A la recherche de 1 000 : Rhymes de ROUGE et NOIR essaie de contribuer à l'effort

10/25/2024 09:52 AM

All Dominique Rhymes needs this week is 104 yards, and he'll be a member of the 1,000-yard club for the third time in his career, and second time as an Ottawa REDBLACK.

It has been an interesting year for the veteran out of Murray State. He's had some weeks with big numbers, including in wins over the Edmonton Elks and Toronto Argonauts, and there have been weeks where he's more of a decoy, and gets just one reception.

The chance to hit 1,000 is still something the 31-year-old is excited about, even though he really wasn't too sure how close he actually was until asked during the week.

"It's always a cool accomplishment," Rhymes said. "To be able to do it again would be a great thing. It's something that says you're helping contribute to your team. That’s the biggest thing."

A week ago in Toronto, Rhymes had two receptions for 20 yards, but narrowly missed a third that would have resulted in a touchdown had he been able to tap his toes inbounds. Investigating that fourth-quarter incompletion a little further turns up a few facts.

Of course, it changes nothing about the game, but it must be said that the endzones in Toronto are about 18 yards deep, two short of regulation size. Bearing in mind that Rhymes likely knew he wouldn't get down in time, and was looking to protect himself from the giant wall growing bigger and bigger in his face, it's safe to assume he likely didn't sell out to hit the white.

Even then, he landed maybe an inch or two beyond the white stripe at the back of the endzone. Those lines are standardized to be three feet, which converts to about a yard. All of that to say that had Rhymes caught that ball in any other CFL stadium, he likely would have been celebrating his third touchdown of the campaign.

Again, that's all in the realm of "could have, should have, would have," it ultimately serves no other point than being food for thought unless you stick it in the mental notes tab, which Rhymes says he'll be doing knowing that he'll be back at BMO Field a week from Saturday.

"Yeah, I'll be more aware and probably change your route a little bit," he said. "Next time it’s gonna be a touchdown."

Before he'll be able to think about next weekend in Toronto, the REDBLACKS have a game on Friday night against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Their ticket to the playoffs is punched, the matchup is set, and home-field advantage is set, so the common thought process may be that this game doesn't matter, but the REDBLACKS don't subscribe to that theory this week.

"It matters because it’s football," Rhymes said. "You don’t want to look bad playing football. The biggest thing is to come out and play well, and look good going to the playoffs."

They'll use their 25-point fourth quarter in Toronto as a building block, and hope to turn the ship around.

The REDBLACKS won’t have Most Outstanding Player nominee Justin Hardy with them, but the savvy Rhymes doesn't think it'll knock them off course.

"All year, we've had young receivers on first team," Rhymes said. "Everybody has stepped up, and I think that’s the good part. Different people can step in different positions to make plays. We're holding down for Hardy."

If Rhymes were to put together a career night, and haul in 179 receiving yards on Friday night, he'd not only hit 1,000 yards on the season, but 5,000 in his career.

It's a tall order, but not impossible. Still, whether he does or he doesn't, Rhymes says he'll remember the 2024 regular season as a successful one.

"I mean, it just shows that I’m coming out every day," Rhymes said. "It shows my durability, you know, just being available. I think that’s a bigger accomplishment than the success I’ve had this year when it comes to yardage or anything. I've been available, so I’m proud of that. »