OTTAWA 鈥� The Ottawa Redblacks are looking to pick up right where they left off.
Coming off a bye week, the Redblacks (5-2) will look to extend their four-game home winning streak when they host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-3) on Thursday night at TD Place.
The Redblacks were playing solid football before the bye and with a number of players returning from the injured list Ottawa could be even tougher to handle.
DeVonte Dedmon will return to run back kicks and punts, but he had solid support in his absence with Kalil Pimpleton filling in admirably. Pimpleton has been impressive since joining the lineup, including his 209 return yards against Calgary that were highlighted by a 99-yard touchdown punt return.
In addition, linebacker Frankie Griffin, cornerback Alijah McGee and defensive back Justin Howell will return to the lineup as will offensive linemen Zack Pelehos and Dino Boyd.
The Roughriders are looking to bounce back from a 42-31 loss to the Edmonton Elks last weekend, but they鈥檒l have to find a way to deal with one of the stingiest defences.
鈥淚 feel like we haven鈥檛 played our best game,鈥� said Griffin. 鈥淲e鈥檙e gonna continue to keep building, day-by-day, practice by practice, game by game. We鈥檙e going to continue to build and try and do what we do.鈥�
Through seven games Ottawa has allowed a league-low 167 points and hasn鈥檛 given up a touchdown in its last two games.
Ottawa鈥檚 defensive core has prided itself on making life difficult for opposing teams.
鈥淲hether it be going into training camp or now, where we鈥檝e evolved to, we knew we had a very talented group,鈥� said head coach Bob Dyce of his defence.
鈥淚t really is each man鈥檚 opportunity. They鈥檙e accountable to their teammates and they鈥檙e accountable to the whole team, and they鈥檙e outstanding athletes. I see a group that has really bought into the team concept of playing strong team defence.鈥�
While Ottawa鈥檚 defence has played a significant role in the team鈥檚 success to this point one can鈥檛 overlook Dru Brown鈥檚 contributions. The Redblacks have been searching for consistency under centre and Brown has provided just that through his seven games.
Only Tom Clements has a better win-loss record in his first seven starts for an Ottawa football team than Brown. While Clements went 6-1 in 1975, Brown stands at 5-2. Additionally, Brown boasts a 72 per cent completion rate over his last three games, averaging 354 yards per game.
鈥淚 feel like we鈥檝e consistently executed at a high level,鈥� said Brown. 鈥淲hen we do that people that look at the numbers are impressed.
"We don鈥檛 necessarily try to put up numbers but usually when we execute we put up numbers so it kind of goes hand in hand. I think we鈥檙e getting close to being really, really good and we鈥檝e been working our tails off to get there.鈥�
While Brown hasn鈥檛 experienced the pain of the last few seasons he is well aware of the Redblacks鈥� past struggles.
鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a humbleness to the group because a lot of guys know how this game can be,鈥� added Brown. 鈥淭here鈥檚 an appreciation for winning but there鈥檚 also an understanding of what it takes to win.鈥�
A win for Saskatchewan would move them into first place in the West Division, while Ottawa would find itself just one game back of first place Montreal in the East.
Saskatchewan鈥檚 Zack Fry will make his CFL debut at left tackle on Thursday. Quarterback Trevor Harris (knee) will sit out his sixth straight game, while running back A.J. Ouellette (hip) will miss his third game in a row. Linebackers Jameer Thurman (elbow) and Melique Straker (hamstring), along with receiver KeeSean Johnson (head), will also miss the game.
ROUGHRIDERS (5-3) at REDBLACKS (5-2)
COVERING THE KICK: Ottawa has allowed an opponent only one kick return of any kind greater than 30 yards. They rank No. 1, allowing just 9.5 yards on opposing punt returns.
HURRY HICKSON: In his two starts, Hickson is averaging 103 yards per game and 7.4 yards per carry (28 for 206 yards).
KEEP IT GOING: The Redblacks have started at 5-2 for the first time in their 10-year history. Their previous best start through seven games was 4-2-1 in 2016.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 7, 2024.
Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press
