GAME DAY: Ottawa Redblacks at Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Both teams are near the bottom in various offensive categories. Hamilton has allowed 29 sacks, while Ottawa has allowed 38, 10 of them against Montreal on Saturday. Hamilton has 148 first downs, the worst in the league, while Ottawa has the second worst, 162. Ottawa has 16.9 points per game, the worst in the league, while Hamilton has 19.9. Ottawa has 210 yards per game, worst in the league, Hamilton is not much better at 216. Ottawa has nine offensive touchdowns (less than one per game), worst in the league, Hamilton has 12. The only team in history CFL with a worse touchdown rate per game than Ottawa is the 1954 BC Lions, an expansion team. Even the 2019 Redblacks, who also struggled big, had 20 touchdowns in 18 games (1.11 per game), the sixth worst of all time.

THE TICAT-OTTAWA CONNECTION

The Ticats have two players who call Ottawa home. Safety Tunde Adeleke, who grew up in Ottawa and played for Carleton, has 25 tackles, one sack and one interception in seven games. Jackson Bennett, who is from Cumberland and played for uOttawa, has been an expert in all trades; He is listed as a backup running back and has five carries for 14 yards. In 2019, he added 147 yards on 29 carries. Former Carleton kicker Michael Domagala is also on the list.

QB Duck Hodges, who has been with the Redblacks a little over a month, will see him, at least in close quarters situations and possibly longer. He became a popular hero when he started six games for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019. It will be interesting to see what he looks like on a CFL field.

The Ticats list Jeremiah Masoli as their starting quarterback, but with Masoli injured in 2019, Dane Evans, who is returning from injury, has shown that he is capable of being No. 1.

LOOKING AT RANDALL: Randall Evans has been quietly putting out solid numbers. Evans, who has been a Redblack since 2018, posted a career-high 11 tackles with a sack and a forced fumble. last week He now has 49 tackles on defense, 10 more on special teams, three sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles this season.

Redblacks quarterback Caleb Evans vs. Ticats defense

This seems to be a key showdown every week: the Redblacks quarterback versus the opposing team’s defense. Ottawa’s offensive line, which allowed 10 sacks last week, will have to buy more time from its QB. The Ticats have a few defensive guys, including Ja’Gared Davis and Dylan Wynn, who will give him trouble. That said, Evans will need to make better decisions when he has the ball in his hands. The Redblacks can’t go on. They need to unite sustained impulses and try to tilt Time of Possession in their favor.

OUR TAKE: Ticats 27, Redblacks 13

I was tricked into choosing Ottawa last week. So, as Roger Daltrey sang a long time ago, “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” Ottawa’s offense is too inconsistent. They have to keep their quarterback up. A loss removes the Redblacks from playoff contention. So there it is. Not that there is nothing at stake for the Ticats. A victory keeps them within reach of the Alouettes and Argos in the East Division playoff race.

Ottawa

Points per 16.9

Points Against 28.5

Yards passing 210

Running yards 85

Net Offense 267

Net Offense Against 362

Hamilton

Points per 19.9

Points Against 18.4

Passing Yards 216

Running yards 87

Net Offense 281

Net Offense Against 320