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Football players and coaches like to say that the film never lies. And the numbers tell an ugly story of the Ottawa Redblacks’ last game, too.

Here’s just one telling indicator: While the Redblacks’ average start for each possession was their 26-yard line, the Calgary Stampeders began on average at their 50, and even that doesn’t count starts at Ottawa’s 37-, 17- and six-yard lines after recovering three punt-return fumbles.

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No wonder the Stampeders won 48-3.

It wasn’t just one lost battle for field possession that caused Redblacks management to release punter Anthony Alix and bring in Andy Wilder as his likely replacement, though. Special teams have been a struggle all season for the team that carries a 4-3 record into Sunday’s confrontation with the Toronto Argonauts (5-2).

“We have been fortunate that some returns (for touchdowns) have been called back, so our cover teams haven’t been great, and our return game hasn’t been very good,” said general manager Marcel Desjardins, who was back in town after a week-long scouting trip to three National Football League training camps. “Overall, our special teams, where they were, I don’t want to say a strength, but pretty good last year, but this year, it seems to have taken a couple of steps back.”