Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Nick Arbuckle (9) hands off to Devonte Williams during first half CFL football action against the Montreal Alouettes in Montreal, Saturday, June 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
OTTAWA – It’s only the second week of the season and already the Ottawa Redblacks are under pressure to perform.
After dropping their season opener 19-12 to the Montreal Alouettes, the Redblacks (0-1-0) will look to rebound in their home opener Thursday against Calgary.
While some fanbases are willing to forgive early season struggles, the Redblacks are in a unique position considering how bad they’ve been at home. Ottawa’s last home win came in September 2021 and the team is 2-23 at TD Place since June 2019.
“The record in the past doesn’t concern me because that’s not this team,” said Bob Dyce, who’s in his first season as Redblacks head coach. “A lot of these guys weren’t on those teams. I wasn’t the head coach of those teams. So we don’t focus on that.
“We prepare for every game the same way. It doesn’t make a difference if it’s here or on the road. There’s no added pressure.”
The Stampeders (0-1-0) are also looking to bounce back after falling 25-15 to the B.C. Lions in their first game.
Lorenzo Mauldin IV said the Redblacks are eager to start a new narrative with a home victory.
“A win (Thursday) would solidify that we are going about our business, and we are going to win some home games this year,” he said. “We lost our first game, but we saw some really good things and we learned from that stuff.”
Ottawa did manage six sacks in its opening loss. The Redblacks will look to make life difficult this time around for Stampeders quarterback Jake Maier.
Maier will be looking to redeem himself after completing just 56 per cent of his passes a week ago.
“Anybody that goes up for the ball you’re not coming back down with it and anybody that has the ball you’re not getting too far with it, said Mauldin. “That’s our mentality. We literally want to stop them in their tracks.”
Ottawa will look for Nick Arbuckle to rebound after throwing three interceptions last week. With Jeremiah Masoli still on the sidelines, Arbuckle will be counted on to turn things around.
“Just remembering that a great offensive performance is done by just making good plays consistently,” Arbuckle said.
Ottawa’s only scoring last week came off four field goals from Lewis Ward.
“We have to end drives with a touchdown,” Dyce said. “In the CFL game, you have to score points if you want to win. As well, we need to eliminate turnovers. We have to make sure every drive ends with a kick, hopefully a convert.”
Consistency will also be key for the receiving corps. Jaelon Acklin caught just two passes for 24 yards last week.
The Redblacks will also want to improve their running game, which had just 40 yards on the ground last week.
With Devonte Williams out with a hamstring injury, De’Montre Tuggle will get the start at running back.
Calgary will be without running back Ka’Deem Carey, giving Dedrick Mills an opportunity to shine once again against Ottawa. Last season, Mills had 100 rushing yards in a 17-3 win over the Redblacks when he filled in for Carey.
STAMPEDERES (0-1-1) AT REDBLACKS (0-1-0)
FEELING AT HOME: The Stampeders are 10-2 vs. the Redblacks since 2014, have won six of their last seven meetings and haven’t lost in Ottawa since 2015.
JUST KICK IT: Stampeders veteran kicker Rene Parades is just three field goals shy of hitting 500 for his career. If he hits the milestone, he would become just the eighth player in CFL history to accomplish the feat.
THREE-POINTERS: This game features the CFL’s two all-time best field-goal kickers for percentage made with Ward at 88.9 per cent and Paredes close behind at 87.3 per cent.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 14, 2023.
