Esks, REDBLACKS look to get back on track in Grey Cup rematch

OTTAWA — Two of the league’s hottest teams out of the gate, the Edmonton Eskimos and Ottawa REDBLACKS have fallen on hard times entering their Week 7 matchup in the nation’s capital.

The similarities in the two teams’ trajectories in 2016 are uncanny; both the REDBLACKS (3-0-1 start) and Eskimos (2-1 start) were quick off the blocks, but both have stumbled in the last few weeks as their previous strengths have been called into question.

Major keys to either team’s success last year — Ottawa quarterback Henry Burris’s MOP season and Edmonton’s consistent defence — have looked shaky thus far in 2016.

The REDBLACKS’ offence faced some boos during a lacklustre return from the injured list for Burris in last week’s loss to Toronto, while Edmonton’s once-fearsome defence has held only one of its first five opponents under 30 points.

Perhaps a change of scenery will do the Edmonton Eskimos some good.

Saturday’s visit to the Ottawa will be just the second road game of the season for Edmonton (2-3), which has posted a disappointing 1-3 record at Commonwealth Stadium out of the gate.

“We’ve had a couple of good days in the film room seeing how our opponent has changed in the last couple of weeks,” Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly told Esks.com. “We had a stretch where we were just off and that happens. Shoot, the last three-and-a-half years I’ve been here, we’ve had stretches where we’ve gone through what every offence goes through.”

Reilly will have to play to his usual standards if Edmonton is to engineer a win on the road and claw back to a .500 record.

“There’s going to be stretches in every game where you’re going to hit (a) funk,” explained the Esks pivot, who leads the league with 1,926 passing yards. “You can only let it happen for a drive or two. You can’t let it happen for quarters on end. That’s something we have to figure out. Have somebody step up and make a play to get us back into it.”

Reilly has thrown for over 300 yards in his last eight games, and can tie former Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo for the all-time record in consecutive games with 300-plus yards if he breaks the mark in Ottawa on Saturday.

There’s no way around the fact that the Esks have struggled on the defensive side of the ball this season.

The same team that finished top-three in the CFL in points allowed (341, 1st), sacks (49, 3rd) and interceptions (23, 3rd) a year ago is struggling in all three departments through six weeks in 2016.

Edmonton’s been unable to create meaningful penetration (league-low eight sacks) and has largely been unable to come up with the big play when needed on defence, despite having noted playmakers like Marcus Howard, J.C. Sherritt and Odell Willis in its front seven.

Eskimos receiver Derel Walker’s 642 receiving yards through his team’s first five games are the second-most in CFL history only to Milt Stegall, who hauled in 645 yards in Winnipeg’s first five games of the 2002 season.

On the Ottawa side of the football, a pair of losses — specifically last week’s against Toronto — have dislodged the REDBLACKS (3-2-1) from first place in the East Division. MOP candidate quarterback Trevor Harris remains on the shelf, meaning 2015 MOP Henry Burris will have a chance to right the ship after a dismal performance last week.

“I expect him to get things running,” Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell told OttawaREDBLACKS.com. “He’s done so well, did so well in training camp and pre-season, and in the first Edmonton game before he got injured.”

The REDBLACKS’ defence will be in for a unique challenge against the Eskimos, one of the top passing teams in the league.

“It’s going to be a tough task, they’ve got some good playmakers,” said defensive back Jermaine Robinson. “Reilly’s playing some good ball — we’ve got to keep things in front of us and finish this week, start playing better on defence, (and) keep them out of field-goal range.”

Ottawa’s defence will be boosted by the return of Moton Hopkins on the line and Nick Taylor’s debut in the secondary. Hopkins, a Tulsa alumnus, is coming off a career-high 25 tackles in 2015, while the speedy Taylor spent some time in camp with the New York Jets in 2014.

“It’s fun to get to play with some new guys,” said REDBLACKS defensive back Antoine Pruneau. “That’s something we’ve been through a lot this season, and it’s exciting for guys to get their first starts.”

The book on the Eskimos’ offence is out, but that doesn’t make stopping them any easier.

“They’ve got a great group of receivers,” said Pruneau. “Guys like Adarius Bowman and (Derel) Walker can be big threats for the deep bomb, and (we have to) make sure Reilly doesn’t beat us with his feet.”

The REDBLACKS will also start their last two first-round draft picks side-by-side on the offensive line, with Alex Mateas (2015, 1st-overall) and Jason Lauzon-Sequin (2016, 7th-overall) set to start at right guard and right tackle respectively.

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Early-season MOP candidate Chris Williams will look to get his season back on track (CFL.ca)

By the Numbers

0 – Touchdown receptions for Ottawa receiver Chris Williams in the last three weeks after hauling in six in the opening three weeks of 2016.

3 – League-high fumbles forced by Edmonton LB JC Sherritt.

9 – Wins for Edmonton in its last 11 games coming off a loss since 2014.

66.2 – Completion percentage for Ottawa QB Henry Burris.

The Skinny

Both the Eskimos and REDBLACKS are reeling and in bad need of a win to stay relevant in their respective divisional races.

Edmonton’s defence will sense the struggling REDBLACKS as an opportunity to put on a statement performance, while Ottawa will see the reeling Esks’ defence as a chance to right its ship offensively.

The two teams have split their last two meetings, Edmonton running out winner at the Grey Cup last November and Ottawa emerging victorious in Week 1 this year in Alberta.

Anything can happen.

Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET and can be seen live on TSN or followed online via CFL.ca GameTracker.

With files from Esks.com/OttawaREDBLACKS.com

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