OTTAWA — A critical East Division showdown between The Ottawa REDBLACKS and Toronto Argonauts at TD Place kicks off a three-game Saturday schedule.
Ottawa saw its seven game unbeaten streak come to an end with a 38-12 loss to the BC Lions at Touchdown Pacific last week in Victoria, B.C.
Toronto most recently fell to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 31-28 on Labour Day.
As the REDBLACKS try to get back to their winning ways against a provincial rival, it’s Dru Brown leading them offensively having completed 200 of 300 passes on the season for 2,532 yards.
As Brown heads into a second straight week without receiver Jaelon Acklin due to injury, he’ll be hoping Eli Stove can be a primary target like he was against the Lions in Week 13 when he caught eight passes for 73 yards. If Stove can provide another catching option, it’ll take pressure off top receivers Justin Hardy and Dominique Rhymes.
Spreading the field will be important as the REDBLACKS try to add to the struggles Toronto’s secondary had against Hamilton. After coughing up 353 yards on Labour Day, the Argos are now allowing 291.7 per game.
It’s a defensive back corps led by Benjie Franklin and Royce Metchie, as DaShaun Amos is listed as a game-time decision. Having Amos would be a big boost, given he sat tied for second in interceptions heading into this week’s action with four.
With it being a big divisional game, Brown expects the Argos’ defence to bring the pressure.
“They have veteran guys in the back end that are talented,” Brown told reporters. “They have good ball skills in the back end so it’ll be a tough challenge, for sure. Any time we play a game, we want to compete and we want to win, that’s kind of how I think about it.”
Bob Dyce’s run game is set to look different after the release of running back Ryquell Armstead and the signing of Jamal Morrow. The former Roughrider will serve as the back up to Khalan Laborn, making his CFL debut.
Whoever Dyce decides to hand the ball to, they’ll have their work cut out for them against the league’s top run defence. D-linemen Jake Ceresna and Folarin Orimolade, along with Jonathan Jones at linebacker have all had impressive seasons to date, with Ceresna in a tie for second league-wide with five sacks.
When it comes to the Argos moving the ball down the field, it’ll be Chad Kelly at the helm making his third straight start. He’ll be looking to make it three straight 300-plus yard passing games after putting up 322 in each of his first two.
Damonte Coxie, DaVaris Daniels — who is also a game-time decision — and David Ungerer are among Kelly’s favourite targets. Ungerer in particular has been impressive, collecting 150 yards in the Argos’ previous two games against Saskatchewan and Hamilton.
They’ll see a strong pass defence this week as the REDBLACKS sit third in the league surrendering 266.7 yards per game. It’s a defensive back corps that has playmaking ability all over the field, led by Deandre Lamont’s seven pass knockdowns. Six different players have also recorded an interception, led by Alonzo Addae and Alijah McGhee, who have two apiece.
Ka’Deem Carey handles the rushing duties and is coming off a 78-yard performance in Hamilton. With 724 yards on the season, he’s well on his way to reaching 1,000 for the second time in his career.
The REDBLACKS’ defensive front also ranks third in yards allowed on the ground at 91.4 and it’s a group that’s sure to be physical on the Argos offensive line. Lorenzo Mauldin IV has five tackles for a loss and serves as a steadying veteran presence, while linebackers Frankie Griffin and Adarius Pickett do a good job of preventing big plays in the middle of the field.
With the sour taste of a loss to rival Hamilton and working through a short week, Dinwiddie knows there’s no time for self-pity at this point in the season.
“We have to find a way to get a win,” Dinwiddie told reporters. “I told our guys we can’t be feeling sorry for ourselves. Five-day week, didn’t play our best last week at the end to win it. Mentally we have to be strong. Mentally strong and physically, we’ll play up to par where we need to. I know guys are beat up right now on this five-day week but if we’re mentally strong and push through it, we should be OK.”
It’s not like CFL bad-boy Chad Kelly has a bull’s eye on his forehead, but you can bet the Ottawa Redblacks would love to knock the Toronto Argonauts starting quarterback to the turf Saturday.
Bottom line: The more they make Kelly uncomfortable, the better chance they have of winning. And this matchup of division opponents is a biggie for both teams.
Kelly was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2023 after leading his team to a 16-2 record. He passed for 4,123 yards and 23 touchdowns while adding eight more on the ground.
In his two games since being re-instated, Kelly has 644 yards passing (with a touchdown and two interceptions).
So, throwing Kelly — the nephew of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly — off his game would be a good thing for the Redblacks, who are looking to create some separation between themselves (7-3-1 record) and the Argos, who are one spot behind in the East standings with a 6-5-0 record.
“Chad was the MOP, he’s obviously a dynamic player,” Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce said. “He adds more of a vertical part to the game. But he also can be dynamic with his legs; he’s not afraid to take off and run. The more games he plays, the more you anticipate him to get better and better.”
“He’s a competitor,” said Redblacks linebacker Adarius Pickett, who was a teammate of Kelly’s in Toronto. “He wants to win. He has some good receivers, he has an opportunity to spread the ball around the field. That’s what he does well.”
For Pickett, there’s a familiarity with Kelly and with several other Argos, but he says that’s in the past; it’s not a focus as he prepares to defend against an offence he practised against on a daily basis.
“You’re looking at the team as what they are now and, not what they were,” he said. “When I was there, we had a different team than they do now. My job is to study the film for what they are now, for what they’re currently doing.”
Not lost is the importance of Saturday’s game — a 1 p.m. start and also serving as Family Day with several activities planned for the kids.
The Redblacks are coming off a 38-12 loss to the B.C. Lions, halting a six-game unbeaten streak. The Argos lost 31-28 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Monday. Ottawa will be either ahead of Toronto by five points (with a win) or a single point (with a loss).
Both teams will be looking to gather momentum as they head down the stretch. Six of Ottawa’s remaining seven games are against East opponents, ratcheting up the importance of each.
Working in their favour, the Redblacks are unbeaten at home this season (five wins and a tie).
“We know it’s a four-point game, (the Argos) know it’s a four-point game, we expect them to come out excited and ready to play, just like us,” Dyce said. “They know there are limited opportunities here in the east and you have to make the most of them.”
“It’s heating up,” Pickett said. “At this point in the season, we have to inhale the future and exhale the past. That just means whatever happened in the past 11 games has positioned us to be exactly where we want. But it doesn’t essentially matter. We have to come out to these next seven games and put it together, taking it one game at a time.”
Important for the Redblacks will be the performance of the offence, which will play without starters Jaelon Acklin and Bralon Addison on Saturday (Eli Stove and Andre Miller again will fill in).
“(Our offence has) done some things well, but we’re still not where we want to be from an execution standpoint,” Redblacks quarterback Dru Brown said. “There are games where we show flashes. We’ve yet to play that game where we’re truly firing fully. And I’m excited for that, I know that we can do it.”
The Redblacks will have two American running backs in uniform. Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Jamal Morrow and rookie Khalan Laborn will play Saturday, replacing Ryquell Armstead, who was released earlier this week.
Said Dyce: “They’ll both play, they have dynamic skillsets. They’re different backs, they add a different dynamic to the offence.
“Jamal has the experience. With the motions and protection and so many moving parts, it’s not too much for him. He’s still showing the great quickness we saw when he played previously.
“Khalan is so full of energy, he’s got outstanding burst and he’s strong in his protection.”
Former Gee-Gees receiver Daniel Oladejo gets into the lineup, replacing Keaton Bruggeling. On the depth chart, Oladejo is backup to Nick Mardner, who is listed as a game-time decision … Acklin (head) is now on the one-game injured list. It wouldn’t be surprising if he returns to practice next week … Toronto and Ottawa have allowed the most sacks this season (27) … The Argonauts have won five straight games against Ottawa, with the Redblacks’ most recent victory coming July 31, 2022 (23-13) … Ottawa has been outscored in every quarter this season except the third, where they have a 71-31 margin … Redblacks receiver Justin Hardy is nine catches short of 200 in his career. He is second in the league with 853 receiving yards … Pickett’s next defensive tackle will be his 250th … Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward is up to 127 points in 2024. He is now the second-leading scorer in Ottawa history with 843 points. Gerry Organ had 1,462 points from 1971-1983 for the Rough Riders.
