When it comes to ranking teams in the CFL’s various defensive categories, the Eskimos might as well shrug and say, “Lies, damned lies and statistics,” to borrow a phrase made popular by American author Mark Twain more than 110 years ago.
One could easily be deceived about how good this Eskimos defence has become in recent weeks by looking at the league’s weekly stats sheets. Edmonton is located anywhere from the middle to the bottom of most defensive categories.
“I think our defence has played pretty well all year, to be honest with you,” said Head Coach Jason Maas. “They’ve been getting better week-in and week-out. … We’ve had different injuries, and different people step in on our defence, and it hasn’t stopped them.
“Their confidence is growing each and every week with success,” Maas continued. “That’s obviously what’s kept us in (contests when the Eskimos offence was struggling). When you’re minus-14 in turnovers over four games, and you’re not getting blown out in every one of those games, that tells you somebody else is playing pretty well.”
While the Eskimos rank third-last in the CFL with an average net offence allowed of 359.7 yards per game, they have held opponents to 314, 281 and 239 yards the last three games and given up only four offensive touchdowns during the past four games.
“I feel like we always give up a little bit of yards and maybe a couple of scores early in the game, but when we lock it down, we lock it down,” defensive tackle Jake Ceresna said. “We’ve got a great defence.”
That defence, led by middle linebacker J.C. Sherritt (fifth in the league with 86 defensive tackles), was absolutely lights out in the second half of Saturday’s 34-16 victory, limiting the Ottawa RedBlacks to only three first downs, 13 rushing yards and 73 yards of net offence during the final 30 minutes while the Eskimos dominated the time of possession 20:48 to 9:12.
“When your defence is doing what our defence has been doing, it gives our team an opportunity to win,” Maas said. “That’s what we’ve been afforded. We’ve had opportunities to win games. Thankfully, last game we came out on a better end of it because our defence again was playing well early and not letting bad things happen to us.”
The RedBlacks took advantage of Eskimos fumbles on back-to-back drives to march deep into Edmonton territory only to settle for a pair of 16-yard field goals early in the second quarter. The Esks underrated defence also stopped Ottawa at the Edmonton 25-yard line on the game’s opening drive to force another field goal.
“Defensively speaking, we’ve really turned it up these past couple of weeks,” said veteran safety Neil King, who returned to the lineup after a six-week stint on the injured list three games ago. “We’re communicating extremely well. We’re flying around. Guys are starting to make the plays, make the tackles.
“We’re making it extremely hard on offences to move the ball right now,” he added. “It’s tough to win games if you’re just scoring field goals.
“We’re tightening our coverages, tightening our pockets, our zones. We’re making it tight windows for the quarterbacks to throw in. Guys are holding their gaps on the run, and you’re seeing that more consistently now throughout the games.”
King said the Eskimos “really want to be great” and get back into the West Division playoff picture after three recent losses dropped the team’s record to 8-8 and into last place. The BC Lions (8-7), whom the Eskimos play at 8 p.m. Friday at BC Place, also have 16 points in the standings but have an extra game in hand.
“The ‘want’ is there,” King said. “They guys really want to do this. I think everyone is buying into communicating and we’re just having fun right now. We’re just playing football, and we’re having fun, and you’re seeing the results on the field.”
Ceresna was having such a good time on Saturday that he attempted a cartwheel after collecting his seventh quarterback sack of the season (and fifth in the last six games).
“I was trying to switch it up a little bit,” he said, having previously joined fellow defensive tackle Almondo Sewell’s tradition of celebrating a sack with a somersault. “It just popped in my head at the moment. I was so tired, and I didn’t really land it completely. But I’m just having fun out there. I don’t really care if I look stupid. I’m just having a great time, and that’s what it’s all about.”
The Eskimos defensive line got to Ottawa QB Trevor Harris five times on Saturday. Defensive end Alex Bazzie (seven quarterback sacks this year) had two while Sewell (seventh) and national defensive end Kwaku Boateng (a team-high ninth) picked up the others as the Esks moved into a share of the league lead with the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 43 sacks.
Edmonton has 16 sacks during the last four games, and they’re almost evenly spread out among the four starters – Sewell (five), Boateng (four), Ceresna (four) and Bazzie (three).
“I feel like we’re just on a groove right now where we can put pressure on the quarterback all game long,” Ceresna said about the defensive line.
The Esks also have had four different players intercept passes in the last four games, picked off seven passes in the last five games and rank third in the league with 18 interceptions overall. They’ve also knocked down 16 passes in the last six games, including four against the Riders on Thanksgiving Monday.
But the most impressive thing the Edmonton defence has been doing of late is preventing the opponent from reaching the end zone. Often criticized for how much it bends, the defence has seldom broke since allowing six touchdowns (four scoring plays of 32 or more yards) in the Labour Day Rematch shootout with the Calgary Stampeders at The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium.
Opponents have scored just one offensive touchdown in more than 150 minutes (2-1/2 games), and four TDs in four games – one of which was scored after a turnover gave the opponent the ball at the Edmonton 26.
“That’s been a theme of them for a while now,” Maas said about the defence forcing the opponent to kick a field goal after a turnover in the Edmonton end of the field. “When we’ve made mistakes, they’ve kept us in the game by not allowing touchdowns and giving us opportunities.”
The defence’s only blip in Saturday’s contest was a 61-yard pass-and-run touchdown late in the second quarter, but that was also the last points the RedBlacks could muster.
“When they play like that, they give us a chance to win every game as long as we show up on offence,” quarterback Mike Reilly said after Saturday’s game. “We haven’t (showed up offensively) for the last 2-1/2 weeks. We showed up (Saturday), but we’ve got to continue to show up.
“Our defence is going to continue to play great.”