Help is on the way for quarterback Mike Reilly and the Edmonton Eskimos.
Centre Justin Sorensen returns to the lineup Thursday night when Edmonton (2-4) hosts the Montreal Alouettes (2-4). The six-foot-eight, 310-pound Sorensen missed two games after suffering a separated shoulder in the Eskimos’ 37-31 loss to Hamilton on July 23, the first of three straight losses for the defending Grey Cup champions.
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Sorensen’s return means Edmonton will have its starting offensive line intact, which should give Reilly more time than he’s had the last two contests.
“It’s huge,” Reilly said of Sorensen’s return. “He’s been the anchor of the O-line, making the calls the last couple of years.
“Having those five guys together, their comfort level is huge and that goes a long way to getting protection for the quarterback.”
Sorensen doesn’t believe one person can mean the difference between winning and losing but agreed the continuity his return provides the offensive line is big.
“Continuity is probably most important thing on the offensive line, where five guys are working closely together,” he said. “The best lines in league are guys who have played together a long time.”
With Sorensen back, Simeon Rottier shifts from centre to his usual left guard position.
Like Edmonton, Montreal has had its issues this season. The Alouettes are averaging a league-low 19.7 points scored per game and suffered a 20-point home loss to B.C. last week.
“We’re ready for this game just as we would for any other game this season,” said Montreal receiver B.J. Cunningham. “Our goal is to win each week.
“In order to do that, we need to execute our plays and move the ball as deep as we can into the opposing end. If we do our jobs and execute our plays, we can win this game.”
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On Tuesday, Edmonton head coach Jason Maas challenged his team to be better, saying it was time to “put up and shut up.” Maas feels Sorensen’s presence will help the Eskimos because he’s “a battler, a veteran who understands our system better than anyone. He gives everyone more confidence. You need continuity, you need one voice and I firmly believe that’ll help us.”
Maas reiterated the Eskimos must improve their focus, drastically reduce the penalties that have routinely hurt the offence and overall take ownership and responsibility of their performances.
“The focus has to be on the now,” Maas said. “What’s creating our problems, look for a solution … it’s about us getting better as a group.
“Let’s see what we’re doing wrong and really delve into fixing that. The focus needed to be on. It’s time to go now, time to figure things out and let’s get ourselves out of this.”
Penalties have been a problem, especially ones that put Edmonton out of scoring position. The Eskimos took 13 penalties for 106 yards in last week’s 23-20 loss to Ottawa, seven coming on offence that three times took the unit out of the red zone.
“It’s been our Achilles heel all season,” Maas said of the penalties. “If you know your assignment and you’re physically capable of doing your job you shouldn’t be taking penalties, bottom line.”
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But Maas was encouraged by the intensity his players displayed in meetings and on the practice field this week.
“It starts with preparation and focus on a day-to-day, minute-to-minute basis in our meeting rooms,” he said. “I thought this week that’s what our guys did.”
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