an already-deep receiving core. REDBLACKS return man Quincy McDuffie will miss Friday’s contest, opening up opportunities for Diontae Spencer and Josh Stangby.

Passing Game — Ottawa quarterback Trevor Harris leads the CFL in passing yards (2,468) and touchdowns (16), while receiver Greg Ellingson is tops in the league in receiving yards (749) and tied for first with Saskatchewan’s Duron Carter in touchdown receptions (5). Brad Sinopoli’s 589 yards rank him third in the league, while Josh Stangby (315) and Diontae Spencer (306) have also broken the 300-yard plateau on the season — depth aplenty.

Scouting the Opposition

The Ticats’ 0-7 start has been something of a head-scratcher for many around the league; Kent Austin’s Hamilton squad is just one year removed from a playoff berth and 5-3 divisional record.

Quarterback Zach Collaros has struggled to a league-low 41.4 QUAR rating — due in large part to the struggles of the Ticat offensive line — and Hamilton’s offence sits last or second-last in most stat categories.

Maine product Damarr Aultman has been a bright spot in recent weeks for Hamilton; the receiver has hauled in 116 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns over his first two CFL games.

On the defensive line, the Tabbies will be without sack-leader Ted Laurent — rookie Jason Neill will make his first CFL start in his place — but veteran D-end John Chick still poses a threat for opposing quarterbacks.

The Ticats have shaken things up on the defensive side of the ball in recent weeks; defensive coordinator Jeff Reinebold was let go on August 8, replaced by Phillip Lolley, and starting defensive back Will Hill was released last week.

What They’re Saying

“At the end of the day, there’s still ten games left and we’re a game and a half out of first place. We still control our own destiny; we have Montreal twice and Hamilton three times. We have to get it rolling, and we will.” — LB Nick Taylor

“Football and pro sports is a breeding ground for stress and anxiety. You need to make sure you don’t ratchet that up; you have to make sure you have the urgency, but also have to make sure you can function and keep going. (Hamilton) played Edmonton twice in the last three, four weeks and really should have beaten them the first time; then they played them out in Edmonton and it came down to the end. They still have good players.” — HC Rick Campbell

“We have to be more intense on the field on offence. We need to make those explosive plays. Sure feels like we need some wins. But we’re two wins away from being in first lace, so we’re not far behind. It sucks we haven’t been getting wins, but if we start getting some momentum, we’ll be alright.” — WR Greg Ellingson

Game Info

Ottawa REDBLACKS at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | Week 9 — August 17, 2017
Kickoff – 7:30 p.m. ET | Tim Horton’s Field

Broadcast Info

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