REDBLACKS
Shawn Lemon: The Lemonator racked up his fair share of #Lemondrops this season. Shawn has five sacks in 10 games and knows those numbers make Edmonton QB Mike Reilly a little uncomfortable. Lemon is notorious for making big plays in big moments and did so in last year’s Grey Cup with Calgary. Here’s hoping for repeat performance out of the pesky pass rushing end.
Henry Burris: The critics having been clamouring for a ‘Bad Hank’ appearance throughout this entire season, yet no one has answer that called. After last year’s struggles, the 40-year old QB has had a resurgence and possibly his best season yet. Burris’ leadership, arm strength, and on-field vision made him the CFL’s MOP and he’ll need all those traits be at 100% as he competes for his second Grey Cup.
Greg Ellingson: This first year REDBLACK will go down as a hero in Ottawa football history whether he comes back from Winnipeg a champion or not. After his unbelievable 93-yard catch-and-run touchdown he’ll be a marked man at the Grey Cup. With Ottawa’s balanced offensive attack, Edmonton can’t cover everyone. If Ellingson doesn’t have an amazing outing on Sunday, another of the REDBLACKS receivers will.
EDMONTON
Derel Walker: The rookie CFLer leads the league in yards per game and is the clear favourite for Most Outstanding Rookie. He’s become Mike Reilly’s go-to receiver, had 22 catches over his last two games, and recorded 1,110 receiving yards and six TDs this season. If fellow wideout Adarius Bowman faces double coverage in the Grey Cup, look for Walker to rack up the catches.
Mike Reilly: Sunday’s Grey Cup really is a duel of two QBs at the peak of their game. Mike Reilly has played as well as anyone of late, most recently leading Edmonton to a dominant win over the Stamps in the West Final. Reilly racked up 371 yards and five touchdowns, and, most importantly, never turned over the ball. The CFL chamionship game will inevitably come down to the quarterbacks, so Reilly will be doing everything he can do outduel Ottawa’s Henry Burris.
Patrick Watkins: Edmonton boasts the league’s best defence, but it’s their secondary who will have to be on their game against the REDBLACKS bounty of receivers. Watkins’ size (6’5″, 205 lbs) makes him a tough test for Ottawa’s wideouts, as he’s one of only a handful of CFL players that can go 1-on-1 with the premier players in the league. He’ll need to be at his best, as Edmonton faces the most productive offence in the league.
