Ottawa Redblacks Thread

[jerrym]

HC Campbell plans to give his young players a lot of reps to see what they have, even though this means leaving many of his veteran but new to the RedBlacks DBs seeing much less action in the preseason game against Hamilton.

[R.J]

Blackreds cut

International receiver Garry Brown (California – PA)
International defensive back Victor Gamboa (Eastern Washington)
International defensive lineman Bruce Gaston (Purdue)
International offensive lineman David Goldsby (Buffalo)
National running back Ed Ilnicki (Alberta)
International running back Cedrick O’Neal (Valdosta State)
International linebacker D.J. Sanders (Middle Tennessee State)
International defensive back Brandon Stewart (Kansas)
National receiver Stephen Ugbah (Manitoba)

I'd take a shot with Ilnicki.

[Flutie]

Blackreds cut

International receiver Garry Brown (California – PA)
International defensive back Victor Gamboa (Eastern Washington)
International defensive lineman Bruce Gaston (Purdue)
International offensive lineman David Goldsby (Buffalo)
National running back Ed Ilnicki (Alberta)
International running back Cedrick O’Neal (Valdosta State)
International linebacker D.J. Sanders (Middle Tennessee State)
International defensive back Brandon Stewart (Kansas)
National receiver Stephen Ugbah (Manitoba)

I'd take a shot with Ilnicki.

Ilnicki was released at last years camp, returned to the CIS and won the Hec Creighton. But he wasn't good enough to crack the Ottawa lineup of Powell, Mosis Madu and the Canadians, Gillanders, Beaulieau, Gosselin. I'm sure another team that needs a Canadian RB will give him a shot.

[jerrym]

After going 18/23 for 187 yards against the Argos and getting high praised from HC Rick Campbell throughout TC, it looks like Dominique Davis will be at least the #3 QB and possibly the #2.

[Flutie]

After going 18/23 for 187 yards against the Argos and getting high praised from HC Rick Campbell throughout TC, it looks like Dominique Davis will be at least the #3 QB and possibly the #2.

I was in Guelph Thursday night and I thought that Davis and Collins looked pretty good. Both no problems rolling out, scrambling and throwing on the run.

[R.J]

#Redblacks transactions for June 10 https://t.co/UTy8xu0KDM #CFL via @OSEG_Media pic.twitter.com/eXiwOfr664

— CFL News (@CFL_News) June 10, 2018

[jerrym]

National kicker Felix Menard-Briere turned down Winnipeg's offer of a PR spot to sign on with Ottawa as a PR player.

[OV Argo]

Illnicki is more a power inside runner and CFL teams have little use for those type of backs now (outside of huge Messam) = no surprise he was cut. Doubt he gets another CFL look.

Ottawa still has Gillanders - who was easily/clearly better than supposed #2 Madu last season - just like LaFrance was in the GC run.

[jerrym]

Santino Filoso looks at why some of RedBlack players were cut. DB Sherrod Baltimore going to the PR was one of the most surprising to me.

– The release of Sergio Castillo means the Redblacks will use a dual kicker approach. Look for Canadian Lewis Ward to handle placekicking and American Richie Leone to do punts and kickoffs.
– Given that William Powell and Mossis Madu are firmly entrenched atop the running back depth chart, it’s no real surprise to see a trio of running backs released. That said, Canadians Wayne Moore and Ed Ilnicki didn’t look out of place when given carries.

– Surprised to see Kieren Duncan leaving the nation’s capital. In two pre-season outings he returned eight punts for 78 yards and two kickoffs for 74 yards. He also had long returns of 57 and 34 yards. As a receiver, he made a single catch for 54 yards. Typically players with a habit of making big explosive plays stick around.
– The release of linebacker Tanner Doll leaves Ottawa with a single long snapper on their roster (second year pro Louis-Philippe Bourassa).
– I never imagined Sherrod Baltimore would land on the practice roster. Coming off a strong rookie season, Baltimore was expected to take his game to the next level this year. His demotion speaks to the quality of defensive backs added in the off-season.

[jerrym]

Seven #Redblacks are listed in the #TSN Top 50 #CFL Players, announced Tuesday. Greg Ellingson is seventh, with Trevor Harris 19th, Diontae Spencer 24th, William Powell 26th, Kyries Hebert 28th, SirVincent Rogers 47th and Brad Sinopoli 50th. Ranked No. 1 was Mike Reilly.

— Tim Baines (@TimCBaines) June 12, 2018

[jerrym]

Sergio Castillo lost out to Richie Leone as punter when Castillo averaged 41.0 yards to Leone's 48.0 yards in the preseason. The RedBlacks also decided to go with National rookie and cheaper Lewis Ward from the University of Ottawa when he went 4/4 in FGs, leaving Castillo without a job. However, the RedBlacks also added an insurance policy to their PR in the form of National kicker Felix Menard-Briere, the former University of Montreal kicker released by Winnipeg.

[jerrym]

Former Argo Diontae Spencer thinks that both the RedBlacks and himself are going to have a great year, especially on offence thanks to its personnel and its continuity.

Spencer sees no ceiling for the offence. “The sky’s the limit,” he says, adding that he can peer over to the other side of the line of scrimmage and get juiced about the defence he sees out there, under the guidance of new coordinator Noel Thorpe.
“It’s gonna be a great year,” Spencer says, when asked about the overall feeling in the nation’s capital. I’m excited. It’s just a different vibe this year. I think everybody’s buying into what we have.” ...

What the REDBLACKS have in 2018 is some continuity on offence, with Spencer and fellow receivers Greg Ellingson and Brad Sinopoli back to drive the air attack engine, on the other end of missiles delivered by quarterback Trevor Harris. Veteran running backs William Powell and Mossis Madu are in the backfield to keep opposing defences off balance.
Spencer, the dynamic returner who hauled back punts, kick-offs and missed field goals to the tune of 1,796 yards in 2017 (he returned one punt for a touchdown and one missed field goal for a 113-yard touchdown), has his sights personally set high, even if he will not define exactly what those goals are. Aim for a single-season combined yards mark? Try to top his single game record of 496 combined yards, set in a game against Hamilton last October? He ain’t saying.

“I have certain goals that I try to reach,” he offers. “I would like to achieve a lot of things but it’s not something I dwell on. I just want to do my best.” Then he adds, in a bit of a droll fashion; “Sometimes when you’re trying to do your best, records are broken.”
Last year, Spencer totalled 2,759 combined yards, placing him second in the CFL behind BC’s Chris Rainey, who topped the charts at 3,181. If Spencer wants the crown, it appears he will need to find even more yardage and he believes he can do much more in one particular area in 2018.
“This year, hopefully, I’ll be more of a threat on offence,” he says, referring to his desire to emerge as an elite receiver. He was no slouch in 2017, hauling in passes for 922 yards, ranking him 16th in the league.

https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2018...cer-redblacks/

[jerrym]

The RedBlacks have added OL Josue Matias, who made 43 consecutive starts for Florida State Seminoles and attended the Tennessee Titans TC, to their PR and released OL Armando Bonheur.

[jerrym]

Ottawa has added International DB Tafon Mainsah and National OL Dillon Guy to their PR and cut two Internationals.

[Mainsah] Had 45 tackles, two interceptions and eight pass breakups for the Richmond Spiders in 2017. The year before, he had 39 tackles, three interceptions and 12 pass breakups while starting every game. ...

Guy appeared in 41 games with the University of Buffalo during his time with the program. In 2016, he was selected in the fourth round (30th overall) of the CFL draft by the BC Lions. The Hamilton native also spent time with Saskatchewan and Calgary organizations.

RELEASED

• International defensive lineman Harold Brantley (Northwest Missouri State)
• International defensive back Aarion Penton (Missouri)

https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2018...ne-15-17-2018/

[jerrym]

It looks like the RedBlacks are making changes in their lineup plans as they prepare for the Riders.

Nolan MacMillan wasn’t as actively involved in Sunday’s practice, with Mark Korte getting plenty of reps. Either way, it looks like the Redblacks are favouring starting four Canadian offensive linemen, with or without MacMillan, who coach Rick Campbell says has a “50-50 chance” of playing against the Riders.
Said Campbell: “(MacMillan) hasn’t taken a step back, it’s a matter of following medical advice and ramping him up slowly as opposed to just flipping a switch and saying, ‘Full go.’ ...

The Redblacks, who were leaning toward starting two Canadian receivers, may go in another direction and start four Americans alongside national pass catcher Brad Sinopoli. Noel Thomas Jr. looks like he could be the extra American. There’s also a chance the Redblacks start two Canadians on defence — Antoine Pruneau will be in at safety, while Michael Klassen has been getting a lot of starting reps at defensive tackle.
“We’re really going to make an emphasis on rotating (on the defensive line),” said Campbell. “There will be guys listed as starters, a lot of times those guys will get equal reps. We anticipate using all the guys on the roster and keeping them fresh.”

http://ottawasun.com/sports/football...an-roughriders

[OV Argo]

It looks like the RedBlacks are making changes in their lineup plans as they prepare for the Riders.



http://ottawasun.com/sports/football...an-roughriders

Look for Ottawa to go mostly Canadian at DT - between Lattanzio, Klassen & Waud; they will probably have an import DT dressed who may get plenty of reps as the ratio will allow it; if Sinoploi is the only NI starter at receiver, then Feoli-Gudino & Austin Hartley will be sitting for some totally unproven new import receiver (no surprise there); not sure how much Ottawa will deploy an H-back now with vet Lavoie gone to the Als; but Beaulieu who they acquired from the Als IMO looked excellent when he played H-back last season - they should get this guy the ball = another Declan Cross type with big play/yardage ability.

[Flutie]

Look for Ottawa to go mostly Canadian at DT - between Lattanzio, Klassen & Waud; they will probably have an import DT dressed who may get plenty of reps as the ratio will allow it; if Sinoploi is the only NI starter at receiver, then Feoli-Gudino & Austin Hartley will be sitting for some totally unproven new import receiver (no surprise there); not sure how much Ottawa will deploy an H-back now with vet Lavoie gone to the Als; but Beaulieu who they acquired from the Als IMO looked excellent when he played H-back last season - they should get this guy the ball = another Declan Cross type with big play/yardage ability.

They are starting 4 Canadian O-linemen, the only team in the CFL this year to do it. I suppose that allows Sinopoli as the other Canadian on offense.
The safety Pruneau and Klassen at DT.
I think you will see a lot of Feoli-Gudino and Beaulieu rotating in.

[jerrym]

Santino Filoso discusses three factors that are important to how successful the RedBlacks will be in 2018: whether Noel Thorpe's blitz oriented defence will lead to a significantly improved performance; the extent to which QB Trevor Harris, who has already been banged up in the preseason, can remain healthy; and if they can use the 13th man in home games to generate an intimidating game atmosphere.

http://3downnation.com/2018/06/20/th...s-2018-season/

[Flutie]

I was in Ottawa for the game Thursday night, great night. Looked to be hundreds of Riders fans there, lots of miserable faces after the game. Loved the Ottawa crowd chanting Car-ter in the 4th quarter.
The O-line with 4 Canadians was impressive and gave Harris all kinds of time to throw. Their changes on defense proved to be the difference, somme good coverages by the DBs and a D-line that can sack.
So far Hamilton and Ottawa look greatly improved and it's going to be a three way fight for first.

[jerrym]

2018 first round draft choice Mark Korte playing at left guard in his first game looked impressive along with the rest of the OL against the Riders and could be one of the outstanding rookies this year if he can keep this up.