PICKETT IN PARTYING MOOD AFTER BEATING EX-TEAM
Redblacks defensive back made sure to let Argos know they shouldn't have let him go
It should be no surprise the Ottawa Redblacks defence played a major role in a 14-point victory over the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday.
As the first game between the two teams this season, it was a long-awaited opportunity for Adarius Pickett — the Redblacks' best defensive player and, as “the party starter,” its motivational leader — to remind the Argos they made a mistake in allowing him to walk as a free agent.
In the 41-27 drubbing that saw the Argos put up 17 points against Ottawa's three in fourth quarter garbage time, the Redblacks became the first team to record six sacks and six turnovers (four interceptions, two on downs) since Saskatchewan had a half-dozen of each in a game against Hamilton on Aug. 14, 2021.
“That's an outstanding performance by those guys,” head coach Bob Dyce said of the unit working under defensive co-ordinator Barron Miles. “When you create six turnovers, you're putting your team in a good situation to capitalize and get a victory.”
Pickett added to his usual stellar showing with some colourful post-game words about Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly and head coach Ryan Dinwiddie to TSN'S Claire Hanna.
He said he hit Kelly in the backfield early, and “Chad looked like he was seeing ghosts from there.
“He looked just like he did in the East Final game, you know what I'm saying?” Pickett added, referring to Kelly's performance (21-of-36, 246 yards, one touchdown, four interceptions) in the 38-17 loss to the Alouettes.
That happened to be the last game Pickett played for the Argos.
After earning CFL all-star honours with 124 tackles and six sacks, Pickett left the team in free agency, blaming coach Ryan Dinwiddie for his departure.
“We don't tolerate no disrespect from nobody,” Pickett, who chirped at Dinwiddie throughout Saturday's game, told Hanna. “At the end of the day, there's love for my teammates over there but he know. I ain't get one phone call in the whole off-season from him and that's why I left at the end of the day.
“Love coach Bob Dyce, love coach B. Miles, man. We holding it down over here right now.”
Following Wednesday's practice, Pickett was asked about the comments, and whether the lack of respect from the Argos was an inspiring factor on Saturday.
“I definitely didn't get the respect, but it's not a motivating thing,” said Pickett, whose 66 tackles this season is second most on the Redblacks (behind Deandre Lamont) and eighth most in the league. “I'm just playing football. I'm having fun with my teammates. Blessed to be here. We have a great team. We're moving in the right direction right now, sitting at 8-3-1 and having the chance we do to clinch a playoff spot. I'm really excited.”
He also admitted that it was extra sweet to defeat his old team and acknowledged he did what he could to put some added fire into the bellies of his teammates.
“I think that's embedded into being a party starter, right?” said Pickett. “Making sure that everybody has that energy, everybody has their belief, and we're all on the same accord. I think that once people see the energy that I have and I can get the party started, essentially everybody falls along.”
Not talked about enough this season has been defensive tackle Michael Wakefield, who recorded one of the sacks against Toronto.
He now has six on the season, which along with equalling a personal high set last year gave him a share of the league lead with five other players.
Wakefield agreed that six sacks isn't many for a league leader two-thirds of the way through the season, and thinks that's the result of teams putting extra focus on keeping their quarterbacks clean.
He also thinks the sacks will ramp up in the final third of the schedule.
“Somebody is going to get to double digits and I plan on being one of them,” said the 30-yearold veteran, who didn't have a set number of sacks as a personal goal entering the season. “I just knew I wanted double digits. I didn't really put a cap on it whatever it is. That's what I'm shooting for.
“I've always been a guy to get to the quarterback,” Wakefield added. “I've just had a different eye for the ball this year ... I've just found myself at quarterback a lot. So I'm looking for that double digits.”
Asked what identity the Ottawa defence has established for itself this season, Wakefield said “our tenacity in making plays, our aggression, our ball skills in the back end. That's what I would call our defence.”
Is the unit getting the respect it deserves?
“I really don't care if we do or we don't,” Wakefield said. “I love being the doubted ones, the underdog. So they think we not as good as they say. It's all good. The teams are finding out when we go play them. That's all that matters.”