How Nyles Morgan will be a key when Redblacks try to bust out of slump against Elks

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“I’ve always been, I guess, a little heavier in the CFL, so I definitely have modeled some of my game after some of my predecessors.”

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Why did the Elks deem Morgan expendable?

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It was a cost-cutting measure, in part, as Morgan was approaching bonus money time.

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They also felt they had younger, capable replacements who could fill the void.

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“Ed didn’t want to have older linebackers,” Morgan said, referring to Elks GM Ed Hervey, when asked the reason he was given for being traded. “He didn’t believe in paying older guys. I was coming off of a broken leg, and they felt like they could be good without me.”

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Morgan isn’t especially bitter that the Elks have seemingly turned a corner with a 3-1 start while the Redblacks are still searching for their first victory after four losses.

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“I try not to look at other people’s success,” he said. “I was just never really wired that way. I’m super happy for them, happy for the guys on the team. They’re like brothers to me. But I like to focus just on where my feet are.

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“I just never had a real hate in my blood for nobody,” Morgan added. “Especially people who had nothing to do with one person’s decision.”

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Will returning to his old stomping grounds provide Morgan with added incentive to show the Elks they made a mistake?

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Naturally.

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“After working somewhere for so long and kind of getting tossed aside due to injury, or just by a new regime that doesn’t appreciate you, it would definitely light a fire under anybody, I would say,” Morgan said.

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Things didn’t turn out so well when the Elks visited the Redblacks for the season opener, as outstanding Edmonton running back Justin Rankin rushed 13 times for 102 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 94 yards.

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Most of the damage was inflicted on a backbreaking 61-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that saw Morgan blocked out while both Allen and Reavis let Rankin slip through their grasps.

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Morgan led the Redblacks with seven tackles in the 29-21 loss at TD Place that was played in what he referred to as a “monsoon.”

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“Hopefully, if it’s not raining (Thursday),” he said with a laugh. “Nah, doesn’t matter what the weather is. You’re always excited to play your former team and former teammates.”

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How important is it for the Redblacks to contain Rankin?

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The Elks suffered their first defeat of the season last week because they couldn’t establish their running game.

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Rankin was limited to 19 yards on seven carries and Edmonton, trailing 29-21 at the half, was held to just three fourth-quarter points the rest of the way in the 36-24 loss to the B.C. Lions.

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“They shut the run game down, which is tough to do,” Dinwiddie said. “He’s such a good back. You look at what he’s done the first few weeks, over 100 yards in each of those games, so he’s a good player.

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“We’ve got to find ways to stop the run game. That’s what you hear coming from their media, just things I’m reading. Second and long has been a tough deal for them and when you stop the run, you can get them second and long.

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“That’s similar to us. We’ve got to get the run game going, stay out of second and long, and not make our quarterback have to make all these amazing throws.”

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