The final game of the second week of pre-season action features a matchup between two well-known foes.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats head up the QEW for a battle against the Ottawa REDBLACKS on Saturday night in a rematch of last year’s Eastern Final.
For the REDBLACKS, the team that won the final division game and headed to the Grey Cup in 2018 has changed quite a bit.
Their starting quarterback, running back and star receiver all headed out of the nation’s capital during free agency, leaving Ottawa scrambling for their replacements. General manager Marcel Desjardins signed free agent Jonathan Jennings in February, bringing in an option capable of taking on the starting role at quarterback.
The starting spot isn’t Jennings’ for the taking, however, as the team has said it will be a competition between the former BC Lion and last year’s backup Dominique Davis for who will be under centre come the start of the season.
Both pivots, along with Danny Collins and William Ardnt will play on Saturday night at TD Place. While Mossis Madu, John Crockett, Dalton Crossan and Greg Morris will share duties in the backfield.
At receiver, All-Star Canadian Brad Sinopoli will sit this one out, leaving Dominique Rhymes, Seth Coate, Caleb Holley and R.J. Harris listed first on the team’s depth chart. Head coach Rick Campbell will give his younger pass-catchers a look at the field as well as they all fight for roster spots.
On defence, veteran safety Antoine Pruneau will not dress, along with starting DB Anthony Cioffi and DL Michael Klassen. Jonathan Rose and Chris Randle will play at field and boundary corner while Carleton grad Justin Howell gets the start at free safety. Sherrod Baltimore and Corey Tindal will get a look at half back as the REDBLACKS’ staff eyes playing quite a few of their starters in their first of two pre-season contests.
“We want to play a lot of people here at home,” Campbell told members of the media. “And then traditionally on the second game we have played a lot of newer guys that we want to make sure we get a really good look at.”
As with any pre-season game, the final score isn’t what counts for many coaches. What really matters for them is the evaluation process. Who can fit into their schemes on offence or defence? Who can play well in one-on-one situations?
It’s those questions that Campbell and Steinauer are looking to answer when their teams hit the turf on Saturday.
“Our priority is that we play everybody that we need to see,” Campbell said when asked about if the final score is important. “We want to play good football with everybody that’s available and then go from there.”
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. ET and can be seen on TSN.
