July 18, 2016

Landry: 5 takeaways from Week 4

The Canadian Press

Hello, Jim Popp. Just how far were you willing to take your removal of clothing items in an attempt to get the officials’ attention for a challenge on Friday night? Challenge flag went unnoticed, so Popp then threw his hat out on the field. I suggest the next crew make a pact to ignore the Alouettes’ head coach completely next week so we can test his striptease limits.

Now, the takeaways:

1. BIG MAN GOT SOME MOVES.

The Canadian Press

Jovan Olafioye catches the first touchdown of his CFL career against the Riders (The Canadian Press)

Did you see that Jovan Olafioye touchdown on Saturday night? My favourite part of it is NOT that the 6-foot-6, 325-pounder hauled in a Jonathan Jennings pass eight yards deep in the end zone (Jennings let it fly as he backpedalled at around the seventeen yard line, making it an honest twenty-five-yard reception for the native of Detroit). It’s not even the blazing, out of the starting blocks, straight down the field streak pattern he ran.

No, my favourite part was something you catch from the endzone camera replay. At just about the two yard line, Olafioye gives a little inside-out juke, just in case defensive back Buddy Jackson was taking him seriously as a possible target (he wasn’t). Might be the most disciplined route running I’ve ever seen from an offensive lineman. Beautiful.

2. HAMILTON’S DEFENSIVE LINE IS LIKE A SPIELBERG FILM.

 

Not just any Spielberg film. Snap after snap after snap on Friday night, Hamilton’s front four made it look like the opening sequence to “Saving Private Ryan.” Relentless, chaotic and, yeah, violent, in football terms. Six of the Ticats’ eight sacks on the night were tallied by linemen Adrian Tracy and John Chick (two each), Ted Laurent and Drake Nevis.

Tracy was a one man battalion, with eleven tackles and two forced fumbles to go along with his pair of quarterback takedowns. Oh, and he had a pass knockdown, too. So did Chick and Nevis. Surprised we didn’t see a parental advisory pop up on the screen each time they took to the field.

‘Cause that was not suitable for all viewers. Hang on, Matt Damon. The Ticats’ D-line is coming to get you.

3. IT APPEARS THAT ANTOINE PRUNEAU HAS GOTTEN TO ANOTHER LEVEL.

The Canadian Press

Antoine Pruneau breaks up a pass to Toronto’s Kenny Shaw on Wednesday night (The Canadian Press)

Not that it’s easy to do, but if Ottawa’s versatile pass covering linebacker were to continue to turn in performances like the one he dialed up against the Argos on Wednesday night, he’d be in the mix for Defensive Player of the Year.

That was an incredible tour de force, highlighted by a couple of knockdowns on great plays. Would have had an endzone interception on another tremendous effort had it not been wiped away by an interference call on another player on the other side of the field. A sack, five tackles including one on special teams, two credited knockdowns and a should-have-been interception. Quite a night.

And if it got overshadowed by equally impressive performances by Trevor Harris and Greg Ellingson, well, it shouldn’t have. Pruneau’s been pretty good right from the get go as an Ottawa REDBLACK, but Wednesday night’s show in Toronto was one of his best ever.

4. THERE ARE NO MERE BYSTANDERS ON A CFL FIELD.

 

It’s a simple enough play. A hand off to the tailback, who then gets swallowed up almost immediately by a couple of defenders. BC running back Anthony Allen and quarterback Jonathan Jennings turned that template inside out during the first quarter of their win in Saskatchewan.

As Allen was being driven back by two Sasky defenders – with a third and fourth about to join the pile – he flipped the ball back to Jennings who then romped it into the end zone for a major. It’s a tasty, creative piece of football improv and as is also the case with comedy, timing is everything.

A moment before Allen tossed the ball back, Jennings seemed resigned that the play was over and looked over to his left to watch another couple of players engaged in some blocking. He returned his attention to the pile in front of him just in time. Had Allen fired it back a moment earlier… it’s a whole different play, one Roughriders fans would have appreciated a whole lot more.

5. TRISTAN JACKSON EARNED THAT PUNT RETURN TOUCHDOWN THE HARD WAY.

 

Ottawa’s defensive back/returner was absolutely pummelled most of the night up until his big return changed the complexion of the REDBLACKS/Argos game during the fourth quarter on Wednesday. Before he ripped off that 75-yarder, Jackson was held to a total of just 31 yards on his five other punt returns and was punished with hellacious hits on most of them as well as three kick returns. (Watch his TD again and you’ll see that he neatly avoided another one as he juuust slipped past a Thomas Miles cruise missile tackle attempt). Jackson was injured while playing defence as well. In short, he was pounded like a railway spike and kept coming back for more. The good news? Ottawa’s first franchise return TD.

The bad news? If it’s true that the meek shall inherit the earth, Jackson’s not in the will.

And finally… Derel Walker and Adarius Bowman combined for 339 of Mike Reilly’s 465 yards in completed passes against Winnipeg. Just 73% of the total? Let’s see if we can’t get that up over 80, ‘kay, fellas?