Ottawa Redblacks Thread

[jerrym]

Below is a good article on Dustin Crum's unlikely path to the CFL. Crums needs further development but his coolness under fire, leadership skills, his perseverance through winding route in college, and his running ability could help lead to him becoming a first-rate CFL QB. He showed all those qualities in almost bringing Ottawa to a win against Hamilton.

https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2023/07/2...ting-the-odds/

[OV Argo]

Ottawa's young OT Pelehos was a pylon tonight, and Crum did not have much time to throw often; RedBlacks might give 1st overall draft pick OT Dontae Bull a shot - he has been re-habbing from injury; but why they would not have turned to vet back-up Hunter Steward to help is a puzzler - sticking with starters in a game who are doing real $hitty is a sign of dumb coaching - and that's K. Jones for you. M-Lite not used for most of the game after he rumbled strong on the ground last game is another sign of Jones' cluelessness.

Crum should keep getting better IMO with more experience; he might end up getting injured though on a run play or a sack - but that's part of football - aside from advising him on the odd hook-slide, he should keep playing his game.

[ArgoRavi]

Ottawa's young OT Pelehos was a pylon tonight, and Crum did not have much time to throw often; RedBlacks might give 1st overall draft pick OT Dontae Bull a shot - he has been re-habbing from injury; but why they would not have turned to vet back-up Hunter Steward to help is a puzzler - sticking with starters in a game who are doing real $hitty is a sign of dumb coaching - and that's K. Jones for you. M-Lite not used for most of the game after he rumbled strong on the ground last game is another sign of Jones' cluelessness.

Crum should keep getting better IMO with more experience; he might end up getting injured though on a run play or a sack - but that's part of football - aside from advising him on the odd hook-slide, he should keep playing his game.

The playcall that cost Ottawa the game was the run with Milanovic-Litre on 2nd and 2 from the Hamilton 4 yard line in the final minute. They should have done something different there - even just have Pigrome do a QB sneak or two to try to get the 1st down.

[gilthethrill]

The playcall that cost Ottawa the game was the run with Milanovic-Litre on 2nd and 2 from the Hamilton 4 yard line in the final minute. They should have done something different there - even just have Pigrome do a QB sneak or two to try to get the 1st down.

I saw no excuse not to have Pigrome (Argos should have signed him) on the 2nd and 2.

[OV Argo]

The playcall that cost Ottawa the game was the run with Milanovic-Litre on 2nd and 2 from the Hamilton 4 yard line in the final minute. They should have done something different there - even just have Pigrome do a QB sneak or two to try to get the 1st down.

Yep = predictable, same old standard CFL run play out of shot-gun; now a wide pitch to a power tailback in that situation might have worked; or go play-action and throw a pass into the end-zone; Pigrome sneak may have worked better, but same deal of right into the middle of a stacked defence.

Ottawa's biggest offensive play of the game was I think that screen pass to RB Williams; a big gainer just like that counter short pass to H-back Dubois went for a long TD early in the season. Jones and his CFL clique of offensive "minds" only view these type of plays as "tendency breakers" though to be used once a game maybe; otherwise, it's back to QB sitting in the pocket under heavy pressure and trying to figure out the ingenious "route tree" - which results in plenty of sacks, incompletions or 5 yard check down completions - that's the staple of the offence these guys prefer.

[Argo57]

The playcall that cost Ottawa the game was the run with Milanovic-Litre on 2nd and 2 from the Hamilton 4 yard line in the final minute. They should have done something different there - even just have Pigrome do a QB sneak or two to try to get the 1st down.

I agree Ravi, if they get the first down it’s probably game over.

[jerrym]

Ottawa got three former all-stars back for the Hamilton game: WR Shaq Evans, Jovan Santos-Knox, and DB Cariel Brooks, as well as LB Gary Johnson Jr and RB Jackson Bennett. However, their biggest need is QB, although Crum is showing promise that in time he could develop into a good starting QB.

[AngeloV]

I was pretty upset to see Bob Dyce (who I very much like) make the conservative move to kick an 8 yard FG with over a minute to play on Sunday. RedBlacks really had no business being in that game as they were badly out played, but a couple of turnovers had them right there for the win. You have to go for the TD in that situation. Milanovic-Litre was a force in short yardage in Calgary and whether it was him or a QB sneak, you have to go for the TD there. I also get that they turned it over on downs on a previous QB sneak, but that was a 3r and 2. Had it been 1 yard, they easily would have had the first down. That QB sneak IMO was also a vote for keeping your starting QB in for sneaks. On second down, Pigrome with the fake sneak and deep pass. Had the starting QB been in, he likely would have seen the FB streak down the middle uncovered and made the better read and throw.

At the very least, you line up for it and try and draw an offside. Would the 10 yard delay of game penalty made a difference if you are going for 3?

Even more disappointing is him doubling down and defending his decision.

[OV Argo]

I was pretty upset to see Bob Dyce (who I very much like) make the conservative move to kick an 8 yard FG with over a minute to play on Sunday. RedBlacks really had no business being in that game as they were badly out played, but a couple of turnovers had them right there for the win. You have to go for the TD in that situation. Milanovic-Litre was a force in short yardage in Calgary and whether it was him or a QB sneak, you have to go for the TD there. I also get that they turned it over on downs on a previous QB sneak, but that was a 3r and 2. Had it been 1 yard, they easily would have had the first down. That QB sneak IMO was also a vote for keeping your starting QB in for sneaks. On second down, Pigrome with the fake sneak and deep pass. Had the starting QB been in, he likely would have seen the FB streak down the middle uncovered and made the better read and throw.

At the very least, you line up for it and try and draw an offside. Would the 10 yard delay of game penalty made a difference if you are going for 3?

Even more disappointing is him doubling down and defending his decision.

Yeah - I knew that was a death knell and that Sask. would likely easily have time to move into winning FG range. Jackson Bennett did come close to getting in the end zone on a carry just before that, but IMO Litre is a more powerful RB plus Pigrome looks very effective in short yardage plays. And why not at least try to draw them off-side as you suggest ? Or why not run the clock down and take a delay of game on that FG attempt and then kick again back a few yards in close range anyways? - a few seconds might have mattered lots (turns out it would not have helped)

Have to wonder if that was Dyce's decision or maybe Khari Jones'? - but Dyce as HC has to take blame.

Two games in a row Ottawa could have won with smarter offensive thinking: Ticats DT Sayles did make good play to knock-down the pass to a wide open Behar the game before that would have won it for Ottawa. And a TD late there in Sask. likely easily wins that game.

[ArgoRavi]

Yeah - I knew that was a death knell and that Sask. would likely easily have time to move into winning FG range. Jackson Bennett did come close to getting in the end zone on a carry just before that, but IMO Litre is a more powerful RB plus Pigrome looks very effective in short yardage plays. And why not at least try to draw them off-side as you suggest ? Or why not run the clock down and take a delay of game on that FG attempt and then kick again back a few yards in close range anyways? - a few seconds might have mattered lots (turns out it would not have helped)

Have to wonder if that was Dyce's decision or maybe Khari Jones'? - but Dyce as HC has to take blame.

Two games in a row Ottawa could have won with smarter offensive thinking: Ticats DT Sayles did make good play to knock-down the pass to a wide open Behar the game before that would have won it for Ottawa. And a TD late there in Sask. likely easily wins that game.

Ottawa has had five of their eight games come down to one to four yards difference - they have won two of those five. They really could be anywhere from 1-7 to 6-2, but are probably about where they should be at 3-5.

[jerrym]

I continue to think that Dustin Crum, who signed with Otawa in September 2022 and has gone 92/134 in for 996 yards in 8 games this year, has shown the running, passing, and leadership skills to become a good CFL QB.

[jerrym]

Former Argo Bralon Addison, who signed with the Argos but was released after never playing a game for them, played his first game of the season after suffering an Achilles heel injury in Week 9 last year with Hamilton, finally has got back into action in the loss to the Elks with 4 receptions but for only 27 yards.

[jerrym]

Ottawa is getting several players back from its injured list for the home game against Hamilton: WR Nate Behar, LB Frankie Griffin, DB Justin Howell, and DL Blessman Ta'ala.

[jerrym]

Former Argo DB Abdul Kanneh is out for the season with a broken hand.

[jerrym]

Because Lewis Ward has suffered a season-ending pectoral muscle injury, Ottawa has signed two Canadian kickers: Micael Domegala, who was 19/26 in 2021-22 with Hamilton and Keiran Burnham, who was on Calgary's PR for two years and was released this year from BC's PR.

[ArgoRavi]

Because Lewis Ward has suffered a season-ending pectoral muscle injury, Ottawa has signed two Canadian kickers: Micael Domegala, who was 19/26 in 2021-22 with Hamilton and Keiran Burnham, who was on Calgary's PR for two years and was released this year from BC's PR.

Apparently, Domagala is getting the start tonight.

[jerrym]

Former Argo 2019 seventh round draft pick OL Eric Starczala has signed onto the Redblacks PR, as has Americans LB Vosean Joseph, who played eight games with Hamilton in 2022, and WR Jon'Vea Johnson, who was on the Als 2022 PR.

[jerrym]

In a statement perhaps of how little Arbuckle is valued, Justin Crum will again be the starter in the last and utterly meaningless game of the season for Ottawa. Will they release Arbuckle soon?

[jerrym]

Although he only played six games last year Bryce Carter is Ottawa's nominee this year for Outstanding Defensive Player having improved considerably as the year went on.

[ArgoRavi]

In a statement perhaps of how little Arbuckle is valued, Justin Crum will again be the starter in the last and utterly meaningless game of the season for Ottawa. Will they release Arbuckle soon?

Arbuckle's CFL career may be over. There's no way that I see him being retained by the Redblacks.