Ottawa Redblacks Thread

[jerrym]

American LB Jerod Fernandez talks reflects on his first year in the CFL below:

https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2020...ign-redblacks/

[jerrym]

A look at what free agent signee WR Jalen Saunders, who had 1,909 yards for the Tiger Cats in 2017 and 2018 but then was injured before heading to the XFL in 2020, brings to the Redblacks:

In 2018 Saunders was coming into his own as the Ticats’ pass catcher become ever more involved in the offence while finding ways to access his dynamic route running quickness and open field speed. At his best, Saunders was an intermediate receiver with big play ability that had great success between the hashes....

The evolution I see from 2017 is a receiver learning where to pick and choose his spots in the offence. Route running refinement within the structure of then-head coach June Jones’ offence made Saunders a much more efficient pass catcher, as his catch rate on targets jumped from 59.6 per cent to 68.1 per cent with the same quarterback coaches and teammates from 2017 to 2018. Since the knee injury, he left the CFL to join June Jones on his new venture to the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks, where he saw no game action while completing rehabilitation. ...

Immediately my mind rushed with the way Paul LaPolice could use Saunders and what he could mean to those around him in Ottawa. The first and most obvious connection is how Saunders’ game in Hamilton — understanding there is always room for evolution — applies to Nick Arbuckle’s strengths. In 2019 Arbuckle was the most accurate CFL QB, based on my grading of every throw all season, a stat that was accentuated by his penchant for taking check downs, screens and crossers. All are high efficiency throws. ....

In acquiring Arbuckle, the REDBLACKS made a clear statement that they would be returning to a more low-key and efficient brand of football in 2020, getting away from what earned them last place in CFL standings last year. You could even say it signaled a return to the style employed by then-offensive coordinator Jamie Elizondo with quarterback Trevor Harris when Ottawa reached the Grey Cup in 2018 before the REDBLACKS as we knew them changed that off-season.

The pairing of Arbuckle and Saunders makes so much sense based on Arbuckle’s ability to be accurate and decisive on short and intermediate throws. What could truly launch Saunders to a place he hasn’t seen yet as a pro, though, is if LaPolice, Arbuckle and Saunders are able to play off those tendencies and hit home runs on double moves or scripted big plays.

While the 2020 REDBLACKS might resemble the Trevor Harris era more than that of Dominique Davis, the reality is they would still need to find their ‘Greg Ellingson replacement’ to make the offence really pop. I went looking at some of the 2019 Grey Cup champion Blue Bombers’ offence to find if a reference point exists for what a receiver accomplished in LaPolice’s 2019 offence. The closest I could find was Kenny Lawler. ...

Dominant over the middle with a similar catch rate and big play explosive ability, both Lawler and Saunders seem to match what a productive No. 2 receiver in the CFL looks like right now. The worst case scenario for Saunders in 2020 is that he’s lost a step and struggles to regain form leading Ottawa to have a thinner pass catching group than expected on paper. I don’t expect that. The best case scenario is an all-star season filled with big plays, a catch rate over 70 per cent under 15 yards in the air and close to double digit touchdowns (depending on number of games played). With that comes playoff opportunities.

In reality, I believe Saunders lands somewhere in between and mimics Lawler’s 2019 year in Winnipeg above. An important contributing member and trustworthy ally to build the REDBLACKS’ pass attack moving forward, only time will tell when we finally get the chance to find out.

https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2020...blacks-mean-2/

[jerrym]

American DB Jonathan Rose, who played only three games in 2019 due to an back injury that forced him to have a spinal fusion operation, would like to come back to the Redblacks after just having been cleared to play. However, he remains an unsigned free agent.

[jerrym]

Ottawa Redbrick President Marc Goudie discusses how he sees the possible CFL season below.

Goudie acknowledged the public and private frustration of players and fans regarding the lack of communication from the league. ...

“It’s been quiet but there is a lot of work to do,” Goudie explained on TSN 1200 radio in Ottawa. “The CFL is getting to a good place where they will have a plan that’s workable, whether it going to be possible, not sure.” ...

“If you are going to a hub city model, there is going to be a financial hole. The challenge was figure out what that looks like,” Goudie said. ...

”You’re stuck in the sand if you don’t play this year, there is a cost to the league and a cost to all of the teams in that. Is there a scenario that, from a financial perspective, makes it worthwhile to play football? That will require funding from some source.” ...

“I have a hard time seeing a scenario that if there isn’t government money that’s a part of the package, and that could come in many forms, but if there isn’t some sort of aid to make that make sense, that we can pay our players and bring them back to their teams, I think it’s a very difficult equation to solve,” Goudie said. ...

Despite the financial uncertainty and silence from the league, Goudie’s optimism for a season has risen. He states the chances for CFL games in 2020 changes hourly, but the odds have for sure gone way up in the last month. The key piece, however, comes down to the league and players coming together to form a unified front, which has yet to occur.

“It’s not going to happen unless that happens. You can see the plan coming together,” Goudie said. “If we can get back playing football in the fall and award a Grey Cup, that’s going to have an important positive benefit for the economy of Canada in terms of public confidence.”

https://3downnation.com/2020/07/04/r...n-without-aid/

[jerrym]

The following article discusses why Henry Burris, Antonine Pruneau, Greg Ellingson, and Jon Gott should be on the CFL All-Decade team.

https://ottawasun.com/sports/footbal...cfl-all-decade

[jerrym]

The man who led the Redblacks to their first Grey Cup victory has been inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

“General Manager Marcel Desjardins built an expansion team around Henry and that turned into the team that brought Ottawa its first Grey Cup in 40 years,” said Mark Goudie, President and CEO of the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group. “We could not be any prouder to have Henry as an active part of our community and now as the first REDBLACK to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. It’s a fitting cap to a wonderful career and football legacy.” ...

Though 2016 would cap off an impressive career for the native of Spiro, Oklahoma, that final Grey Cup was one highlight in a career full of notable moments. Including his three seasons in Ottawa – starting in 2014 as the quarterback of the upstart REDBLACKS – Burris played 18 CFL seasons, which included stops in Calgary, Saskatchewan and Hamilton. In all, Burris suited up for 277 regular season games and 17 playoff contests. He is a two-time CFL All-Star and was named a Division All-Star on four occasions. In 2015, he was honoured with the Tom Pate Memorial Award for outstanding sportsmanship and dedication to the league and the community. ...

He played in five Grey Cups and emerged victorious on three occasions (1998 and 2008 with Calgary and 2016 with Ottawa), earning Grey Cup Most Valuable Player twice (2008 and 2016). He was recognized as the league’s Most Outstanding Player in 2010 and 2015. Burris retired with 63,639 passing yards to rank third in CFL history, as well as, 373 touchdown passes and a passer efficiency rating of 93.6.

In Ottawa, Burris also orchestrated the most famous football play in Ottawa since the original Miracle on Bank Street, launching a bomb to Greg Ellingson on second and 25 for the winning touchdown in the East Final. His performance in the 2016 Grey Cup on a badly injured knee will go down in the history books as one of the most impressive performances in the league’s storied history.

https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2020...all-hall-fame/

[jerrym]

New Canadian Football Hall of Famer Henry Burris is heading back to the US leaving Ottawa behind just as Rick Campbell and Jamie Elizondo have following the Redblacks 2016 Grey Cup win. Burris will take up a Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship for a temporary coaching position with the Chicago Bears. While it is a TC temporary position and could return to TSN broadcasts, he has a good chance of sticking with the NFL facing pressure to diversify its coaching staff.

[Argo57]

New Canadian Football Hall of Famer Henry Burris is heading back to the US leaving Ottawa behind just as Rick Campbell and Jamie Elizondo have following the Redblacks 2016 Grey Cup win. Burris will take up a Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship for a temporary coaching position with the Chicago Bears. While it is a TC temporary position and could return to TSN broadcasts, he has a good chance of sticking with the NFL facing pressure to diversify its coaching staff.

I’ve always liked Hank, hope he does well👍

[jerrym]

Below is Ottawa's TSN all-time team. One thing that stands out is its Canadian depth especially on the offensive team where 8 of the twelve players are Canadian. Receiver Bobby Simpson, who played both ways for 13 years and is first in TDs and third all-time in receiving yardage behind fellow Canadians Gabriel and Tucker in an era where passing was not as dominant as in more recent decades should have made it 9 Canadians on offence out of 12. I think Jim Coode, 1978 Most Outstanding Lineman should have made the team. I would have also put Antoine Pruneau, who has been a CFL All-Star, on the team.

And joining Burris as foundational players in Ottawa are linebacker/fullback Eddie Emerson, who played from 1912-37, and tight end/defensive back Bob Simpson, who played from 1950-62.​
The full list:

CFL2020'S ALL-TIME OTTAWA ROSTER

QB	Russ Jackson*	1958-69
RB	Dave Thelen	1958-64
RB	Ron Stewart*	1958-70
REC	Tony Gabriel*	1975-81
REC	Whit Tucker*	1962-70
REC	Greg Ellingson	2015-18
REC	Brad Sinopoli*	2015-Present
OL	Kaye Vaughan*	1953-64
OL	Moe Racine*	1958-74
OL	Rudy Phillips	1981-84
OL	Kevin Powell*	1981-87
OL	SirVincent Rogers	2015-18
DL	Greg Marshall	1980-88
DL	Loyd Lewis	1985-91, 1995-96
DL	Billy Joe Booth	1962-70
DL	Wayne Smith*	1969-75
LB	Jerry Campbell	19968-75
LB	Angelo Snipes	1991-93
LB	Ken Lehmann	1964-71
DB	Gene Gaines	1962-69
DB	George Brancato	1957-63
DB	Joe Poirier*	1959-70
DB	Dick Adams	1972-76
DB	Al Marcelin	1970-75
K	Lewis Ward*	2018-19
P	Gerry Organ*	1971-83
ST	Diontae Spencer	2017-18

* national player

[jerrym]

Former Argo and current Redneck RB Brandon Gillanders on Covid-19 and the frustration he is feeling about a possible season:

CFL players are paid for “activities related to football,” according to the standard player contract, and those workouts are ongoing.

“It does say that we get paid after games, so that’s our payment schedule. But so much more goes into preparing for a season than just playing 18 games,” said Ottawa Redblacks running back Brendan Gillanders. “That’s 18 of 365 days. It’s so frustrating from that standpoint because we’re not given any credit whatsoever for what we have to do year-round. Getting ready for a football season is a full-time job. Don’t kid yourself." ...

“And, what’s even more frustrating, because everything is stuck in limbo, they’re still telling us to prepare like there is a season.”

https://ottawasun.com/sports/footbal...f-71433ebc720d

[jerrym]

GM Marcel Desjardins' contract runs out in December, so there are questions about whether he will be back next year. However, he does say that football operations is continuing to do reviewing game film of NCAA teams that are still playing for scouting purposes.

[jerrym]

Here are the ten players whose names were released from Ottawa's negotiation list, obviously heavy in QBs as they look to improve in that area over the long term.

Kelly Bryant – QB – Missouri

Kendall Coleman – DL – Syracuse

Jayden Daniels – QB – Arizona St.

Hendon Hooker – QB – Virginia Tech

Sam Howell – QB – North Carolina

Mac Jones – QB – Alabama

Asher O’Hara – QB – Middle Tennessee St.

Ty Storey – QB – Western Kentucky

P.J. Walker – QB – Temple

Brady White – QB – Memphis

https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2020...iation-list-2/

[jerrym]

2017 third round Redblack draft pick has been released by the Cleveland Browns after gaining 26 career tackles and 1.5 sacks as a nose tackle.

[doubleblue]

2017 third round Redblack draft pick has been released by the Cleveland Browns after gaining 26 career tackles and 1.5 sacks as a nose tackle.

That would be Eli Ankou ?

[jerrym]

Yes, it's Eli Ankou. I didn't check carefully what I had typed.

[jerrym]

DT Eli Ankou has now been claimed off waivers by Houston Texans

[jerrym]

Besides practicing at TD Place stadium and keeping in shape, world consecutive FG record-holder Lewis Ward has been involved in training alma mater Ottawa U Gee Gees and arch rival Carleton Ravens in the art of kicking.

[jerrym]

Former Ottawa Rough Rider, Hamilton Tiger Cat and Montreal Als LB Mark Kosmos has died. He was runner-up for CFL's Most Outstanding lineman in 1971. Cosmos spent 2 years with the Als, four with Ottawa and 2 with Hamilton.

A wrecking ball on the football field, an old-school guy who opponents feared and teammates loved, Mark Kosmos will be remembered for much more than his time in the Canadian Football League: a terrific career that lasted from 1970 to ’77. ...

Kosmos died Wednesday at the age of 75 following a lengthy illness; the nature of the game he played so fiercely and physically took its toll as he faded away. But for those who remember and know Kosmos, it’s the positives that we take away.He was a two-time CFL all-star and four-time Grey Cup champion: 1970 with the Montreal Alouettes; 1972 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and 1973 and ’76 with the Ottawa Rough Riders.

“He was big in life on the field and off the field,” said Gerry Organ, the Rough Riders kicker from 1971 to ’83. “He always found a way of looking at the bright side of things and he was a great, loyal friend. I don’t think there was anything not to like about Mark.” ...

Tough? Yeah, he was a beast on the football field. At 6-foot and 230-something pounds, Kosmos hit like a bulldozer.

“Nobody wanted to come across the middle when he was going the other way,” Foley said. ...

Inducted into the Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame in 2006, Kosmos was captain of the Grey Cup-winning 1976 Riders, accepting the championship trophy from Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. ...

An Oklahoma Sooner in college, Kosmos was born in Baltimore. ...

Back in 2014, Kosmos got in touch with Ottawa Sun columnist Ron Corbett and wanted to share the words to a poem, the words becoming etched into his mind one night. It didn’t have a title, he told Corbett. It went like this:
“Have you ever walked in sorrow?
Alone and wondering why,
The game you loved so long
Now withers up and dies?
A game in which you gave your all
And strived for one great goal.
That one you walked on field of green
All know, you gave your soul.
Now I sit and wonder
Surely it’s a dream I’m in.
For no feeling like the one I’ve shared
Was ever meant to end.”

https://ottawasun.com/sports/footbal...mos-dies-at-75

[jerrym]

The Redblacks will be following the same strategy of many if not most teams in keeping their salary costs below the maximum meaning many of its free agents will be available.

How’s this for a list of Redblacks players who could be gone as free agents? Offensive linemen Mark Korte, Evan Johnson and Jason Lauzon-Seguin, linebackers Kevin Brown, Jerod Fernandez, Don Unamba and Avery Williams, defensive backs Sherrod Baltimore, Randall Evans, Corey Tindal, Justin Howell and Abdul Kanneh, defensive linemen Avery Ellis, Ettore Lattanzio, Danny Mason and Mike Wakefield, kicker Lewis Ward, running back John Crockett, running back/slotback Anthony Coombs and receiver R.J. Harris. Obviously, the team will need to retain several of those players, if possible. ...

Redblacks GM Marcel Desjardins has his priorities, but don’t look for anything to happen quickly. With a collective bargaining agreement that extends through the 2021 season in place, the salary cap will be set at $5.35 million. It wouldn’t be surprising if many teams don’t spend to the cap to try and save on costs. While a schedule was recently announced, how and when the season will be played is still up in the air because of the crippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which wiped out the 2020 season.

“At least we can get the ball rolling,” said Desjardins Friday. “But the stuff will roll into the new year, for the most part. There are always priorities, I’m not going to get into the details. In some cases, we’ll make decisions relatively quickly. In other cases, there may be reasons why the player isn’t looking to jump at re-signing and wants to see what else is out there. So we’ll have to be patient. “We know a lot of guys want to be back here. We have to make it fit and make it work. We know everybody won’t be back, that’s the nature of the best. There’s also the question of after being out for so long, have some of these guys moved on from playing? There have been some hints, but nothing concrete.” ...

Said Desjardins: “Why would anybody sign now for more than a year? It is what it is. Everybody’s facing the same thing.”

https://ottawasun.com/sports/footbal...fl-free-agents

[jerrym]

Covid-19 strikes again as GM Marcel Desjardins hints that Nick Arbuckle will need to take a pay cut because the teams salary budget will be substantially lower because of ownership concerns over costs. I am sure this will be happening around the league to some extent.