November 23, 2018

Nye: 106th Grey Cup will be won or lost in the trenches

Dave Chidley/CFL.ca

Trenches: noun.

Fortification: a long, narrow, excavation in the ground, the earth from which is thrown up in front to serve as a shelter from enemy fire or attack.

The Grey Cup will be won Sunday in the ‘trenches’. And while they’re not literally digging up the earth to protect their quarterbacks, the offensive line of both teams in their battle with the enemy on defence Sunday will be the place that impacts the most on the game.

We here all about those ‘sexy’ matchups of Alex Singleton stopping William Powell or the great receiving corps of Ottawa against a physical secondary in Calgary or Bo Levi Mitchell vs. Trevor Harris.

Many of those are decided with the five offensive linemen (complimented by added protection) and the four defensive linemen (complimented by blitzing linebackers and defensive backs). This is the place where games are won and lost, with the biggest question to answer is who can by the most physical and dictate the line.


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And where does it all start?

The trenches.

And the weather this time year may increase it’s importance.

“Especially at this time of year when the weather is going to be cold and maybe not so many passes will be thrown like how it is in the summer time,” explains Stampeders offensive lineman Derek Dennis.

“I think the ground game and having those tough guys in the trenches is very important. That’s what we’ve been preached to our group all week on both sides of the ball and we pride ourselves on being a tough team as well, so I think that’s the goal.”

That message is being shared in the Ottawa locker room as well.

“We don’t win football games if we don’t protect Trevor and we don’t win football games if don’t open up the holes for William Powell,” added second year REDBLACK Evan Johnson.

But for the REDBLACKS, Derek Dennis says good luck against the Stampeders defensive line. One he has to practice against every week.

“They’re up against some monsters, I can tell you that.”

“Between Micah, J.D., Law, Wiggan, Junior Turner, those guys are savages man, they’re freaks. I had the experience of going to another team and playing against Micah at game speed and that’s a whole other level, man, that dude is ferocious.”

However, Micah Johnson definitely respects the opponent on Sunday and isn’t reading too much into the stats that show the advantage may go to the Stamps.

“They’re a good group that works together. That’s my biggest things is they talk it out good and work together. They do a lot of things off of play action so it kind of helps the offensive line in different ways and the ways that they block things and the ball comes out quick in a lot of situations.”

Johnson believes they have the right group playing right now that will be able to slow down Calgary.

Micah Johnson will go head-t0-head with Ottawa’s offensive line during the 106th Grey Cup presented by Shaw (Walter Tychnowicz/CFL.ca)

“We have a tonne of experience with Sir Vincent (Rogers) and Jon Gott. They’re the old guys on the line but they’re definitely the leaders and showing us what it takes to get the job done out here. And (Alex) Mateas has done a fantastic job at centre as well, directing the offensive line.”

On the other side of the ball, the REDBLACKS are an underrated defensive line, who don’t have the star like Micah Johnson is or other big sack leaders in the CFL. They get to the quarterback by committee.

In fact, Ottawa is one of the lowest ranked in sacks, but they do put pressure on the quarterback and what doesn’t end up in a sack spins off to having the third highest takeaways by their defence.

“I see a very physical group, guys with speed and strength and they’re a representation of their defensive coordinator,” said a complimentary Dennis about the REDBLACKS pass rush.

“As long as I’ve been in the league Noel Thorpe’s defences have been hanging their hats on being tough and physical and play the game fast.”

It may be a no name group of REDBLACKS defensive linemen, but on Sunday they could make a big name for themselves by getting Bo Levi Mitchell to have to move his feet and not be able to settle in the pocket and pick apart the REDBLACKS secondary.

So you can have your ‘sexy’ matchups, I’ll be watching for the ‘savages’ and ‘freaks’ Dennis so aptly describes trying to establish who wants it more. Toughness will win Sunday and the trenches is where that battle will be won or lost.