By: Don Campbell
Photo: CP Images
When the lights went out, an uneasy Henry Burris would have preferred to be across on Marché Way, inside one of the Cineplex Cinemas Lansdowne and watching any one of “Jurassic World”, “Terminator Genisys” or “Magic Mike XXL”.
Heck, Hank would have rather sat through one hour and 35 minutes of “Minions” and another 1:43 of “Inside Out” even if they’re both cartoon/animation action flicks, over what he was about to see on the screen.
The last epic the Ottawa REDBLACKS quarterback wanted to watch was a replay of last week’s 46-17 undoing out in Edmonton at the hands of the Eskimos.
From the start it was obvious this flick would have no happy ending and Burris, like all starting quarterbacks do, played a lead role in the embarrassing loss. And by his own admission, he will not be receiving any Oscar consideration for his performance.
“There were some plays where I didn’t want to open my eyes . . . because I knew what was going to happen,” said Burris this week, just 20-of-36 for 162 yards with one deflating, unforgiveable first quarter pick that sent the tone for the entire night.
“We didn’t enjoy watching it, I can promise you that. We did things that we haven’t done so far and we picked this game to do them.
“And that big one (the interception) . . . it just can’t happen. You let them get a turnover like they did, especially for a touchdown, you can’t let that happen. That really gave them some mojo and once they got up on us, with that pass rush they have, it made us a one-dimensional team.
“We’ve got to get back to making sure we get positive gains on first downs. If we can, just as we did in the first couple of gams, we’ll give ourseleves a chance to move the sticks and stay on the field and be successful.”
That’s the beauty of an early-season stinker off two wins to open the REDBLACKS feature film entitled: “Season Two.” There’s always next week and another game.
Even better, the REDBLACKS get a chance to even the score against the same Eskimos Friday night at TD Place, which comes just one day short of the REDBLACKS first ever win in game three last season.
That the REDBLACKS 2nd win in 2014 didn’t occur for virtually another three months also means the club could really make a statement with a quick rebound against Edmonton.
And the playing field in the re-match is much more even that it was eight days previous when the Eskimos were coming off a bye week and the REDBLACKS were playing four days rest with a long flight west. Then there’s that home field thing.
“Good teams do bounce back,” said REDBLACKS head coach Rick Campbell, “and we plan on doing that.
“We have got to be at our best (against Edmonton). But if think if we are at our best, and at home, we have a chance.
“(Last week’s result) was in part what Edmonton did and in part, that we didn’t hold up our part. And no team wants to lose in that fashion. The thing just snowballed on us.
“And we watched it all (on film). When you lose, you don’t want to lose the lessons you picked up in it.
“But Edmonton is a good football team and we let them off the hook early. On the road you just can’t do that. We should have been able to claw our way back but we didn’t.
“And I’m sure our guys will rebound. Regardless of who you play next, you want to get back at it. We just get to get back at it against (Edmonton).”
To a man, the REDBLACKS know they need a balanced attack to thwart the at times smothering Eskimo defence.
A rushing total of just 25 yards as was the case in Edmonton won’t cut it in any league.
An imbalance of 26 passing plays against just eight rushes will not do it either.
No wonder it was two (plays) and out just about every time the REDBLACKS touched the ball.
The inability of Ottawa to even take time off the clock, led to the highest total of points against in the franchise’s 21-game history. The 46 points were 20 points higher than what they gave up on average in their inaugural season and the defence is hardly to blame.
So it’s clearly on the shoulders of Burris and Company to make some things happen and the REDBLACKS also have to eliminate form of the 13 penalties that accounted for 139 yards.
“We’ve told the players from training camp (and again this week) that teams that adjust to what is being call will do much better than teams that just whine about what’s being called,” said Campbell. “You can just whine about things and you won’t get anywhere.
“Some of the calls were lose but we have to adjust to what is being called.”
And then move the yardsticks. The start against Edmonton is critical.
A week ago, the Burris INT 7:27 that was returned for a touchdown was indeed critical.
But it was 14-zip three minutes later and 21-nothing on the first play of the second quarter and it may as well have been game, set, match.
“We know what type of team Edmonton is but for us, it’s not about seeking revenge so much as it is about us looking to just get back on track,” said Burris. “The (loss) is fresh on our minds.
“But we just need to bounce back and play the type of ball that we know we can play. At least we had a couple of days off to get our feet under us. Now we have to make sure that when we step on that field (Friday) we’re ready to go.”
