Is the lack of Redblacks’ touchdowns a threat to their season?

By: Adamo Marinelli

August 1st, 2018

    The Redblacks’ offence was explosive in week six against the BC Lions in a 29-25 win. Trevor Harris had a passing touchdown and 363 passing yards, William Powell had 50 rushing yards, 61 receiving yards on seven receptions and a two-yard rush touchdown which was the eventual game-winner and Brad Sinopoli had a stunning game with 11 receptions, 171 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown.

    But in their week seven game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the offence was okay, Harris completed 23/35 of his passes, with 228 passing yards, Powell had 15 carries for 47 yards and Sinopoli had nine receptions for 82 yards and Ellingson had three receptions for 34 yards. However, unlike in week six, in week seven, the Redblacks failed to score a touchdown. They didn’t score a touchdown all game against Hamilton. Their kicker, Lewis Ward hit seven field goals against Hamilton, his longest from 47 yards out -- in windy weather which is not excellent conditions to be kicking field goals -- accounting for all of the Redblacks’ points in a 21-15 win in their week seven matchup.

    So after the week seven matchup, we must ask the question: Is the game with no touchdowns just a fluke for the Redblacks offence or will the lack of touchdowns against Hamilton carryover throughout the rest of the season and cost the Redblacks some close games throughout the season and put the Redblacks’ hopes of making the playoffs and going for another Grey Cup title in jeopardy?

    The Redblacks have had games where they scored no touchdowns and then bounced back offensively in their next game. For example, in week five of this season, the Redblacks were held to just a single field goal in a 28-3 loss to the Stampeders. Trevor Harris and the offence just couldn’t get any rhythm going against a stellar Stampeders’ defence. However, the next week, the Redblacks offence exploded against the BC Lions, scoring two touchdowns and featuring explosive performances by Harris, Powell and Sinopoli, who is July’s CFL player of the month.

    After a quiet game on offence against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Redblacks’ next game is a week eight matchup against the defending Grey Cup champions, the Toronto Argonauts who are struggling this season, with a 1-5 record thus far, mostly due to the loss of their starting quarterback Ricky Ray to injury. The Argonauts are starting their third-string quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson against the Redblacks and he hasn’t started a regular season game in the CFL thus far this season and since he signed with the Argonauts in 2017 after he was on the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2016. It’s hard to say whether he has a good first game or struggles as each quarterback is different but based on the Argonauts’ performance so far this season, I say their offence struggles in week eight against a Redblacks defence that’s been excellent this season, especially last game, limiting a very strong Hamilton offence led by starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli to one touchdown and only 15 points which gives the Redblacks’ offence lots of time to operate and produce plenty of points… but not only from field goals but also from touchdowns. The passing game and running game should produce at least one touchdown each against the Argonauts in week eight of the 2018 CFL season.

    So, in conclusion, this offensive lul is likely just a fluke and won’t affect the Redblacks’ playoff and even Grey Cup winning hopes. Although, the Redblacks need to prove their offence is capable of scoring touchdowns in the game against the Argonauts and even try to get a win to separate themselves from the rest of the division and to make sure their offence stays status quo to a talented CFL offence. But, if the Redblacks do not have a good game offensively against the Argonauts, which is unlikely, whether or not they win, the Redblacks’ hopes of winning the Grey Cup might be jeopardized, despite the fact they look to have the east division locked up so far this year, especially if they improve to 5-2 with a win this week against the Argonauts.