5 THINGS: New look, however identical drained end result for winless Edmonton Elks

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For a quarter-and-a-half, the Edmonton Elks appeared like something however the winless, hapless and hopeless workforce we’ve come to count on.

In a season the place every part that may go fallacious has gone fallacious, unexpectedly, they might do no fallacious.

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A landing on the primary snap of the sport?

Yeah, proper.

A kickoff bouncing out the again of the tip zone for a single level, after getting shut out of their earlier recreation (and for the second time this season)?

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Uh-huh, certain.

A well-executed drive by a backup quarterback taking his first snaps of the season that went eight performs, 72 yards and truly adopted their run-first philosophy, whereas permitting their defence a full five-minute relaxation on the sideline?

Get outta right here.

Pressuring the opposing quarterback — and reigning CFL Most Excellent Participant — into an impression of Taylor Cornelius and giving up a panicking, falling final prayer of a pick-six to go forward 22-0 towards the West Division-leading Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and taking Zach Collaros out of the sport on the identical play?

Look, no matter it’s you’re on, go get assist.

However that’s precisely the way it started Thursday night time at Commonwealth Stadium, in a recreation that couldn’t have began out any higher. It’s the end that introduced the Elks crashing again right down to Earth.

Right here’s what we’ve realized from a 38-29 loss to a Bombers squad bent on reaching a fourth consecutive Gray Cup closing:

1. CAN’T HANDLE PROSPERITY

So, what do the Elks do with a lead the likes of which they haven’t seen all season lengthy? Attempting to experience it out over the remaining 41:13 wasn’t the reply.

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Winnipeg took benefit of premature Elks penalties and a pair of turnovers that led to 14 factors, to outscore them 38-7 the remainder of the way in which.

Except for a brief sideline move that caught the DB off guard and ended up going for a 70-yard landing by Kyran Moore with three minutes left within the third quarter, the Elks offence achieved nothing.

2. THE QB TO BE?

Whereas Winnipeg found simply how worthwhile Dru Brown is after Collaros went down, finishing 17 of 24 for 307 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions within the comeback to cement his bid to turn out to be the Bombers’ quarterback of the long run, the Elks have additionally discovered their subsequent QB of the current.

Tre Ford was 12 of 16 for 189 yards, a landing and an interception, whereas dashing 5 instances for 50 yards and one other TD.

Overshadowed as his efficiency was, Ford confirmed extra potential of what Edmonton’s offence desires to turn out to be in a single recreation on the wheel than the Elks have managed over their earlier eight losses.

Head coach and common supervisor Chris Jones wasted no time naming Ford the starter subsequent week in Hamilton, the place the College of Waterloo product received his debut CFL begin final 12 months as a rookie.

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3. PUSH THE PEDAL

For in addition to he managed the offence after lastly getting the keys because the Elks check drove the play-calling talents of newly promoted offensive co-ordinator Jarious Jackson, Ford mentioned he wished them to push the pedal to the steel extra.

“I want we have been just a little bit extra aggressive nonetheless earlier within the first half. I do know we acquired up by loads and it was fairly conservative,” he mentioned. “I undoubtedly would have preferred to get the ball down the sphere just a little bit extra, but it surely’s not my name.

“However I’m going to rock with regardless of the coach says to do.”

What the coach says:

“As a substitute of worrying in regards to the play-calling, we have to fear about executing,” Jones mentioned. “That’s what we have to do, keep in our lane and do issues that we’re speculated to do, you understand?

“That’s what I’d prefer to see.”

What the coach desires to see is one factor. What the followers need to hear at this level is there may be some hearth within the stomach of a quarterback on the workforce that’s had its flame extinguished for thus lengthy.

And Ford’s not afraid to let folks understand it.

4. JUST DESSERTS?

Lastly displaying indicators of life, have been the Elks worthy of a greater destiny this time round?

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“Lots of people have mentioned round city, ‘You all deserve it,’ ” Jones mentioned. “No, we don’t deserve it. We don’t deserve it till we come and play 4 quarters of disciplined, hard-nosed soccer. 4 quarters of bodily blocking and tackling, and go take a recreation. That’s once we’ll deserve it.

“Proper now, we’ve performed sporadic good soccer towards an excellent soccer workforce.”

5. FOR STREAKS’ SAKE

We’re developing on 1,400 days because the Elks final received at Commonwealth Stadium, again on Oct. 12, 2019.

That’s 45 months.

Or 200 weeks.

Or 4 head coaches in the past, relying in your most popular unit of measurement.

Equally as disturbing because the historic 22-game house shedding skid is the actual fact the Elks are on the cusp of building a brand new franchise file in consecutive losses, which they tied at 13 on Thursday.

All of it has to finish someday.

Doesn’t it?

E-mail: [email protected]

On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge

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