Reasons to think Ottawa Redblacks (1-6) might beat Calgary Stampeders (5-2) again
Desperate to rediscover a winning combination, head coach Bob Dyce will roll what he hopes is a lucky seven roster changes into Thursday's return from a bye week to face the Calgary Stampeders.
Article content
Article content
While Dru Brown will start at quarterback after getting his bell rung by a high hit early in the second quarter of the team's last game — a 30-15 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 20 — three of the seven players coming off the injured list are Canadians.
Article content
Article content
Two of them will be making their season debut: Veteran centre Peter Godber, who was signed last winter as a free agent, and third-year defensive lineman Aidan John, who made an impact as a backup last season.
Article content
Article content
Also returning from injury are three American starters — receiver Bralon Addison, linebacker Frankie Griffin and cornerback C.J. Coldon — as well as Global defensive lineman Blessman Ta'ala.
Article content
Only one of the outgoing players (veteran Canadian defensive tackle Cleyon Laing) will take a seat because he's injured.
One other change the Redblacks have to make is in the outcome of their games.
Article content
They have lost their last four, and with a record of 1-6, they sit last in the CFL standings.
Article content
If the playoffs started today, both Ottawa and the defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts (2-5) would be on the outside looking in, while the B.C. Lions (3-5) would cross over from the West Division to take the third and final spot in the East.
Article content
Article content
The Redblacks, whose only victory was by a 20-12 count on a cold, windy and rainy June 21 in Calgary, will try to make it two in a row against a 5-2 Stampeders team that this time will be missing injured starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. and playing its fourth game in 19 days.
Article content
Ottawa is rested and should be hungry for its first home win of the season.
Article content
'I think for (the players) to get away was important, to clear their minds, but at the same time for us as coaches to analyze what we're doing well, and what we need to do better,' said Dyce. 'The first thing I talked to them about is that coming in here is a special thing. And to get back at the opportunity to come out here and play on Thursday night is something that we all cherish. So being away from it a little bit, if you want to say, rekindles that fire and gets it burning a little bit hotter.'
Article content
The Redblacks are in Toronto to face the Argos a week from Saturday, so if they're going to claw their way back into contention for a playoff spot, now's the time to do it.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vancouver Sun
33 minutes ago
- Vancouver Sun
Redblacks bust out of slump with another victory over the Calgary Stampeders
There's nothing wrong with the Ottawa Redblacks that playing the Calgary Stampeders doesn't cure. After a turtle-like start, the Redblacks scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter en route to a 31-11 victory over the Stamps in front of 16,115 fans Thursday night at TD Place. The win, the first of the season on home turf, snapped a four-game losing skid for the 2-6 Redblacks , whose only other victory was June 21 in Calgary. The Stampeders (5-3) were without starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., three Canadian receivers and starting cornerback Adrian Greene, who leads the CFL with four interceptions. They were also playing their fourth game in 19 days while Ottawa was coming off a bye week. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The Redblacks held a 17-3 lead at halftime thanks to a pair of touchdown catches by Justin Hardy, but Calgary's second-ranked defence appeared determined to shift the momentum in the third quarter with two sacks, an interception, and holding Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown to just 12 passing yards. But on a night dominated by the Ottawa defence, cornerback Alijay McGhee stepped up and restored order on a 61-yard pick-six with just under 10 minutes left. It was the third interception of the night thrown by P.J. Walker, a former NFL starting quarterback who was making his first career CFL start. Walker wound up completing 20 of 37 passes for 273 yards while Brown, who left Ottawa's previous game in the second quarter with a head injury, connected on 19 of 27 throws for 225 yards. Calgary finally found the end zone on a 29-yard TD reception by ex-Redblack Dominque Rhymes, who also pulled in two long passes to set up the only score of the first quarter, a 37-yard Rene Paredes field goal. But the outcome was sealed when Stamps coach Dave Dickenson kept his offence on the field for a third-and-10 gamble from its own nine-yard line with just over two minutes left. Lorenzo Mauldin, last year's CFL co-leader in sacks, responded with his first of the season to give the Redblacks possession at the Calgary one. Short-yardage quarterback Dustin Crum entered to take the scoring plunge. The Redblacks didn't get a first down until Eugene Lewis hauled in a 23-yard pass with 1:22 left in the first quarter. Hardy grabbed a 12-yard Brown bullet to the end zone 18 seconds into the second to give Ottawa the lead. Amari Henderson's first interception of the year at the Redblacks' 11-yard line prevented the Stampeders from answering with points on the next drive. Brown took off on a rare run that covered 16 yards to help set up Ottawa's next score, an 18-yard field goal by Lewis Ward. The Redblacks padded their lead when Brown found Hardy deep in the end zone for their second touchdown from the Calgary 15 with just under three minutes left in the first half. There wasn't a Calgary defender within 15 yards of Hardy. The Redblacks squashed another Stampeders scoring opportunity when Deandre Lamont made his second big opening-half play by picking off Walker at the Ottawa 10-yard line, sending the home team into the intermission with a comfortable lead. Ottawa lost starting right tackle Zack Peleos on the first offensive play of the game. Pelehos, whose start to the season was delayed by a training-camp foot injury, limped off the field and was replaced by American Parker Moorer.
Ottawa Citizen
an hour ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Redblacks bust out of slump with another victory over the Calgary Stampeders
Article content There's nothing wrong with the Ottawa Redblacks that playing the Calgary Stampeders doesn't cure. Article content After a turtle-like start, the Redblacks scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter en route to a 31-11 victory over the Stamps in front of 16,115 fans Thursday night at TD Place. Article content Article content The win, the first of the season on home turf, snapped a four-game losing skid for the 2-6 Redblacks , whose only other victory was June 21 in Calgary. Article content Article content The Stampeders (5-3) were without starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., three Canadian receivers and starting cornerback Adrian Greene, who leads the CFL with four interceptions. They were also playing their fourth game in 19 days while Ottawa was coming off a bye week. Article content Article content The Redblacks held a 17-3 lead at halftime thanks to a pair of touchdown catches by Justin Hardy, but Calgary's second-ranked defence appeared determined to shift the momentum in the third quarter with two sacks, an interception, and holding Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown to just 12 passing yards. Article content But on a night dominated by the Ottawa defence, cornerback Alijay McGhee stepped up and restored order on a 61-yard pick-six with just under 10 minutes left. It was the third interception of the night thrown by P.J. Walker, a former NFL starting quarterback who was making his first career CFL start. Article content Article content Walker wound up completing 20 of 37 passes for 273 yards while Brown, who left Ottawa's previous game in the second quarter with a head injury, connected on 19 of 27 throws for 225 yards. Article content Calgary finally found the end zone on a 29-yard TD reception by ex-Redblack Dominque Rhymes, who also pulled in two long passes to set up the only score of the first quarter, a 37-yard Rene Paredes field goal. Article content But the outcome was sealed when Stamps coach Dave Dickenson kept his offence on the field for a third-and-10 gamble from its own nine-yard line with just over two minutes left. Lorenzo Mauldin, last year's CFL co-leader in sacks, responded with his first of the season to give the Redblacks possession at the Calgary one. Article content Short-yardage quarterback Dustin Crum entered to take the scoring plunge.
Calgary Herald
an hour ago
- Calgary Herald
Redblacks bust out of slump with another victory over the Calgary Stampeders
Article content There's nothing wrong with the Ottawa Redblacks that playing the Calgary Stampeders doesn't cure. Article content After a turtle-like start, the Redblacks scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter en route to a 31-11 victory over the Stamps in front of 16,115 fans Thursday night at TD Place. Article content Article content The win, the first of the season on home turf, snapped a four-game losing skid for the 2-6 Redblacks , whose only other victory was June 21 in Calgary. Article content Article content The Stampeders (5-3) were without starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., three Canadian receivers and starting cornerback Adrian Greene, who leads the CFL with four interceptions. They were also playing their fourth game in 19 days while Ottawa was coming off a bye week. Article content Article content The Redblacks held a 17-3 lead at halftime thanks to a pair of touchdown catches by Justin Hardy, but Calgary's second-ranked defence appeared determined to shift the momentum in the third quarter with two sacks, an interception, and holding Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown to just 12 passing yards. Article content But on a night dominated by the Ottawa defence, cornerback Alijay McGhee stepped up and restored order on a 61-yard pick-six with just under 10 minutes left. It was the third interception of the night thrown by P.J. Walker, a former NFL starting quarterback who was making his first career CFL start. Article content Article content Walker wound up completing 20 of 37 passes for 273 yards while Brown, who left Ottawa's previous game in the second quarter with a head injury, connected on 19 of 27 throws for 225 yards. Article content Calgary finally found the end zone on a 29-yard TD reception by ex-Redblack Dominque Rhymes, who also pulled in two long passes to set up the only score of the first quarter, a 37-yard Rene Paredes field goal. Article content But the outcome was sealed when Stamps coach Dave Dickenson kept his offence on the field for a third-and-10 gamble from its own nine-yard line with just over two minutes left. Lorenzo Mauldin, last year's CFL co-leader in sacks, responded with his first of the season to give the Redblacks possession at the Calgary one. Article content Short-yardage quarterback Dustin Crum entered to take the scoring plunge.
