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Big, physical receivers. Big, physical defensive backs.
When the Edmonton Eskimos and Ottawa REDBLACKS meet in the 103rd Grey Cup presented by Shaw, one of the match-ups that will go an awfully long way towards deciding the outcome will be just who wins most of those battles over sixty minutes.
When you think of the slobberknocker kinds of battles that go on during a football game, you usually conjure images of offensive and defensive linemen getting feisty in the trenches. However, more and more, physicality has become a tremendous factor in the air game and the REDBLACKS have the strongmen to give the Eskimos’ defensive backs plenty to handle.
“They’re one of the best groups in the league right now because of the fact that they have a combination of speed and size,” said Saskatchewan Roughriders’ receiver and CFL.ca Grey Cup Insider Rob Bagg, talking about Ottawa’s vaunted fleet of pass-catching weapons, a group that finished the regular season with four 1,000 yard gainers.
Two of those big weapons, Greg Ellingson (6’3″, 197 lbs) and Brad Sinopoli (6’4″, 215 lbs), took to the podium in tandem after Wednesday’s practice at a chilly, breezy Investors Group Field, to talk about just how they plan to deal with the CFL’s stingiest pass defence.
“They’re a good defence,” said Sinopoli, when asked, specifically, about going up against and Eskimos’ secondary that can match them in speed and size, particularly corners Pat Watkins (6’5″, 205 lbs) and John Ojo (6’3″, 205 lbs). “They like to drop back and let you get stuff underneath and come down and hit because they are big and physical but, I think, as a group we’re pretty large too and we’re not scared to get physical with them.”
Ellingson agreed with that and then dismissed the idea that Ottawa receivers need to prepare any differently for a game against the Eskimos, based on physicality.
“I don’t think it changes from week to week, from the beginning of the year to Grey Cup,” he said. “If you change your preparation for this one game, that’s where you make the mistake. We’re gonna prepare like we always have.”
“We do still look for weaknesses as we do, always, week in and week out and we try to exploit those.”
Sinopoli, the Eastern nominee for Outstanding Canadian, is confident that he and the rest of the receiving corps are going to be able to bulldoze for extra real estate, even if quarterback Henry Burris is forced to throw underneath a dropping Eskimos’ coverage team.
“We feel good that we’re big, physical receivers and we’re good with yards after the catch which is gonna be a big thing this week,” he said.
The REDBLACKS’ receivers have been manhandling defensive backs who’ve dared play them tight and try to bump them off their game at the snap of the ball all season long. According to Bagg, there has been a general and gradual switch among CFL defences to accommodate the growing physicality of receivers, with more coordinators opting for zone coverage more often, as opposed to man to man. He doesn’t expect that either Ojo or Watkins will play a tight, bump and run game, especially when they are taking on another of Ottawa’s 1,000 yard receivers, Chris Williams.
“In the past they (Eskimo corners) have rolled up on receivers and not allowed to get them off the line. But when you get guys like Chris Williams who is, arguably, the best receiver in the league at getting off the line of scrimmage on jam coverage, it’s harder to do that, without getting exposed deep,” he said.
So, the Eskimos are more likely to try and disrupt the Ottawa air attack with pass rushing linemen and blitzers coming from all over the field.
If that’s the case, someone will be open, even if it is in one of those underneath patterns that Burris is forced to employ.
That’s when the battle – tackler versus receiver turned ball carrier – could really make a critical difference in Sunday’s game. REDBLACKS receivers will need to be at their physical best to win those skirmishes.
Maas’ presence felt amongst receivers
Ottawa Offensive Coordinator Jason Maas has made a huge difference to the REDBLACKS’ offence, taking over in 2015 and building an attack that Burris has come to master. That is often the focus when talking about Maas’ contributions; just what he’s meant to Burris. However, the Maas touch has definitely made for changes to how the game is played and perceived by the receivers, as well. It’s a system that works not only because of Maas’ insistence on balancing touches but because the receivers have adopted a generous attitude, according to Sinopoli
“The best part of our offence is that it doesn’t just focus on one or two guys,’ he said. “Every single person that’s on the field is involved. That was made clear the first day we got in there. That’s the best part about it. The second best part about it is that we have guys that are selfless. That want to be in there and understand that the ball’s gonna be spread around.”
