3 reasons why Damon Webb will impress in the East Semi-Final

It’s been almost 35 months since the last time Damon Webb He went to the football field for the play-off match. The Ottawa REDBLACKS’ defense probably took twice as long to come back.

As a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2021, Webb saw the highs in a 33-30 overtime win over Calgary and the lows the playoffs have to offer in a 21-17 Western Final loss against Winnipeg. The time in between was not easy at all. Webb, who was released by the Riders early in the 2022 season, played for the REDBLACKS in 2022 and 2023, where they missed the playoffs and went 8-28 overall.

This year Webb blossomed with the REDBLACKS, finishing third in the league with a career-best five interceptions. His 69 total tackles, two sacks and forced fumble earned him his first All-CFL East selection. Most importantly for the 28-year-old Detroit native, the REDBLACKS finally turned things around this season, improving to 9-8-1 and returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

“That’s what we’re all working towards this time of year,” Webb said after practice in Ottawa on Thursday. “There is no tomorrow, we don’t want to have regrets. We are ready for all three stages. We are ready to go.”

Here are three ways Webb (and his defensive teammates) can impact Saturday’s East Semifinal against the Toronto Argonauts.

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IT WILL MAKE A GREAT CONTRIBUTION

Milt Stegal said during a panel on TSN on Saturday: If the REDBLACKS are going to beat the Argos in the East Semifinals, they’re going to need big contributions from defense or special teams. This is where Webb has a history. Chad Kelly He returns in Week 14, when the Argos visit TD Place and work both of them to score. Ottawa won the match comfortably 41-27.

Coming off the two-game season series with a 72-65 combined score for Ottawa, we saw a lot of offense from both teams. While he was part of a dominant defensive performance in one game and in another where the Argos’ offense dominated the day, Webb learned a lot about what the Argos do.

“They have some dynamic receivers,” Webb said. “Chad Kellyhe is very smart. He’s very smart about where he wants to go with the ball before the game. Ka’Deem Carey is a good running back, runs downhill. They are good at all phases of the offense as far as what the quarterback, running back and receiver can do. So it will be a tough fight, but we are ready.”

Webb is not confident that the back of his No. 9 jersey, moving away from Kelly, will have an impact on Saturday’s game.

“I think he’s probably moving on, but just the fact that they’ve had some success (in that Week 20 win) and he didn’t do much for me in the last game, so he’s probably not thinking (about it) anymore.” he said.

“He’s a good point guard, so I don’t think he’ll just think about this player in the back of his head. He was playing, trying to implement his game plan. “I don’t think there’s anything in the back of his head where he’s in a place where I’m there every game, just thinking about me.”

IN A GOOD MENTAL SPACE

The REDBLACKS’ biggest challenge this year came as they were on the verge of clinching a play-off spot. The team, which only needed a win to advance to the league, lost five matches in a row. The Argos’ late-season surge and Winnipeg’s win over Hamilton in Week 19 ensured the REDBLACKS’ playoff drought ended, but the team entered last week’s regular season finale determined to end things on a positive note.

Their 37-31 win over the Ticats ended the losing streak and featured several key defensive plays. Webb was caught Bo Levi Mitchell The REDBLACKS’ defense put up a big goal line to create positive momentum right before this week’s game.

Damon Webb picks off Bo Levi at the goal line! #CFLGameday on TSN and RDS2
: Stream on CFL+ pic.twitter.com/t0WZaUduDl

— CFL (@CFL) October 25, 2024

“I felt like it was very important,” Webb said of last week’s game.

“That was going to determine how we got into the playoffs. We didn’t want to get into the play-offs after that losing streak. I think we had to get that bad taste out of our mouth. To get into the play-offs with a W and get a good vibe in the building, People come ready to work and to be able to put all these defeats behind us and then get into the playoffs with a 0-0, record.”

WE ARE READY FOR ANYTHING

Webb has only one playoff under his belt, but he’s been in the CFL long enough to know that the name of the postseason is unpredictability. After a pair of high-scoring games in which each team took turns running the score against the other, Webb is fully prepared for whatever may happen on Saturday.

“I don’t know what to expect, but I don’t think it’s going to be a high-scoring game,” Webb said. “Our defense will hold them off as long as we can. But you never know in the CFL. The games are going to be crazy, we’ll see.

“We got to them early in the first game and they tried to come back towards the fourth quarter. Then the last time we played them they attacked earlier and we tried to make a comeback in the fourth quarter. So it’s 0-0 right now. “The best team, the most prepared will win,” he said.