EDMONTON 鈥� The mission is clear for Tre Ford: lead the Edmonton Elks to their first home win since 2019.
It鈥檚 a big ask of the Canadian quarterback, who was elevated from No. 3 on the Elks depth chart to the starter鈥檚 role by head coach and general manager Chris Jones and new offensive co-ordinator Jarious Jackson for Thursday鈥檚 date with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-2).
Ford takes over an offence that鈥檚 dead last in the CFL with 105 points in eight games. Jackson was elevated to the offensive co-ordinator鈥檚 role, replacing Stephen McAdoo, after the Elks were shut out for the second time this season by the B.C. Lions, dropping their record to 0-8.聽
It was their 21st consecutive regular-season home loss, a record in North American pro sports.
Now, they face a Blue Bombers team that put up 50 points on that same Lions defence. Bombers鈥� quarterbacks Zach Collaros and Dru Brown combined for 447 yards passing in that win; that鈥檚 more than the Elks had in the air over their last two games.
But the Elks would rather talk about their new beginnings.
鈥淚 like our offensive scheme going into this week,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e going to have some success. I feel like we鈥檝e done really well in practice, executing the plays and moving the ball.
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited just to be playing again. I鈥檝e been having so much fun at practice, just running around and doing whatever I do.鈥�
This isn鈥檛 the first time Ford has taken the reins as Edmonton鈥檚 great Canadian hope. In 2022, after the Elks lost their first three games of the season, the Niagara Falls, Ont. product was named the starter for a road date against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which is as close as it came to a homecoming for Ford.聽
The Elks won that game 29-25, but Ford suffered a shoulder injury in his next start, which derailed his season.
He said that he and Jackson have already developed a good rapport, and that he can veto plays he鈥檚 not comfortable running.
"He鈥檚 an experienced quarterback himself, so I think a lot of the plays he鈥檚 designing work," Ford said of Jackson. "I feel like him and me have a good relationship. I can communicate with him."
Ford鈥檚 ability to beat you with his arm, and legs, even earned the praise of Bombers鈥� head coach Mike O鈥橲hea.
鈥淗is athleticism is second to none,鈥� O鈥橲hea said of Ford. 鈥淚f he pulls the ball down and runs, you鈥檇 better all be getting there, because he鈥檒l make you pay for it.鈥�
But taking the ball out of former No. 1 quarterback Taylor Cornelius鈥檚 hands was just the first to-do item for Jackson. The Elks must get running back Kevin Brown more of the football.
Brown has just 342 yards and a touchdown on the ground near the halfway point of the season, and he鈥檚 averaging just a little more than nine carries per game. In 2022, he ran for 486 yards in just seven games, averaging 6.6 yards per carry, after joining the team as a mid-season signing.聽
鈥淲e need to get him the ball more, number one,鈥� said Jones. 鈥淚 think that emphasizing the run game will give him more opportunities to touch it. (Defences) have done a real nice job of forcing the pull on our zone-read plays, which takes the ball out of your tailback鈥檚 hands. We鈥檝e got to counter that with hard runs and just hand the football off.鈥�
So, translated from coachspeak, the Elks need to stop trying to juke and jive and just have Brown pound the ball up the middle.聽
鈥淚鈥檓 probably thinking too much,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淲hen I first came in, I was just a guy out here that nobody knew about. I was just running. For me, it鈥檚 probably more mental.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to be in a game, overthinking. Once you start overthinking, you start to play slow.鈥�
Ford had 149 yards rushing on just 19 attempts in 2022. His ability to scramble is an X factor. It also brings the run-pass option into the playbook, as Ford can either hand to Brown, or keep the ball himself, depending on his read of the defence.聽
And Brown knows if he can get the ball more, he takes pressure off the young pivot.
"He can make people miss, he鈥檚 fast, he can also truck people," Ford said of Brown.
Thursday will see the return of Bombers鈥� receiver Kenny Lawler to Commonwealth Stadium. Lawler had a whopping 200 yards receiving in last week鈥檚 win over the Lions. The American wideout left the Bombers for Edmonton ahead of the 2022 season. But, after spending just one season in Edmonton, he鈥檚 back in Winnipeg.
"Kenny鈥檚 really good with the ball in the air," said Collaros. "Ask any defensive back, our guys included, if you have great protection like we typically have, the receiver knows where the ball is supposed to be, it鈥檚 tough for the defensive back with his back to the quarterback to locate the ball.聽
"Whatever you call those types of throws, I typically put a lot of faith in the receiver to come down with those."
The Elks will be boosted by the returns of defensive back Ed Gainey and veteran wide receiver Manny Areceneaux from the injured list.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 9, 2023.
Steven Sandor, The Canadian Press
