Tonight will be a weird night in the CFL. The Ottawa Redblacks will be kicking off week 9 of the 2021 CFL season at home against the Edmonton Elks. It will be the first Tuesday night game of the CFL season, but that will not be the sole reason for a weird CFL game. The Ottawa Redblacks’ only two quarterbacks dressing are Caleb Evans and Taryn Christion who have never had any CFL action in their young careers.
Evans, 23 years old will get the start tonight against the Elks and is should surprise the league have a big game. After seeing both Matt Nichols and Dominique Davis struggle early on this season in the Redblacks’ offence and watching them both face injuries in last week’s game against the Tiger-Cats, being placed on the 6-game injured list offensive mindset Paul LaPolice has turned to the rookies and Evans, despite being a rookie in the CFL has a lot to show for himself and is a proven playmaker. During his collegiate career at Louisiana Monroe Caleb Evans threw for 9,513 yards and 58 touchdowns, while adding 2,168 rushing yards and 36 scores on the ground to the totals over 3 seasons. His last start came in 2019 against the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns where he threw for 330 yards, 2 scores and ran for 77 yards and a touchdown as well. The game ended in a 31-30 Louisiana victory but Evans will look to win tonight for the Ottawa Redblacks in his first professional start. He will do so with a strong arm, and the ability to extend plays with his legs.
Ottawa is the home of a number of play makers that can help Evans out in tonight’s game against the Elks. Players like Ryan Davis, DeVonte Dedmon, Timothy Flanders, RJ Harris and Nate Behar will have major roles as receivers and playmakers in the Redblacks offence in tonight’s game and if any of these receivers are looked at to have a bigger game than the others you would have to go with the dual threat, speed receivers in Ryan Davis and DeVonte Dedmon. Both receivers provide electricity to the field every time they touch the ball and are able to get open which, against a strong Elks secondary will help the rookie quarterback, Caleb Evans.
Along with the help on the offensive side of the ball, Mike Benevides’ Redblacks’ defence is coming off of a big game against the Tiger Cats where despite losing stopped the Hamilton offence on multiple occasions. Against other rookie quarterback Taylor Cornelius for the Elks, the Redblacks defence which will headline Avery Williams, Cleyon Laing, Antoine Pruneau, Micah Awe and Don Unamba in tonight’s game should be able to provide a bright spot for Caleb Evans. The defence will be without Marcus Lewis at defensive back but have replaced him with Brandin Dandridge who played with Ottawa in 2019. Expect some big plays from the Redblacks’ defence and special teams tonight to keep Caleb Evans in the game, no matter what the situation is on the offensive side of the ball.
Kickoff will be 7:30 at TD Place against the Elks. If you cannot make it tonight be sure to tune into the game on TSN and watch the Redblacks as they look to turn the season around starting tonight.
JZ MEDIA 