Ottawa Redblacks' Noah Gettman takes blame for missed tackle that led to winning TD
The 25-year-old rookie punter says he hasn't slept since the loss to Saskatchewan as team faces fourth straight defeat.
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Ottawa Redblacks rookie punter Noah Gettman has taken full responsibility for a missed tackle that allowed Saskatchewan to score the game-winning touchdown in Friday's 27-22 loss, the team's fourth straight defeat.
With the score tied 13-13 in the third quarter, Gettman punted a 58-yarder fielded by Mathew Sexton, who was playing his first CFL game. Sexton ran down the right sideline, and Gettman was the lone obstacle between him and the end zone. He lunged but hit only air as Sexton glided the rest of the way for the score Saskatchewan never relinquished.
Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie addressed the play immediately at Monday's practice, the Redblacks' first day back since the loss.
"He couldn't have been in a better situation. The sideline was right there," Dinwiddie said. "You couldn't have even won a patty-cake award with that technique."
Gettman, 25, told Postmedia he hasn't slept much in the three days since the game.
"The past three days, it's just been going through my head," he said. "I just want to apologize to everyone. It doesn't matter if I'm a kicker or a punter or whatever; that's a play you've got to make. He's running down the sideline, and I thought I could just push him out. It's all my fault. I didn't get enough push on him. I should have put my body into him, or dove at his legs and got him out of bounds. So that's on me. I should have done better."
Dinwiddie said if the mistake happens again, Gettman won't be with the team. Through Week 5 of the season, Gettman's average of 50.79 yards per punt is the second-best in the league behind Toronto's John Haggerty at 53.22.
