PATIENCE? It’s hard for fans to stay positive when the Redblacks keep stumbling

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Linebacker Micah Awe is asking Ottawa Redblacks fans to be patient.

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His message to fans following another loss (24-7 to Hamilton on Wednesday), the team’s fifth in a row this season and the eleventh in a row at home since July 2019, was to hang on.

“Just stay there, keep coming (to games), keep looking because we have the right guys in the locker room,” he said in a Zoom call to media minutes after the Redblacks had another bad start, ending the game with wide receiver Nate Behar. as his quarterback after Dominique Davis and Matt Nichols were injured. “We have guys who not only want to be good and want to win, they are also going to win. It’s just a matter of time.”

I’ll say this: Micah Awe is a good player. Micah Awe cares about winning soccer games. Micah Awe is a man of great character. Micah Awe is the type of guy I would like on my soccer team. I love their energy. I love his words. I love their positivity.

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But for the team’s fans, it has been a difficult road. This dates back to 2019, when the team won just three games. This goes beyond patience. The fans expect and deserve more. Players should ignore outside noise and buckle their chin belt. Work harder, seek improvement and consistency, and expect success to accompany you.

“It’s frustrating, it’s difficult,” said Behar, who completed his only pass while moving behind center as an emergency quarterback. “It’s one thing in college: playing at Carleton in 2014, we went 0-8. That’s hard because they are kicking your butt. Here, we are grown men who are paid to play. It’s hard to high-five and be overjoyed all the time because it sucks, losing is horrible. “

For the sixth game in a row, the Redblacks struggled to build and maintain units; scoring points is still a problem. Through six games, the Redblacks have scored just five offensive touchdowns. Davis has thrown six touchdown passes, the problem is that three of them have been to defenders. Nichols hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass all season. On a rainy Wednesday, humidity counts for something as Davis completed 6 of 14 passes for 50 yards, with an interception going the wrong way for a touchdown. Nichols was 7 of 10 for 68 yards. That’s 118 passing yards between his No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks. Unacceptable.

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In search of a scapegoat, critics point to general manager Marcel Desjardins. That’s the world we live in, there is always someone to blame. An FYI: The signings are usually a cooperative effort between the football operations people and the coaches.

As much as I respect Micah Awe, when you hear him speak, you want to follow him, you want to believe, I’m more of the thought, “Okay, go try it, win some games.”

As we learn more about the injury status of Nichols (wrist / hand) and Davis (hamstring) over the next few days leading up to Tuesday’s date at home with the Edmonton Elks, fans are already screaming for him to The team begins its latest signing: the former Pittsburgh. Steelers quarterback Duck Hodges. First, the boy hasn’t finished his week-long quarantine and may not practice with the team until after Tuesday’s game. It seems unlikely that we will see him next week or the following week or the following week. Give the boy some time. You will have a chance. We will most likely see Caleb Evans or Taryn Christion soon; maybe we’ll see the two rookies.

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People talk about the computer going into bare metal mode right now. That’s crazy. As far-fetched as it may sound given their only win, the Redblacks are still not out of reach of a playoff position. As they prepare to face the Elks, the only team they’ve beaten this season, they hope their offense can give fans something to cheer on with touchdowns.

“It’s a challenge for us,” Awe said. “I’ve been on very good defenses and I’ve been on very bad defenses – this is a very good defense and our challenge is to be even much better. Sometimes you need to help your brother, sometimes you need to help your sister, you may need an extra push. Once you give them that encouragement and once you give them that hope, one day they are helping you. We just have to put it all together. (The defense) will control our third of the soccer game; I trust the (offense), the season is not over.

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“I read the media, that’s part of being a soccer player, you want to know what people are saying. Many people don’t believe in us at all. I believe in my teammates on defense, I believe in our offense, I really believe in our special teams. It’s going to be amazing when we put it all together, really amazing. “

I hope it happens. I want to believe. I just don’t bet the house on that.

THE REPORT CARD

Offense F: Is there such a thing as an F-? Neither Dominique Davis nor Matt Nichols looked good as quarterbacks; We will give the Ticats defense great support for what they were able to do. But it has become a scratched record: the offense is once again excluded. He’s back on the drawing board for head coach / offensive coordinator Paul LaPolice.

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Defense B +: He thought the defense did a very good job, even though Hamilton was playing without his two best quarterbacks and three best receivers. But, led by Avery Williams and his 11 tackles, they didn’t really allow the Ticats’ offense to get much traction. With any offensive support, this could have turned out differently.

Special equipment: B-: This could have been an A + had it not been for a ball from DeVonte Dedmon and a fumble from a punt within his own 10-yard line. But he was dangerous all night, fighting his way through the tacklers for a 63-yard touchdown on another punt return. Solid field tackles by Ottawa special teams throughout the night.