Opportunistic Redblacks hang on to end losing streak (& 13 other thoughts on beating Saskatchewan)

A week after blowing a 19-point fourth-quarter lead, the Ottawa Redblacks watched most of their 22-point lead evaporate in the game’s final two minutes before doing something uncharacteristic: finishing.

In an entertaining affair in front of 19,647 fans at TD Place, Ottawa hung on to beat the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders by a score of 36-28, snapping their seven-game losing streak.

Here are all my thoughts on the win.

1) Dustin Crum’s 10th career game was perhaps his most efficient. Regardless of how the 2023 season plays out, R-Nation should be thrilled with the 24-year-old rookie’s continued growth.

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

Against Saskatchewan, Crum appeared extremely confident, squeezing throws into tight windows but never in a way that felt dangerous. His throws were accurate and hit his receivers in stride. Seriously, check out this ball placement, it doesn’t get any better than that.

In addition to completing 78 percent of his passes for 243 yards, two touchdowns (and most importantly, no turnovers), Crum ran the ball five times for 53 yards and another score.

Earlier this season Crum was frequently sacked as a result of hanging on to the ball too long. While that still remains somewhat of an issue — two of the three sacks Ottawa conceded resulted from a little too much indecision — he’s doing a much better job overall of either throwing the ball away or decisively choosing to scramble.

2) Offensive coordinator Khari Jones called a hell of a game. Coming into the contest, Saskatchewan had allowed the second most points per game in the league, and Jones made sure his unit took full advantage.

Ottawa racked up 28 first downs and 408 yards of offence, but what was most impressive was how Jones ensured that the Redblacks capitalized on Saskatchewan’s mistakes. Gifted five turnovers, Ottawa’s offence put 25 points on the board. That’s a winning formula.

Another reason for the Redblacks’ offensive success was their first down production. Ottawa averaged 6.9 yards per first down play, which led to manageable second down situations. In fact, the Redblacks converted seven of eight second-downs of three or less yards. Overall, Ottawa moved the chains on 58 percent of their second-down opportunities.

Jones did an excellent job keeping Saskatchewan off-balance by working in timely screens — both to the running back and hitch passes to receivers — and by taking advantage of Crum’s mobility on things like read options.

Of the Redblacks’ 15 possessions, seven ended in points (five touchdowns, two field goals), one in a missed field goal, one with a fumble, six in punts and most importantly, one in victory formation.

3) Sophomore running back Devonte Williams continues to come into his own with another dominating outing. The 26-year-old’s second 100+ yard rushing performance of the season was the driving force behind Ottawa’s strong offensive performance.

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

Williams averaged 6.2 yards per carry and finished the night with 136 yards on the ground and another 27 in the air. When he has the ball in his hands, Williams is purposeful, powerful and has excellent balance. Some running backs seem to dance around looking for holes, Williams moves north but has the shiftiness to make defenders miss, even when it seems like they have him dead to rights.

4) The most exciting aspect of Ottawa’s receiving corps performance was how good Bralon Addison looked. His five catches turned into 40 yards and a touchdown, but most importantly, his emergence takes some pressure off of Justin Hardy and Jaelon Acklin.

Ottawa has been waiting all season long for the emergence of a viable third receiving threat and if Addison can be that guy, opposing defences will have their hands full accounting for Crum’s mobility, Williams out of the backfield and the trio of Hardy, Acklin and Addison.

Speaking of Acklin and Hardy, the duo finished with five catches apiece, for 66 yards and 54 yards respectively, and a two-point convert.

As for the rest of the pass catchers, Siaosi Mariner made the most of his two catches, taking a screen 34 yards to the house. Shaq Evans made one reception for 11 yards and Canadian Tevaun Smith’s lone target was dropped. Not to rag on the guy but if Smith can’t make an impact even with Nate Behar injured, it’s tough to comprehend why he continues to make the game-day roster over second-year receiver Keaton Bruggeling, especially given that he’s not covering kicks.

5) Any time a team rushes for 193 yards on the ground, it’s because the offensive line played well. In addition to opening huge lanes on the ground, the Redblacks’ big men up front pass protected well. Officially, they’re responsible for giving up three sacks on Crum’s 27 dropbacks, but in reality, only one came as a result of a lineman — rookie right tackle Dontae Bull — being cleanly beaten.

Speaking of Bull, this is an incredible effort to throw a key downfield block on Mariner’s touchdown.

Left guard Drew Desjarlais was shaken up and left the game late in the fourth quarter. If he’s forced to miss any length of time, it would be a significant loss at a position where the Redblacks have been blessed with relatively good health.

6) It would be a stretch to say Ottawa’s defence was good against Saskatchewan, but being opportunistic can cover up a lot of warts. And if there’s one thing Barron Miles’ unit deserves full credit for, it’s how they made big plays at key moments.

The secondary continued to have baffling coverage busts but timely interceptions and forced fumbles made up for those gaffes. I’ve ragged on rookie Deandre Lamont for his struggles this season, so it’s only fair to praise him for the best game of his career. Lamont made two interceptions, the first of which sparked an 11-point run at the end of the first half.

Confidence is everything for a young defensive back, so hopefully this propels the 24-year-old to bigger and better things down the stretch.

After a poor first half that saw Saskatchewan average nearly ten yards per carry, Ottawa’s run defence stiffened over the game’s final 30 minutes, allowing just 26 yards on the ground.

Defensive line coach Mike Phair deserves credit for the way his group is playing. Ottawa’s defensive line harassed Jake Dolegala all game long, and the Redblacks finished with five sacks. Bryce Carter led the way with a trio of takedowns.

7) If you were confused as to how middle linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox went from being listed as a game-time decision on the depth chart to scratched and on the six-game injured list hours before kickoff, I’m told it was because the team was waiting for results on tests that took place after he injured himself this week in practice. Had the results come back positive, he would’ve been given an opportunity to try and play through the injury.

8) With Knox sidelined, Canadian Adam Auclair was given his first career start at middle linebacker and responded by making a team-high nine tackles and recovering a fumble.

9) With Lewis Ward’s season done thanks to a torn pec, former Carleton Raven Michael Domagala was signed to fill his shoes. The 27-year-old made kicks from 32 and 42 yards out but missed from 44.

As for the rest of Ottawa’s special teams units, defensive back Brandin Dandridge looked dangerous every time he fielded a punt, averaging 19 yards per return, including a long of 42 yards.

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

On the flip side, the Redblacks coverage units continue to be leaky.

Defensive lineman Kene Onyeka led the way with two special teams tackles.

10) One thing that hasn’t really been an issue this season for the Redblacks is penalties, but that changed against Saskatchewan. It wasn’t so much that the seven flags themselves hurt Ottawa, but it was the plays they wiped out that stung. There was a sack eliminated by a facemask, a 70-yard punt return taken off the board because of an illegal block, and a 35-yard gain on a screen play erased by a holding call.

Given how small the margins of victory/defeat have been this year, those kinds of things must be cleaned up.

11) It wasn’t (officially) the smallest crowd of the season, but TSN’s camera shots of the crowd certainly showed a sparse-looking stadium. And yes, I realize plenty of people drink in the concourses and hang out near the end zones, but still.

While nobody can blame those in R-Nation who haven’t been coming to games, the reality is that for all the frustration the 2023 squad causes, they’ve kept things close at home and provided some quality entertainment, even in losses.

12) I get that corporate sponsors pay good money for their exposure and association with a team, but that doesn’t excuse this kind of oversight.

Seriously, how does nobody in Ottawa’s front office catch this? Either give out red or black fingers or hold off on the green until you’re playing literally anyone but Saskatchewan. It’s not a huge deal, but this kind of little thing is noticed by fans. Details matter.

13) Clearly it’s positive that Bob Dyce’s squad snapped their long, miserable losing streak and kept their faint playoff hopes alive. But that doesn’t mean this loss doesn’t come with some concerns. The fact that a 22-point lead turned into a single-score game in the span of 45 seconds is a massive red flag.

Right now it seems like this Ottawa group is fragile but perhaps simply getting back into the win column propels them to a bit of confidence and more resolute play. What’s also clear is that Dyce hasn’t lost the room. The team’s effort reflects that they’re still buying into his message.

The win improves Ottawa’s record to 4-10 and keeps them within striking distance of Montreal and Hamilton. R-Nation will be pulling for Calgary to beat the Alouettes tonight, because up next for the Redblacks is a home and home series with Montreal.

At this point, Ottawa needs to win out to have any hope of post-season play, but with two games against Montreal and two games an Argo team that might be resting starters with eyes on the East Final, their fate is in their own hands.

What might ultimately prove to be their undoing is their 0-6 record to date against Eastern opponents. Hamilton and Montreal hold the tie-breakers but that’s a worry for down the road.

The long road to the post-season starts with stacking wins by beating Montreal at TD Place next Saturday afternoon.