Now it’s Chris Jones’s turn to try and ground Trevor Harris and the Ottawa Redblacks‘ high-powered offence.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach will have his hands full with Harris and his dangerous complement of receivers when the Redblacks visit the Roughriders on Friday.
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Since replacing injured incumbent Henry Burris in Ottawa’s season-opening win over Edmonton, Harris has been nearly unstoppable. He’s leading the CFL in passing yards (1,475), completion percentage (82.5), touchdowns (nine) and passing efficiency (140.1) while throwing just one interception.
For three games, Chris Williams was Harris’s favourite target. He was the CFL’s leading receiver heading into last week’s action with 25 catches for 493 yards and six TDs.
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But on Wednesday night, it was James Ellingson who stepped from Williams’s shadow. The lanky receiver had nine catches for 218 yards and was a key figure in Ottawa’s 30-20 road win over Toronto, which left the Redblacks (3-0-1) as the league’s top team and its only unbeaten squad.
Williams continues to lead the CFL in receiving (31 catches, 556 yards, six TDs) with Ellingson (25 catches, 439 yards, one TD) standing second.
Harris completed 28-of-31 passes (league-record 90.3 per cent) for 392 yards against the Argos, his former team. He also ran for a TD, set up by a 77-yard completion to Ellingson to the Toronto one-yard line.
Harris has no shortage of weapons at his disposal. Williams and Ellingson are just two of four Ottawa receivers who surpassed the 1,000-yard plateau last season. The others were Brad Sinopoli — the CFL’s top Canadian in 2015 — and Earnest Jackson.
And all four are back with Ottawa this year, again creating coverage nightmares for opposing defences.
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The Riders (0-3) are still seeking their first win under Jones, hired to rebuild a 3-15 Saskatchewan squad this off-season after leading Edmonton to a Grey Cup title.
What’s more, quarterback Darian Durant left Saskatchewan’s 40-27 loss to the B.C. Lions with a sprained ankle. Durant had suffered season-ending injuries in each of the last two years for the Riders.
Compounding matters is Ottawa’s road prowess this season. All three of the Redblacks’ wins have come away from TD Place. The Riders, on the other hand, are 0-2 at Mosaic Stadium.
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