Morris: Ellingson, Esks not letting off the gas in final game

Jim Morris

CFL.ca

@jememorris

As a receiver, Greg Ellingson would rather be seen than heard.

In his first season with the Edmonton Eskimos Ellingson has gone over the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth consecutive year. In 16 games he has 86 catches for 1,170 yards and five touchdowns.

The six-foot-three, 195-pound slotback has used a piecemeal approach to collecting yards. Ellingson had just three 100-yard games, but in two of those he gained over 170 yards. On the flip side, he also had seven games of 50 yards or less yards.

What matters most to Ellingson is the Eskimos have an 8-9-0 record heading into this weekend’s season finale against the Saskatchewan Roughriders (12-5-0) and Edmonton has already locked up the crossover spot in the CFL playoffs.

Greg Ellingson is hoping to help the Eskimos on their playoff run starting in Montreal (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

“I don’t have a huge ego where I’m vocal and I need the ball all the time,” he said. “I don’t believe in that. I don’t think that any player on any team should be that selfish to be calling for the ball like that. I just make sure I’m reliable and when the ball does come my way, I make the play.”

In the Eskimo offensive system, the opposition defence sometimes dictates where the ball is thrown.

“This type of offence is not (centered) around one player that you are trying to get the ball every play,” said Ellingson. “Sometimes you’re not going to have a huge game, you’re just going to have to do your part.

“It may be one or two catches for 30 yards. Maybe those two catches are in the final drive that leads your team to a win. Maybe it’s in crunch time when you are trying to run the clock out and keep the first downs going.”

Saturday’s game at Mosaic Stadium means a lot more to the Roughriders than the Eskimos. Edmonton can finish no better than fourth in the West, but Saskatchewan is still battling the Calgary Stampeders (11-6-0) for first place.

The Stampeders play the BC Lions later Saturday.

The Riders kicked a field goal on the last play of the game to beat Edmonton 27-24 last weekend at Commonwealth Stadium.

Ellingson said the Eskimos must bring the same intensity this weekend as they have for every game this year.

“You can’t let up just because it might not mean something as far as our playoff picture,” he said. “If you let up during a game you are accessible to injuring yourself.”

Teams making plans for next year will also be watching film from the game.

“If they see a game and see you slack off, maybe that’s the difference between a team wanting you or not wanting you,” said Ellingson. “Guys have plenty of things to play for besides just getting a win.”

Ellingson spent four seasons in Ottawa, where he helped the REDBLACKS win the Grey Cup in 2016, before joining quarterback Trevor Harris in signing with Edmonton as a free agent in February.

“It was pretty difficult to make that decision,” Ellingson said. “I stayed up the night before free agency, couldn’t really sleep.

“There was a lot of factors that went into that decision. It just wasn’t about money or football. It was about the people around you, the friends you made in the city, the teammates you played with for years. As any professional athlete you want to feel like you are valued. It was difficult but I feel like I made the right decision.”

Ellingson and Harris wanted to sign with the same team and kept contact during the period leading up to free agency. Fate seemed to take a hand when quarterback Mike Reilly decided to sign with in BC, plus receivers Duke Williams, Derel Walker and Nate Coehoorn all left Edmonton.

Another factor for Ellingson was Edmonton head coach Jason Maas, who spent a season as Ottawa’s offensive coordinator.

“I have familiarity with him, I knew what his play style was, I knew what his offence stemmed from,” said Ellingson. “It was an easier decision to know I was pretty much fitting into the same type of offence I had been in Ottawa for years.”

Ellingson still felt pressure in his first season in Edmonton.

“I still felt like I had to prove myself in a new city, to be a playmaker and a guy not only the teammates could respect, but also the fans,” he said.

“I think I will learn more as I’m here. I’m embracing it. Edmonton has such a football history. I’m just learning the Eskimo way and making sure I’m doing it the right way.”

The season has taken another twist with the Eskimos travelling East for the playoffs, where they will play the Montreal Alouettes Nov. 10 in the Eastern Semi-Final.

“In my mind it seems kind of fun,” said Ellingson. “I think it’s kind of exciting, especially with Trevor and a lot of the guys on our team that have been out East.

“It’s kind of cool that even though I went West I’m still going to be fighting for the East crown to get to the Grey Cup.”

The Eskimos and Alouettes split their games this year. Both teams won at home and the margin of victory was 10 points or less.

“They are a good team,” said Ellingson. “They really turned it on. It seems like they can come from behind or take a jump on any team.

“That’s what great about playoff football. The better team that day is the one that gets to move on to the next round.”

The Eskimos also have a chance to add to their history. No team from the West has ever advanced to the Grey Cup through the East. Saskatchewan (2017), Edmonton (2016) and BC (2009) have all lost in the Eastern Final.

“It would be nice to do something that has never been done before,” said Ellingson.

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