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Ottawa Citizen
4 days ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Can Ottawa Redblacks defy odds and change perceptions, starting with CFL season opener?
Article content Injuries have forced the Ottawa Redblacks to do some roster shuffling for their CFL season opener in Regina on Thursday night. Article content But the biggest change they will attempt to make off the bat is the perception that theirs is an average team, at best. Article content Article content It's unlikely they even know it, but the Redblacks are considered a long shot to reach their desired destination of Winnipeg for a Nov. 16 date as participants in the 112th Grey Cup Game. Article content Article content As of Wednesday, sportsbook bet365 had only the Edmonton Elks (+1000), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (+1000) and Calgary Stampeders (+2200) with greater odds to win the coveted mug. Article content Article content The favourites were the defending champion Toronto Argonauts at +250, the Saskatchewan Roughriders at +500, the Montreal Alouettes at +525, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at +550, with the Redblacks and B.C. Lions on the south side of the middle of the road at +650. Article content The same book has the Redblacks as 3.5-point underdogs in their lid-lifter against the Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium. 'They're very excited about the regular season starting,' Ottawa head coach Bob Dyce said of his players after Wednesday's walk-through at TD Place. 'These guys have put in a lot of work. I know they're champing at the bit to get out there on the field. Article content 'It's been a long time since we've played in a regular season game like this, and we're excited about who we are. We look forward to showing it on the field on Thursday night.' Article content Article content Perhaps an even bigger slight, and one the Redblacks are likely aware of, came when TSN released its list of Top 50 CFL players on Tuesday. Article content Linebacker Adarius Pickett was Ottawa's highest-ranked at No. 14, followed by receivers Eugene Lewis (No. 17), Justin Hardy (No. 18), defensive end Lorenzo Mauldin (No. 27), running back William Stanback (No. 42) and the biggest head scratcher of all, quarterback Dru Brown at No. 46. Article content Seven QBs were listed ahead of Brown, who in just 15 games as a first-year starter in 2024 finished third in passing yards, fifth in touchdown tosses and fifth in interceptions. Article content Brown, who developed into a bona fide leader late in his first season with Ottawa, should be even better in Year 2. Article content 'I think there are a lot of things that you learn by being in it,' said Brown, 'and I think that just looking back, for me personally, there are certain aspects of the game that, if I can eliminate, I'll be very productive. Typically, if I'm productive, then we're going to win a lot of games. When I showed that (in 2024), we played very well. When I made more mistakes than I typically do, then that's where we struggled at times.'
Vancouver Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Can Ottawa Redblacks defy odds and change perceptions, starting with CFL season opener?
Injuries have forced the Ottawa Redblacks to do some roster shuffling for their CFL season opener in Regina on Thursday night. But the biggest change they will attempt to make off the bat is the perception that theirs is an average team, at best. It's unlikely they even know it, but the Redblacks are considered a long shot to reach their desired destination of Winnipeg for a Nov. 16 date as participants in the 112th Grey Cup Game. As of Wednesday, sportsbook bet365 had only the Edmonton Elks (+1000), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (+1000) and Calgary Stampeders (+2200) with greater odds to win the coveted mug. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The favourites were the defending champion Toronto Argonauts at +250, the Saskatchewan Roughriders at +500, the Montreal Alouettes at +525, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at +550, with the Redblacks and B.C. Lions on the south side of the middle of the road at +650. The same book has the Redblacks as 3.5-point underdogs in their lid-lifter against the Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium. 'They're very excited about the regular season starting,' Ottawa head coach Bob Dyce said of his players after Wednesday's walk-through at TD Place. 'These guys have put in a lot of work. I know they're champing at the bit to get out there on the field. 'It's been a long time since we've played in a regular season game like this, and we're excited about who we are. We look forward to showing it on the field on Thursday night.' Perhaps an even bigger slight, and one the Redblacks are likely aware of, came when TSN released its list of Top 50 CFL players on Tuesday. Linebacker Adarius Pickett was Ottawa's highest-ranked at No. 14, followed by receivers Eugene Lewis (No. 17), Justin Hardy (No. 18), defensive end Lorenzo Mauldin (No. 27), running back William Stanback (No. 42) and the biggest head scratcher of all, quarterback Dru Brown at No. 46. Seven QBs were listed ahead of Brown, who in just 15 games as a first-year starter in 2024 finished third in passing yards, fifth in touchdown tosses and fifth in interceptions. Brown, who developed into a bona fide leader late in his first season with Ottawa, should be even better in Year 2. 'I think there are a lot of things that you learn by being in it,' said Brown, 'and I think that just looking back, for me personally, there are certain aspects of the game that, if I can eliminate, I'll be very productive. Typically, if I'm productive, then we're going to win a lot of games. When I showed that (in 2024), we played very well. When I made more mistakes than I typically do, then that's where we struggled at times.' Brown refused to make predictions as to how good he and the Redblacks as a whole can be this season — or if a few of them will crack TSN's Top 50 list a year from now. 'I don't really think about expectations at all,' he said. 'I know a lot of people talk about that, and it seems too far-sighted. To me, it's really just how we can fixate on playing good football and executing on a regular basis and being consistent. And then you'll look back and you'll either meet or not meet expectations that other people set for you. 'But the things that people say outside of this building don't determine who we want to be.' Brown also didn't deny that, with the additions of Lewis, Stanback and having the explosive Kalil Pimpleton as a starter out of the gate, he has imagined leading the CFL in passing yards. 'I think any human being at times thinks like that,' he said. 'But It doesn't dominate my frame of mind. I just want to consistently play good football and win. I think that's kind of why I do this. It's not to be the highest in passing yards or whatever. Individual success comes with team success, not looking to throw for X amount of yards and only win six games. That's not really fulfilling to me. What's fulfilling to me is us as a unit, being able to play good football and win games together and doing it together and for one another.' The injuries that have forced the roster shuffling for Thursday's game are on offence, where veteran Jacob Ruby will fill in at centre while former Roughrider Peter Godber (finger) will have to wait to make his Ottawa debut, and at right tackle, where ex-Ottawa Gee-Gee Zack Pelehos (foot) is replaced by American Darta Lee. The latter move is a ratio-changer for the Redblacks, with former Argo Daniel Adeboboye starting at running back ahead of Stanback, who will still see plenty of action. 'At the end of the day, everything's by committee,' said Dyce. 'Everyone on this team has their role that they have to fulfill, and we will work it through.' Nick Mardner's season-ending knee injury means that rookie Keelan White, the third overall pick in this year's draft, will start at wideout on the opposite side of the field as Lewis. 'He's awesome,' Brown said of White, a 6-foot, 190-pound, 23-year-old from North Vancouver who spent the last five years at the University of Montana. 'He's changed my perspective on how productive a young guy can come in and learn. He asks very studious questions. He's a curious kid. He wants to do it right, and he's very physically gifted. 'It's been awesome working with him, so I'm excited for him and for us to have him. I think he's going to have a great year. While the defensive front seven is similar to last year, the Redblacks will feature a mostly new-look secondary. An injury to Alijah McGhee means Adrian Frye will start at one corner, with C.J. Coldon, who signed with the team last September, starting at the other. Two free agent signees — Robert Priester and former Roughrider Amari Henderson — will be the halfbacks, while Alonzo Addae returns from a season-ending injury to man the safety position. Meanwhile, the outcome could hinge on the right foot of Lewis Ward, the former Gee-Gee who will be suiting up for his 100th CFL game against the team in which he made his debut. 'In the grand scheme of things, it's just another game,' Ward said of the milestone. 'It's cool to hit that mark but it's kind of like birthdays. You have a birthday and it's over with, and it's just another day.' Ward, 32, expects to pad his games played number, but he has a long way to go to catch record holder Lui Passaglia, the now 70-year-old who kicked in 408 games for the Lions. 'I've got a three-year contract, and I hope to do another three after that,' said Ward. 'If you asked me a couple of years ago, I probably would have said mid-30s. If you asked me last year, I probably would have said 38. If you ask me now, I'm probably going to say 40. 'I feel really good. In the off-season, I changed up a few things, I got a nutrition coach and things like that. Every year, you're looking for that (extra) one percent. Then you look at other guys, like (Calgary's) Rene (Paredes), and (B.C.'s) Sean (Whyte), and those guys are playing at 39, 40. So there's no reason not to.'
Calgary Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Can Ottawa Redblacks defy odds and change perceptions, starting with CFL season opener?
Article content Injuries have forced the Ottawa Redblacks to do some roster shuffling for their CFL season opener in Regina on Thursday night. Article content But the biggest change they will attempt to make off the bat is the perception that theirs is an average team, at best. Article content Article content It's unlikely they even know it, but the Redblacks are considered a long shot to reach their desired destination of Winnipeg for a Nov. 16 date as participants in the 112th Grey Cup Game. Article content Article content As of Wednesday, sportsbook bet365 had only the Edmonton Elks (+1000), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (+1000) and Calgary Stampeders (+2200) with greater odds to win the coveted mug. Article content Article content The favourites were the defending champion Toronto Argonauts at +250, the Saskatchewan Roughriders at +500, the Montreal Alouettes at +525, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at +550, with the Redblacks and B.C. Lions on the south side of the middle of the road at +650. Article content The same book has the Redblacks as 3.5-point underdogs in their lid-lifter against the Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium. 'They're very excited about the regular season starting,' Ottawa head coach Bob Dyce said of his players after Wednesday's walk-through at TD Place. 'These guys have put in a lot of work. I know they're champing at the bit to get out there on the field. Article content 'It's been a long time since we've played in a regular season game like this, and we're excited about who we are. We look forward to showing it on the field on Thursday night.' Article content Article content Perhaps an even bigger slight, and one the Redblacks are likely aware of, came when TSN released its list of Top 50 CFL players on Tuesday. Article content Linebacker Adarius Pickett was Ottawa's highest-ranked at No. 14, followed by receivers Eugene Lewis (No. 17), Justin Hardy (No. 18), defensive end Lorenzo Mauldin (No. 27), running back William Stanback (No. 42) and the biggest head scratcher of all, quarterback Dru Brown at No. 46. Article content Seven QBs were listed ahead of Brown, who in just 15 games as a first-year starter in 2024 finished third in passing yards, fifth in touchdown tosses and fifth in interceptions. Article content Brown, who developed into a bona fide leader late in his first season with Ottawa, should be even better in Year 2. Article content 'I think there are a lot of things that you learn by being in it,' said Brown, 'and I think that just looking back, for me personally, there are certain aspects of the game that, if I can eliminate, I'll be very productive. Typically, if I'm productive, then we're going to win a lot of games. When I showed that (in 2024), we played very well. When I made more mistakes than I typically do, then that's where we struggled at times.'
