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Insight and Analysis June 27, 2018

Ferguson: REDBLACKS’ young, Canadian O-linemen exceed expectations

Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca

CFL.ca
@TSN_Marsh

Starting a pair of young offensive lineman is always dangerous. Starting them against a pair of the CFL’s most feared pass rushers seems damn near crazy.

Don’t tell the decision makers of the Ottawa REDBLACKS that. Last Thursday in the REDBLACKS primetime season and home opener with a national audience watching, Ottawa relied on the decision making of their off-season evaluators and national scouting staff in order to shuffle the offensive line deck and find the right combination.

Rick Campbell, Marcel Desjardins and the rest of the REDBLACKS decided that second-year University of Saskatchewan product Evan Johnson would start at right tackle opposite perennial CFL All-Star Sir Vincent Rogers while 2018 fourth-overall CFL draft selection from the University of Alberta Mark Korte would start at left guard.

Believing you have drafted well and possess the national depth to start two players with a combined 17 games played – all via Johnson’s 2017 rookie campaign – is brash. Watching those players succeed on the majority of snaps against a top flight defensive attack featuring two of the leagues best sack masters who tout a combined 205 CFL games played was stunning and a key to the REDBLACKS creating week two win.

So how did they do it?

First and foremost the play calling of Jaime Elizondo needs to be credited. Much like the success discovered by rookie quarterback Chris Streveler in Winnipeg which has been crafted by the gamesmanship of Blue Bombers offensive coordinator Paul Lapolice, Elizondo designed a plan which at times insulated Korte in the protection scheme with Rogers or asked quarterback Trevor Harris to get the ball out quickly.

Harris getting the ball out on time can not be understated. Regardless of who plays in front of him the REDBLACKS leader is one of the CFL’s quickest triggers but his ability to process a defence pre-snap and release the ball both on time and target was exceptional against the Riders.

On the REDBLACKS second offensive snap of the game Harris displayed that ability to get the ball out before a Riders defender could get within reach while Johnson – at right tackle – set the tone for the night with perfect protection.

A few plays later on another key second down conversion pass Korte, just snaps into his CFL career had to fend off interior pressure and found a way to keep Harris clean.

From Rogers all the way across the line to Johnson the REDBLACKS offensive line was outstanding Thursday night allowing minimal pressure and zero sacks on pass plays.

When it came to the ground game the REDBLACKS young lineman played an integral role in team success as well.

Johnson thrived in moments he was asked to escape the Riders defensive end duo and down block to a tackle or linebacker as seen below.

Meanwhile all Korte did in his first CFL start was uproot CFL all-star Willie Jefferson to help William Powell into the end zone.

When all else failed, Powell was the great eraser, making any errors up front disappear with a quick juke or a powerful drive between two defenders. The end result saw the REDBLACKS marquee back finish with 19 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown.

A balanced attack handling one of the CFL’s best defences to the tune of no sacks, a seven-minute time of possession advantage, 459-yards of total offence and most importantly a win.

Pretty good start for a couple of kids from Canada West. Now they travel closer to home and as the CFL schedule does, the next week comes increasingly faster than the last game did while the quality of opposition remains the same.

Once again it will be the REDBLACKS young offensive line on national television attempting to contribute to an Ottawa victory, this time in the hostile environment of McMahon Stadium in Calgary where Ottawa has not won a game since returning to the CFL in 2014, losing by an average score of 44-20.

If the REDBLACKS can keep I close maybe it could be a game changing block by a young Canadian that puts them into the end zone and over the top to a 2-0 season start.