Sep
Esks prepare payback
Courtesy Edmonton Journal:
On a short Canadian Football League work week, there really isn’t too much a team can change.
“How about the score,” chimed in injured Edmonton Eskimos running back Calvin McCarty, as he nestled into his locker-room stall next to Maurice Mann on Thursday.
There is that.
And although McCarty will not see the field to force his will physically, his Eskimos teammates will attempt to do their bit in overturning a resounding 32-8 loss in Calgary on Labour Day Monday. The opportunity comes tonight at 8 p. m. at Commonwealth Stadium in a battle of two 5-4 teams who share first place along with Saskatchewan.
“Exactly. Calvin said it best, man, the score and that’s it. We just have to go out there and physically execute the things that we were supposed to do last week,” said Mann, who had a solid eight-catch, 87-yard effort and the lone offensive touchdown.
“It really does come down to executing and us doing more right than them. What it comes down to is executing, making the plays and playing for four quarters.”
At this stage of the season–facing Calgary for a third time and second within five days–there isn’t much you’ll see different, scheme-wise. New offensive co-ordinator or not.
“The first two, you can play chess. The third or fourth? It comes down to man on man, who wants it more,” said Esks receiver Maurice Mann.
“It’s really going to be (about)who can impose their will.
“They were more physical than us last game. That’s something we’re going to have to correct; otherwise, we’ll have a similar result. If we do correct that, it’ll be a good game,” stressed Kamau Peterson, who had six catches for 67 yards.
“It should be two good teams firing off at each other and hopefully that’s what you’ll see.
“It’s a matter of execution, but of will as well. At this point, schemes, you can just toss them. In this one, and the next one against them, you’re not going to out-chess or outthink somebody.”
That means getting into the dirty areas of the field offensively, recognizing what the Stamps defence is in and attacking appropriately. On Monday, the Esks saw an umbrella defence with lots of cover four, meant to take away the deep threat.
“It was a good plan against a vertical-threat team. We just have to find a way to adapt and overcome that,” said Mann.
Does that mean getting away from taking that deep shot?
“No, you never get away from taking your shots. You just have to be smart about knowing when to take them and knowing to take what they give you as well,” said Mann.
Peterson suggests the Eskimos offence has to become even more aggressive.
“We should take it as a compliment to our receiving corps and to Ricky (Ray)and the threats that we have. But at the same time, we can only view it favourably if we attack it soundly,” said Peterson.
“I’m confident that coach (Kevin) Strasser(who took over the offensive co-ordinator’s position from Rick Worman on Wednesday) sees that and sees how to attack it.
“It alters the deep shot, you can’t just kick back and throw it deep because there are so many guys deep,” Peterson said of the Calgary defence. “They leave spots and seams that you need to hit.
“You need an accurate passer and guys who have the agility to get into those spots and the toughness to take a shot that comes from it.
“Or you can isolate spots on the field and isolate one guy in that zone, pull away from the other coverage and take a shot, your man against his man.”
