The Edmonton Eskimos fully admit they were not at their best last against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but it’s very early in the 2018 CFL season.
Every game in a football season is important and the Eskimos will have the chance to avenge last week’s loss against a Western Division opponent as they face the B.C. Lions Friday night on The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium.
The Eskimos were the lesser team in all three phases of the game last Friday in a 38-21 loss to the Tiger-Cats which was the second most lopsided loss at Commonwealth in the last 24 games dating back to the 2015 season. The Eskimos dropped to 1-1 on the season, the defence surrendered 528 yards of offence giving up 332 passing yards and 196 rushing yards.
The Eskimos on offence were on the field for 24:14 and produced 328 yards of total offence with 286 passing yards and only 62 rushing yards.
Receivers Derel Walker and Duke Williams scored touchdowns in the loss and both are first and second in CFL receiving after two weeks, combining for 411 yards and three touchdowns. Williams said the offence is starting to settle down and feel more comfortable for everybody after the first two weeks of the season.
“You know it’s early in the season and we are still coming together as a team and once we come together as a team, we’re going to be hitting on all cylinders,” Williams said.
“We follow Mike Reilly’s lead and, in our receiving group, Vidal (Hazelton), Kenny (Stafford) and Derel Walker’s lead. Whatever they tell us to do or need us to do, we apply that to our game.”
The Eskimos have no injuries to deal with from last week for the game on Friday. The only roster move is newcomer Sam Giguere will be added to the 46-man roster and is expected to play, fullback Pascal Lochard will come out of the lineup.
The Eskimos will be flipping the ratio in both their secondary and receiving corps. American Maurice McKnight will replace Canadian Jordan Hoover at the wide-side corner spot while receiver Nate Behar will receive his first CFL start giving the Eskimos two starting Canadian receivers.
LISTEN BELOW: Eskimos head coach Jason Maas discusses flipping the ratio in his secondary and receiving corps for Friday’s game against the Lions
The following is the projected offensive and defensive starters for the Eskimos:
Offence
Quarterback: Mike Reilly
Running Back: C.J. Gable (Fullback: Calvin McCarty)
Offensive Line: Matt O’Donnell-Travis Bond-Justin Sorensen-David Beard-Colin Kelly
Receivers: Derel Walker-Duke Williams-Natey Adjei-Nate Behar-Kenny Stafford
Defence
Defensive Line: Kwaku Boateng-Almondo Sewell-Jake Ceresna-Alex Bazzie
Linebackers: Christophe Mulumba-Tshimanga-J.C. Sherritt-Chris Edwards
Defensive Backs: Nick Taylor-Aaron Grymes-Neil King-Money Hunter-Maurice McKnight
Defensive end Odell Willis played five seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos from 2013 to 2017. He played 86 games in green and gold recording 132 defensive tackles, 46 quarterbacks sacks, 10 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and three interceptions with one returned for a touchdown. Willis was named a CFL and Western Division All-Star in 2014 and helped the Eskimos win a Grey Cup championship in 2015.
He was traded by the Eskimos to the Ottawa Redblacks on Feb. 2 for defensive tackle Jake Ceresna. The Redblacks then flipped Willis to the B.C. Lions.
According to Willis, even though the first game back in Edmonton since the trade is special it didn’t change the way he prepared for this week’s game.
“I’ve just been really excited because I’m really ready to play with my guys,” Willis said. “I’m really ready to chase Mike Reilly like I said it’s a little extra excitement but the preparations have always been the same. I prep like its Grey Cup, I mean if I waited this week to turn up my preparations that means I’m not preparing other weeks like I’m supposed too.”
Willis joins offensive lineman Joel Figueroa, receiver Cory Watson, defensive backs Gary Peters and Marcell Young, along with linebacker Otha Foster, offensive coordinator Jarious Jackson, and general manager Ed Hervey, as former members of the Eskimos currently playing for or associated with the Lions.
The team is coming off a bye week after a 22-10 win in Week One against the Montreal Alouettes at B.C. Place Stadium to give the Lions a 1-0 start on the season.
You can hear live coverage of Friday night’s game between the Eskimos and Lions on 630 CHED, starting with Countdown to Kick-off at 6 p.m. The opening kick-off on The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium is 8 p.m. with Morley Scott and Dave Campbell calling all the live action, plus analysis from former Eskimos offensive lineman and two-time Grey Cup champion Blake Dermott along with Brenden Ullrich reporting from the Eskimos sidelines.