Elks, Redblacks seek running game fixes

The Edmonton Elks will host the Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday night, with both Canadian Football League teams aiming to fix their ineffective running attacks. The Elks, currently 3-1, are looking to rebound from a 36-24 loss to the B.C. Lions, where their ground game was nearly nonexistent.

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For as great a player as he is, we know we’re not going to get that ultra production every time. Teams are going to key on him so we have to pick him up by doing it in the pass game. Finding ways to get him touches any way we can is what’s going to help this offence.

Justin Rankin, the league's leading rusher with 406 yards, was held to a mere 19 yards on seven carries in that game. Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo acknowledged that teams will focus on stopping Rankin, emphasizing the need for the offense to compensate through the passing game and find ways to get Rankin more touches.

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Obviously they’re going to stack the box. But we have a lot more playmakers than just me. We just have to find a better balance.

The 0-4 Redblacks have also struggled to establish a consistent running game. Greg Bell gained just 45 yards on nine carries in their 27-22 defeat to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Redblacks head coach Ryan Dinwiddie stated his team must limit Rankin's effectiveness, similar to how the Lions succeeded.

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I’m not going to tell you but we do (make adjustments). There are 11 other guys on the field, we have other guys who have to step up and make plays and that’s what we will do.

Both teams are implementing adjustments. Elks head coach Mark Kilam confirmed they are making changes to counter Ottawa's strategy. Dinwiddie also stressed the importance of developing the run game to reduce pressure on quarterback Jake Maier. Ottawa's offense has accumulated a CFL-worst 261 rushing yards this season, compared to Edmonton's 468.

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I would say our tackling. We pride ourselves on, when we go in to make a tackle, it’s down right there. There were a lot of leaky yards there. We had some misses up front, too, that led to some explosives. That was really disappointing.