Ottawa Redblacks Thread

[jerrym]

Ottawa have added International DB Anthony Cioffi to their roster.

Cioffi was a four-year starter at Rutgers University where he was known for his speed. He signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2017.

https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2018...april-19-2018/

[jerrym]

The RedBlacks will hold their mini-camp April 23-25 at TD Place Stadium.

The camp roster will feature primarily REDBLACKS rookies while a handful of veteran players preparing for their first season in Ottawa will also be in the mix. The quarterbacks, led by Trevor Harris, will also take part.
“We bring in mostly rookies, a select number of returning veterans and any newly acquired veterans at skilled positions,” said REDBLACKS General Manager Marcel Desjardins. “We can’t have guys in pads therefore were not bringing our offensive or defensive line guys.” ...


“The objective is to bring everyone up to speed,” said Desjardins. “We have to evaluate a lot of new players versus returning players and see what direction we want to go in.” ...


ll sessions at TD Place are open to the public. Video recording is strictly prohibited. Fans can enter the north side field seats via the field gate entrance located near Gate 1.
The full schedule is as follows:
Day 1 – Monday, April 23

• Rookie practice: 10 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
• Full practice: 4 p.m. – 5:40 p.m.

Day 2 – Tuesday, April 24

• Rookie practice: 10 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
• Full practice: 4 p.m. – 5:40 p.m.

Day 3 – Wednesday, April 25

• Full practice: 9:30 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.

https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2018...ase-abilities/

[doubleblue]

The RedBlacks will hold their mini-camp April 23-25 at TD Place Stadium.



https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2018...ase-abilities/

I believe Ottawa is the only team doing this for their mini camp. They may have been doing some sweating watching the weather last week, but it looks like they are going to get some nice sunny and warmer weather starting tomorrow.
One would think it would be easier to have it down south because many of the rookie imports would have to be given passports etc. to attend. Some will end up getting cut, but I guess they will have their passports thanks to attending the mini camp in Ottawa.

[ArgoRavi]

I believe Ottawa is the only team doing this for their mini camp. They may have been doing some sweating watching the weather last week, but it looks like they are going to get some nice sunny and warmer weather starting tomorrow.
One would think it would be easier to have it down south because many of the rookie imports would have to be given passports etc. to attend. Some will end up getting cut, but I guess they will have their passports thanks to attending the mini camp in Ottawa.

I believe that Winnipeg is also doing their mini-camp on home turf this week.

[jerrym]

I believe that Winnipeg is also doing their mini-camp on home turf this week.

You're right.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have decided the weather is going to be favorable enough to hold their upcoming three-day mini-camp outdoors at Investors Group Field. The first two sessions are scheduled for Tuesday at 10:45 a.m. and 2:15 pm. and will be open to the public.

https://globalnews.ca/news/4161063/w...for-mini-camp/

[jerrym]

Former Ottawa Gee Gee Lewis Ward will be fighting Sergio Castillo and Richie Leone for a job as a kicker.

David Miller-Johnston, who coached Ward with the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, thinks he’s got a real crack at a job with the Redblacks. It won’t be easy, he’s an underdog in this battle.
Castillo, who played two games with the Redblacks in 2016, was having a terrific season in Hamilton last season before he was knocked out with an ACL injury and Leone averaged 49.3 yards per punt with the B.C. Lions in 2016 before getting an NFL opportunity with the Arizona Cardinals.

“(Ward is) the type of kid you dream about getting,” said Miller-Johnston. “He’s mature, he’s hard-working, he’s self sufficient, he’s very coachable. If we had 30 Lewis Wards, we’d be competing for the Vanier Cup every year — he’s that type of kid.”
It’s Ward’s field-goal kicking ability that is his calling card. He booted 89 field goals over his Gee-Gees career. Last season, he was good on 24-of-29 attempts, successfully converting all 15 of his converts.
“Every field Lewis has been on, he’s had the best leg, he’s the best kicker on that field,” said Miller-Johnston. “There will always be athletes that will be able to come in and bang a 65-yard field goal. When you get to this level, there will always be Americans to compete against that have huge legs. But that’s not the name of this game. The reality is you win your paycheque and keep that paycheque by being consistent, basically from 45 yards and in. We haven’t had difficulty here with missed field goals outside of 55, we’ve had difficulty in the past with missed field goals inside 40.
“Lewis has demonstrated perhaps better than any CIS kid in recent memory that he hits the kicks he needs to hit. He’s hit big ones, he’s hit long ones in cold and tough conditions, he’s hit kicks in front of 24,000 fans. He never missed a kick we absolutely needed. His skill-set, which is his mental toughness, really translates well to this game. I think Lewis has a very good opportunity to be a place-kicking specialist — not unlike a Tyler Crapigna or a Rene Parades. They don’t have the type of leg that comes out of the States, but they hit a high percentage of their field goals and, because of that, they’re going to have long careers.” ...


Working in Ward’s favour is the Redblacks are unlikely to keep both Leone and Castillo. “We’re not locked into any type of scenario other than we would never go with two Americans,” said Redblacks GM Marcel Desjardins. “I don’t see how we would manage that within the roster. “Castillo proved over the long haul with his tenure in Hamilton that he can handle all three (field goals, kickoffs and punts) at the CFL level and do it well. We’re excited to have him back, we’re excited he’s healthy and can participate. In Richie’s case, he’s been an all-star in this league, he has a big leg. For both guys, it’s a function of being consistent and trying to win the job as the guy who does all three.”

http://ottawasun.com/sports/football...ng-competition

[jerrym]

Trevor Harris talks about his uncertainty his first TC in the CFL with the Argos below but says the day that he doesn't look forward to coming to mini-camp is the day he quits.

“It’s survival mode when you come in here,” Harris said. “You’re in a foreign country. Everybody has one of those days where you’re like, ‘This is Canada, why am I way up here? I don’t know if I should be doing this. I want to go home. Maybe I’m done.’ There’s always that hesitation. When you take yourself out of your comfort zone, you’re going to allow yourself room to grow. I think I’ve grown a ton through this experience up here.”

http://ottawasun.com/sports/football...ng-camp-doubts

[ArgoRavi]

Former Ottawa Gee Gee Lewis Ward will be fighting Sergio Castillo and Richie Leone for a job as a kicker.



http://ottawasun.com/sports/football...ng-competition

Interesting that David Miller-Johnston is a coach now. He was a first round bust back in 1998. The Argos took him in the first round that year but he was beaten out by Noel Prefontaine, who was picked in the supplemental draft that year. Miller-Johnston bounced around for a bit after that but could never really catch on with anyone.

[jerrym]

Ed Ilnicki, who the RedBlacks cut in TC last year and then returned to the U of Alberta to win the Hec Crighton Trophy and set a Canada West single season rushing record of almost 1500 yards, returns to the RedBlacks this year expecting to initially become a ST player and hopefully a RB in the offence over time.

While Ilnicki, at 5-foot-10, 220 lbs., may not be the fastest, he’s got intangibles that should translate to the next level.
“My vision was something that I knew what I was doing out on the field,” he said. “I’m not going to run around every single person on the field every play. But when I get my chance, I’m going to take the ball downhill and make people pay for it.”
Ilnicki knows what’s expected of most Canadians in the CFL, at least initially – special teams.
“The best Canadian football players are able to play all over the field,” he said. “They’re able to do stuff and special teams and they work their butts off. I want to go out and perform at the best level I can because so few guys get the chance to even be here. So if I’m going to run down on a kickoff, I’ll do whatever the coaches are asking of me. I’ll give it 110% every rep, it doesn’t matter what spot that’s in.”

“For him, the challenge will be showing what he can do as a special teamer, not something he’s had to do a whole lot of in the last little while,” said Redblacks GM Marcel Desjardins.
“That’s how he’s going to be able to carve out a spot on the roster, kind of like Kienan Lafrance did – being a guy who’s on the roster because we know he can get us through a game if we need him to.”

Ilnicki looks up to Andrew Harris and Lafrance – running backs who came into the league and proved they could do much more than just special teams.
Said Ilnicki: “Those are guys who took advantage of their opportunities when it came to them. They learned the game, they know how to play across the field. They’re great running backs, they developed into great receivers and they know how to play on special teams. That’s super motivating to see. You look at the paths they’ve taken and you say, ‘That’s what I want to accomplish.’
Asked if Ilnicki has the skills to play running back in the CFL, Desjardins said: “I think so, otherwise I don’t think he would be here. There’s competition – there’s (Brendan) Gillanders, there’s (Wayne) Moore, there are other Canadians … plus who do we pick in the draft? He’s got as good a chance as any of them.”

http://ottawasun.com/sports/football...a-running-back

[jerrym]

Former Argo International DB Marcus Alford (2016-2017) was among the cuts the RedBlacks made to get down to 75 players.

[jerrym]

Duane Forde thinks Ottawa may go after DT Julien Laurent if he is available when they draft in order to fill the hole left by the loss of DT Zack Evans who signed as a free agent with the Riders.

[jerrym]

Ottawa followed its typical drafting pattern in selecting an OL first with Mark Korte becoming the fourth overall pick. GM Marcel Desjardins explains his reasoning for this choice and comments on all the team's draft picks in the url below.

http://ottawasun.com/sports/football...eams-cfl-draft

[jerrym]

In this video, the RedBlack's first round draft pick Mark Korte is interviewed.

https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2018...le-mark-korte/

[jerrym]

National OL Jordan Flippelli, who the Redblacks drafted in 2017, has retired. International OL Tommie Draheim who played for the Lions in 2016 and the RedBlacks last year has been cut while International DB from Florida A&M has been added to the roster.

[jerrym]

The Riders have added International WRs Seth Coate and Chance Allen to the roster. They have also released International WR Lance Evans and National DB Andrew Lue (who they signed as a free agent after four years with Montreal, Saskatchewan and Edmonton, but mistakenly called International below).

– International receiver Seth Coate
HT: 6-3 | WT: 215 lbs | Birthday: June 9, 1994 (23)
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN | School: Saint Francis (Indiana)

• During his collegiate career with the Cougars, Coate set a single-season record in 2016 with 25 receiving touchdowns, including three in the 2016 NAIA championship game.

– International receiver Chance Allen
HT: 6-3 | WT: 215 lbs | Birthday: January 11, 1994 (24)
Hometown: Missouri City, TX | School: Houston

• Allen finished the 2016 season second on the Cougars with 56 receptions for 815 yards, while starting 11 of 13 games. He also led his team with six receiving touchdowns.

RELEASED:
– International defensive back Andrew Lue (Queen’s)
– International receiver Lance Evans (Texas A&M Commerce)

https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2018...s-may-11-2018/

[jerrym]

Interesting that the RedBlacks congratulated J"Michael Deane via Twitter but I could find no acknowledgement on the Argos although he was with the Argos in 2017. He also spent three years in Ottawa and Calgary.

Congrats to former #REDLACKS OL and #GreyCup Champion J'Michael Deane on a great @CFL career.#RNation #CFL pic.twitter.com/RWlwayVBqL

— Ottawa REDBLACKS (@REDBLACKS) May 12, 2018

[jerrym]

Below is a review of the changes in the RedBlacks roster during the offseason.

http://3downnation.com/2018/05/12/re...ks-off-season/

[jerrym]

Santino Filoso looks at the competition for jobs by position at Ottawa's TC.

http://3downnation.com/2018/05/16/re...very-position/

[jerrym]

Ottawa has signed all of its 2018 draft picks.

[Flutie]

Santino Filoso looks at the competition for jobs by position at Ottawa's TC.

http://3downnation.com/2018/05/16/re...very-position/

They could start TWO Canadian receivers. Ottawa now has the two top Canadian receivers in the league. Sinopoli had over 90 catches in 15 games and no other Canadian receiver game close last season, Folio-Guidino who is now a Redblack, was the second leading Canadian receiver in the CFL with 45 catches.