Madferret
7-21-05, 6:39 PM
Renegades battle Eskimos
Canadian Press
7/21/2005 8:05:40 AM
Patience, not redemption, will be foremost on Kerry Joseph's mind Thursday night. Joseph and the Ottawa Renegades opened the 2005 season with a one-sided 41-16 road loss to the Edmonton Eskimos. Since then, Ottawa (2-2) has won two of its last three games, thanks in large part to Joseph, whose stellar play has kick-started a suddenly potent offence just in time to face the Eskimos (3-1) at Frank Clair Stadium.
The Game can be seen live on TSN at 7pm et/4pm pt.The quarterback says a lot has changed for Ottawa since that season-opening contest in Edmonton. "I just think we're playing better football right now," he said following Wednesday's walk-through. "As a team we're executing a lot better.
"We've been improving week in and week out and I think to be a football team that can compete in this league that's what you have to do." On Friday night, the Montreal Alouettes (2-1), fresh off a bye week, take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-4) at Canad Inns Stadium (TSN, 8:30 p.m. EDT).
On Saturday night, the B.C. Lions (3-0) are at Ivor Wynne Stadium to face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-3). But the more interesting contest of the night will be at Calgary's McMahon Stadium as the Saskatchewan Roughriders face former teammate Henry Burris in the first regular-season contest since Burris left Regina in the off-season to sign with the Stampeders as a free agent (TSN, 10 p.m. EDT).
Joseph has certainly been Ottawa's offensive catalyst.
He has completed 73 of 116 passes (62.9 per cent) for 1,029 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions. But Joseph has also been a dangerous rushing threat for Ottawa, standing fourth overall with 220 yards on 32 carries (6.9-yard average) with three touchdowns.
With Joseph leading the way, Ottawa's offence is ranked second overall in rushing (147.5-yards per game), first in average rushing gain (6.9 yards) and third in total yards (363 per game). Running back Josh Ranek, who ran for 164 yards in the club's 33-18 win over Calgary last week, is second in the CFL in rushing with 311 yards, 78 behind Saskatchewan's Corey Holmes.
But Edmonton's defence will present Joseph and Co. with a very formidable test.
The Eskimos are tops in the CFL against the pass (165.8 yards per game) and second against the run (58 yards) to stand first overall in total yards surrendered ( 198 ). The unit also leads the league with 16 sacks, and that's despite veteran rush end Joe Montford, three times the CFL's top defensive player, having registered just one so far.
"Those guys go out and make plays and they're the No. 1 defence in the league right now," Joseph said of the Eskimos. "They run around a lot, they try to disguise things and give you some different looks by putting pressure on you. "They see if you can pick up what where they're coming from with their blitz package. I think you just have to be patient with them, take what they give you and not try to force anything."
A solid offensive performance would certainly take some pressure off an Ottawa defence that has struggled this season. The Renegades are ranked eighth in total yards (401 per game) and last in both passing yards allowed (324 per game) and points surrendered (30.5 per game).
Edmonton's offence leads the CFL in points scored (101) and is second in total yards (397.8 per game). But the unit had its troubles last week against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-4). Quarterback Ricky Ray was intercepted three times and lost two fumbles before hitting Derrell Mitchell with a late completion that set up Sean Fleming's field goal that earned the Eskimos a 14-12 win.
Ray remains the CFL's passing leader with 1,421 yards and is tied for second in TD strikes with six. Edmonton's aerial attack is the league's best, averaging 355 yards per game. But the Eskimos aren't a prolific rushing team. The offence is averaging just 68.5 yards per game on the ground and the team's leading rusher is Mike Bradley with 76 yards
Canadian Press
7/21/2005 8:05:40 AM
Patience, not redemption, will be foremost on Kerry Joseph's mind Thursday night. Joseph and the Ottawa Renegades opened the 2005 season with a one-sided 41-16 road loss to the Edmonton Eskimos. Since then, Ottawa (2-2) has won two of its last three games, thanks in large part to Joseph, whose stellar play has kick-started a suddenly potent offence just in time to face the Eskimos (3-1) at Frank Clair Stadium.
The Game can be seen live on TSN at 7pm et/4pm pt.The quarterback says a lot has changed for Ottawa since that season-opening contest in Edmonton. "I just think we're playing better football right now," he said following Wednesday's walk-through. "As a team we're executing a lot better.
"We've been improving week in and week out and I think to be a football team that can compete in this league that's what you have to do." On Friday night, the Montreal Alouettes (2-1), fresh off a bye week, take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-4) at Canad Inns Stadium (TSN, 8:30 p.m. EDT).
On Saturday night, the B.C. Lions (3-0) are at Ivor Wynne Stadium to face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-3). But the more interesting contest of the night will be at Calgary's McMahon Stadium as the Saskatchewan Roughriders face former teammate Henry Burris in the first regular-season contest since Burris left Regina in the off-season to sign with the Stampeders as a free agent (TSN, 10 p.m. EDT).
Joseph has certainly been Ottawa's offensive catalyst.
He has completed 73 of 116 passes (62.9 per cent) for 1,029 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions. But Joseph has also been a dangerous rushing threat for Ottawa, standing fourth overall with 220 yards on 32 carries (6.9-yard average) with three touchdowns.
With Joseph leading the way, Ottawa's offence is ranked second overall in rushing (147.5-yards per game), first in average rushing gain (6.9 yards) and third in total yards (363 per game). Running back Josh Ranek, who ran for 164 yards in the club's 33-18 win over Calgary last week, is second in the CFL in rushing with 311 yards, 78 behind Saskatchewan's Corey Holmes.
But Edmonton's defence will present Joseph and Co. with a very formidable test.
The Eskimos are tops in the CFL against the pass (165.8 yards per game) and second against the run (58 yards) to stand first overall in total yards surrendered ( 198 ). The unit also leads the league with 16 sacks, and that's despite veteran rush end Joe Montford, three times the CFL's top defensive player, having registered just one so far.
"Those guys go out and make plays and they're the No. 1 defence in the league right now," Joseph said of the Eskimos. "They run around a lot, they try to disguise things and give you some different looks by putting pressure on you. "They see if you can pick up what where they're coming from with their blitz package. I think you just have to be patient with them, take what they give you and not try to force anything."
A solid offensive performance would certainly take some pressure off an Ottawa defence that has struggled this season. The Renegades are ranked eighth in total yards (401 per game) and last in both passing yards allowed (324 per game) and points surrendered (30.5 per game).
Edmonton's offence leads the CFL in points scored (101) and is second in total yards (397.8 per game). But the unit had its troubles last week against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-4). Quarterback Ricky Ray was intercepted three times and lost two fumbles before hitting Derrell Mitchell with a late completion that set up Sean Fleming's field goal that earned the Eskimos a 14-12 win.
Ray remains the CFL's passing leader with 1,421 yards and is tied for second in TD strikes with six. Edmonton's aerial attack is the league's best, averaging 355 yards per game. But the Eskimos aren't a prolific rushing team. The offence is averaging just 68.5 yards per game on the ground and the team's leading rusher is Mike Bradley with 76 yards