Se préparer au combat : Le ROUGE ET NOIR s'entraînent intensément sur le terrain

10/30/2024 03:16 PM

It was a brisk eight degrees on Tuesday afternoon when the Ottawa REDBLACKS took to the practice field, with the wind gusts making for a frigid session in preparation for the franchise's first playoff game since 2018.

It's that time of the year. Your hands, feet, and face are all going to be cold, you'll soon be able to see your own breath, and you're not far from shovelling your driveway and scraping your car windows before work.

For most people, that's less than ideal, but in the REDBLACKS' locker room, this is what everyone has been waiting for.

"It’s exciting," said offensive lineman Dariusz Bladek. "It’s a blessing and an honour to be here, and for us to make the playoffs. Let’s go out there, be home wreckers, and get this W."

Adarius Pickett – better known as DJ Party Starter these days – is back putting in the work on the turntables this week, setting a very intense mood on Tuesday afternoon.

In search of the next level for his football team, Dyce was happy to see that mood matched on the field.

"I think they need to continue playing physical, disciplined football," Dyce said. "As we move forward, we know we have to take care of the details that allow us to be successful. Right now, what I want to see from them, and what I saw today was a lot of attention to detail and making sure that they’re doing things the right way."

Currently, Dyce is in between two worlds. On the one hand, he's excited to be back in the playoffs, but he also knows now isn't the time to be satisfied, it's when you double down on what you've already done, and push yourself further than ever before.

"I tell these guys the same thing," Dyce said. "Yeah, be excited. You know, we worked hard to get this opportunity, but at the same time, be locked in and focus on what we want to accomplish. We have every right to be excited, but come game time, we’ll be ready to take care of business."

Early on, we've already seen the different approaches to big games. You've got guys like Bladek who let the excitement fuel them, who turn the volume up and get their buddies fired up, and then there are guys like Dru Brown, who have a more nonchalant approach.

"It sounds cheesy, but honestly, it’s another game," Brown said. "It’s the most important game because it’s the next game. Every game is important. I’ve said it a million times, I kind of see it right in front of me."

That's not new for the Paulto Alto native, who is making his first career playoff start.

"There was a year that Zach [Collaros] got hurt in the West Final, and I thought I was going to start in the Grey Cup for my second start ever," he said. "I was chilling, just preparing and doing the same things I always do. It’s a regular game."

In the two previous meetings with the Argonauts this season, the REDBLACKS are 1-1, outscoring Toronto 72-65 in the process.

No matter the sport, reporters will ask coaches and players alike about the season series, and every single time, the answer mentions something along the lines of it being a new season, and not mattering anymore.

It should come as no shock that the sentiment is the same for Dyce, though there is plenty to learn from the tape.

"They were both high-scoring games," Dyce said. "This is a different beast, right? That’s a different time of year and a different focus. This is a totally new experience, and you can’t rely on previous games. We just have to focus, and make sure we’re ready to execute at all times."

There is no celebration right now, the job has only just started.

"This isn’t a vacation, it’s a privilege," Bladek said. "There are a bunch of people that are at home right now that wish they had this opportunity to go have a chance to win a Grey Cup."

"Get ready for a fight, because you’re going to get everything they have. This is the last game for one of us, and everyone’s going to be putting it all out there on the field. »