The Edmonton Elks flew into town riding the high of opening their season at 2-0 for the first time since 2019.<\/p>\n
They can make it 3-0 for the first time since 2017 if they can beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe already knew we\u2019re a good football team,\u201d quarterback Cody Fajardo told reporters in Edmonton after the Elks edged the Montreal Alouettes 32-29 in overtime last week. \u201cMore importantly, it puts the league on notice. This isn\u2019t the same Edmonton Elks organization that it was a couple of years ago. That\u2019s what my message to the guys in the locker room is, the standard\u2019s changed here. We win football games. It doesn\u2019t matter how it looks, we win football games.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elks running back Justin Rankin has led the team to victory in both games. He rushed for 176 yards and added 54 in receptions versus Montreal. He leads the CFL with 281 yards on the ground and is enjoying an 8.9-yard average per carry.<\/p>\n
The 1-1 Bombers have yet to prove they can stop the run. Both the Calgary Stampeders (in a 30-28 loss) and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (in a 37-27 win) rushed for a total of 171 yards against their once-vaunted defence.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something we haven\u2019t been good at the past two weeks and it\u2019s definitely something we need to clean up and be better at,\u201d said Winnipeg defensive lineman Jake Ceresna. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely a priority for us and that\u2019s our main focus going into this game.\u201d<\/p>\n
The former Elk knows what a challenge it will be to stop Rankin.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s gonna be a tall task,\u201d Ceresna said. \u201cHe\u2019s a great runner. Like, one of the best in the league, if not the best in the league.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rankin has apparently modelled himself after Winnipeg\u2019s Brady Oliveira.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe guy is very special with the ball in his hands and I think that, as a fan, it\u2019s very exciting to watch his game,\u201d Oliveira said. \u201cI envy his speed. When the ball is in his hands, he has the ability to take it 70, 80, 90 yards.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rankin does not do it alone, though.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you watched him play? He\u2019s pretty good,\u201d said Elks head coach Mark Kilam. \u201cBut everyone else has to do their job around him. It\u2019s a team game. Twelve players on the field have to do their job for every play to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, stopping Rankin will be the key as the Winnipeg defence seeks redemption for its poor play in the loss to the Tiger-Cats after coming off a bye week.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a whole, we didn\u2019t play our best game,\u201d said Bombers linebacker Tony Jones. \u201cWe were taking turns messing up and being out of gaps or whatever it was. Whenever you take turns as a defence, those turn into explosions, which are big plays that make it 10 times harder (to win). We sat on it this bye week, but we\u2019re extremely fired up to go back out there against a good Edmonton team and showcase what we can do when all cylinders are clicking.<\/p>\n
\u201cOverall, it just wasn\u2019t us. When everyone is clicking on all cylinders, we know what we can bring to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n
They also have to be better at bringing the ball carrier down.<\/p>\n
\u201cTackling has got to improve,\u201d said Bombers head coach Mike O\u2019Shea. \u201cThose things are important. Rankin, right now, he\u2019s on fire so it\u2019s going to take all 12 guys to hustle to the ball, wrap up and contain him because he has broken out of a lot of tight jams. It\u2019s been impressive to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rankin is ready for the challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI show up and play,\u201d he said. \u201cThey watch film, I watch film. At the end of the day, the best man wins.\u201d<\/p>\n