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EDMONTON – For the Elks, the biggest lesson from the first three games is just how difficult it is to win in the CFL.
The Double E have been close, despite their start, and there have been signs that a breakthrough is on the horizon. A look back to last Thursday contest against the undefeated Winnipeg Blue Bombers featured a lot of good football by the Elks, but a few plays here and there ultimately led to Edmonton leaving Winnipeg empty handed.
“You kind of learn how much goes into each professional football game,” Head Coach Mark Kilam said about the game. “Then you got to go out on the field and do it, and that’s where you gain confidence that you can do it. There is definitely a process to it, and we’re getting close.”
The good from last Thursday included the team’s run defence, which was outstanding for the majority of the contest. Edmonton held the run heavy Bombers to just 19 yards on the ground in the game’s first 49 minutes, until too much time on the field led to the dam finally breaking in the game’s final quarter.
Edmonton’s offence featured some of their best work this season, with a 68-yard pass to Kaion Julien-Grant marking the longest play of the young season. Despite the positives, a fumble, a dropped touchdown, and a few too many two-and-outs kept enough points off the board to hand Winnipeg the victory.
Consistency will come as quarterback Tre Ford and his group continue to build chemistry in the new offence. Offensive Coordinator Jordan Maksymic’s system features plenty of moving parts, and getting everyone on the same page takes repetition. The belief for the Elks is it will be worth it in the long run, as they execute with more consistency and more experience.
“It’s been two full months in the system,” Ford said about the offence. “There might have been some things that we didn’t rep in training camp, but we do get the opportunity rep in practice. I feel pretty good in it.”
“Two and outs are going to happen in the CFL. It’s just what it is,” Ford said. “Whether I miss a throw, we drop a pass, we get stuck in bad situations — second and long — whatever it is. Especially against a good defense. It’s hard to convert in those situations, but you got to do it in professional football.”
Both sides of the ball have seen significant improvements as the weeks have gone on, and Sunday’s game against Ottawa will be the perfect opportunity for the team to show they can put together a more complete performance. As much as the Elks showed fight to overcome a 13 point deficit against the five consecutive Grey Cup participant Blue Bombers, it wont matter unless they finish off the game.
“A lot of games come down to the fourth quarter, but we’ve got to help ourself out in the third quarter as well,” Ford said. “I think we’re playing half here, half there, whether it’s offense or defense. We have got to play three phase football: offense, defense, special teams, and we have got to play for four quarters.”
The Edmonton Elks faceoff against the Ottawa REDBLACKS on Sunday, July 6 at 5:00 pm. For tickets to the game, click here.