Another review by Gord Holder of the Redblacks after four days of free agency:

Option A: The Ottawa Redblacks are in fantastic shape at the end of the opening week of Canadian Football League free agency and are destined to repeat as Grey Cup champions.
Option B: The Redblacks have been hit hard by free agency and have no shot at a second consecutive title.
Option C: The Redblacks are in decent shape, somewhere between those extremes. Most roster positions remain reasonably well-stocked, although the rebuilt defensive secondary remains something of a question since both starting halfbacks, Abdul Kanneh and Forrest Hightower, and cornerback Mitchell White must be replaced.
“We have signed guys that we’re familiar with, obviously, from the NFL or other CFL teams and whatnot,” Redblacks general manager Marcel Desjardins said Friday. “But, just as importantly, we have Nick Taylor back. We have Imoan Claiborne, who played some games (in 2016). We may go with Jerrell (Gavins) there, depending on how it all plays out. Then we have Keelan Johnson, who might be able to fill a role back there. “It doesn’t seem as desperate, maybe, as some people may think.” Overall, the Redblacks should have back seven of the 12 defensive starters from the Grey Cup game against the Calgary Stampeders, including three down linemen, two linebackers, cornerback Jonathan Rose and safety Antoine Pruneau. A.J. Jefferson and Khalil Bass, both signed this week, are the likely candidates to take over from White and linebacker Damaso Munoz, who was released. ...

The outside pass-rush threat the Redblacks didn’t possess last season remains lacking and Desjardins acknowledges such a player almost certainly won’t be found among the collection of CFL free agents, so the hope once again is that a newcomer to the league or someone from the practice squad might flourish if given the opportunity.
On offence, the Redblacks should bring back seven of 12 Grey Cup starters, but you can finagle that that number to eight by adding fullback Patrick Lavoie in place of one of the receivers, to nine with part-time 2016 starter Trevor Harris in at quarterback for the retired Henry Burris and to 11 with others who started in 2015-16, but missed all or part of last season because of injury: the tailback duo of William Powell and Mossis Madu and tackle SirVincent Rogers, the CFL’s top offensive lineman in 2015. ...
“Offensively, we’re very comfortable with (the current situation),” Desjardins said.
One sure thing is that the Redblacks are done or close to it regarding CFL free agency for this year. Besides Jefferson and White, they signed receivers Diontae Spencer and Kenny Shaw, linebacker Ron Omara, defensive back Adam Berger and, on Friday, running back Pascal Lochard. ...
Significant re-signings before Tuesday’s deadline included Pruneau, Gavins, linebacker Taylor Reed, defensive lineman Connor Williams, offensive guard Nolan MacMillan and wide receiver Greg Ellingson.
With tailback Travon Van and defensive end Aston Whiteside (both Edmonton), Kanneh (Hamilton) and receiver Ernest Jackson (Montreal) already finding new CFL homes, the remaining ex-Redblacks on the market comprise offensive guard J’Micheal Deane, receivers Khalil Paden and Scott Macdonell, quarterback Danny O’Brien, defensive tackle Moton Hopkins and kick returners Jamill Smith and Tristan Jackson.
Would the Redblacks consider circling back to any of them? “I don’t think so, no,” Desjardins said. “Again, I won’t say no, but, based on what the asks were before, in terms of financially, no. If that changes and they reach out, then potentially.”
http://ottawacitizen.com/sports/foot...of-free-agency