Ottawa Redblacks aim to use final tuneup as tempo setter for "Grey Cup or bust" season
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'Grey Cup or bust, man,' said James Peter, the former Ottawa Gee-Gee who will start at middle linebacker for the Redblacks when they take on the Montreal Alouettes in their preseason finale Friday at TD Place. 'We're going Grey Cup, all the way. I totally believe it.
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'We definitely have the guys here to do it. We have the coaches, we have the players. We're super adept at all our positions. So I really feel like we have the room to really get this Grey Cup for Ottawa.'
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Geno Smith, one of the CFL's best receivers, was signed as a free agent and joins a core group of American pass catchers that includes the exceptional Justin Hardy, Bralon Addison and Kalil 'The Thrill' Pimpleton.
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Three-time 1,000-yard rusher William Stanback might have been an even bigger get for general manager Shawn Burk, as he gives Ottawa a running game it lacked after Ryquell Armstead was released for undisciplinary behaviour midway through the 2024 season.
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Not to be overlooked is the addition of solid veteran centre Peter Godber, who will help open holes for Stanback and provide protection for Brown.
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If a veteran defence sprinkled with all sorts of star power can match/exceed its capabilities under new co-ordinator William Fields, there's no reason not to expect the Redblacks to contend for their first championship in nine years — and Ottawa's second Grey Cup since 1976.
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'It's a whole different scheme of football that we have compared to the last two years, but it's more adaptable for us to play fast, physical football,' Peter said. 'We have guys able to fly to the ball a lot more, just based on how the scheme is run. On top of that, guys don't have to think as much, just play freely and play the football that they've been God-gifted with. In terms of our defensive scheme and everything like that, it's all super simple for us.
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'So the whole mindset for us is to go out there and dominate.'
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The Redblacks didn't get the media attention they would have if they had held their training camp in Ottawa, but there were benefits from spending two weeks in the dorms at Queen's University and in a smaller community like Kingston.
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