Ottawa Redblacks Thread

[AngeloV]

I was surprised to see this signing. I didn't think Desjarlais would return to the CFL so soon but I definitely didn't see him ending up in Ottawa.

Bob Irving tweeted that his contract is 2 years for 500k. That is steep for an o-lineman, no matter how good he is.
Having said that, I don’t think the Argos win the Grey Cup without the addition of Ryan Hunter last year.

[gilthethrill]

Bob Irving tweeted that his contract is 2 years for 500k. That is steep for an o-lineman, no matter how good he is.
Having said that, I don’t think the Argos win the Grey Cup without the addition of Ryan Hunter last year.

Ottawa invested heavily in their OLine via Free Agency last season as well and still ended up with a bad record.
I would be remissed if I didn’t state that I agree with you whole heartedly regarding the addition of Ryan Hunter.

[OV Argo]

RedBlacks have added a few free agents: some Canadian talent in vets receiver Lemar Durant (only 30 though he hasn't done much lately) and RB A. Litre; also former Rider productive receiver Shaq Evans; but interesting that none of their veteran import FA receivers - Darvin Adams, RJ Harris or Ryan Davis (or vet Candian receiver Shaq Johnson) - have been signed by anybody, yet. Also a couple of import LBs in Santos-Knox and Gary Johnson (Riders - didn't play much) to maybe replace the departed Avery Williams. And Drew Desjarlais was a huge get for their O-Line (speaks French apparently too - so nice for their Quebec media & fans)

Might have a very different receiving corps for Masoli to throw to this season: Evans might be able to re-gain his previous CFL nice form: and former NFL vet Justin Hardy (5 seasons of actual playing for the Falcons) was very impressive for them late last season IMO; could maybe roll with 3 Canadian starting receivers from the likes of Behar, Durant & Tevaughn Smith ?

And their ST game should be very good with Ward & Leone kicking and the dangerous Devonte Dedmon in place for a full season.

Have a feeling they could put together a winning season and contend for 1st in the East; but depends on the coaching smarts of Bob Dyce and his new staff, plus Masoli being able to return to CFL best form ?

[jerrym]

Ottawa has signed former Hamilton CFL All-Star WR Bralon Addison.

https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2023...ralon-addison/

[jerrym]

The Redblacks have released American LB Patrick Levels who had 59 tackles and four sacks with Ottawa last year.

https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2023...atrick-levels/

[jerrym]

Seven year veteran LS Tanner Doll has signed with Ottawa after three years in BC.

[ArgoRavi]

I can't see how Ottawa can possibly trot out Nick Arbuckle again at QB. I think they should probably release him outright in the coming days and sign Ottawa native Michael O'Connor. What do they have to lose?

[gilthethrill]

I can't see how Ottawa can possibly trot out Nick Arbuckle again at QB. I think they should probably release him outright in the coming days and sign Ottawa native Michael O'Connor. What do they have to lose?

Those on the forum that still want Arbuckle (or Aaarrrrbuckle as Kate still calls him) on the Argos roster please raise your hands.

[AngeloV]

Those on the forum that still want Arbuckle (or Aaarrrrbuckle as Kate still calls him) on the Argos roster please raise your hands.

Makes me laugh when I think of all the arguments I had at games with people about MBT vs Arbuckle. On the bright side, I did throw out some good insults towards these people that had our section laughing.

[OV Argo]

I can't see how Ottawa can possibly trot out Nick Arbuckle again at QB. I think they should probably release him outright in the coming days and sign Ottawa native Michael O'Connor. What do they have to lose?

A classic case Ravi - Arbuckle gets handed playing/starting time for several CFL teams and shows a huge percentage of the time (outside of his first CFL play on a very good Stamps team/offence) that he is next to useless as a pro QB. O'Connor got one CFL start, didn't throw a bunch of picks or look useless, but was nicked (supposed injury that prevented from playing the rest of that game or next few ?), and then gets written-off by the Lions and now all other CFL teams after about one half of real CFL playing time ?

Face it, the GOBs want nothing to do with Canadian QBs (Canadian trained ones anyways) anywhere near their rosters (and the lower level US college ball QBs the Argos & Bombers signed this off-season for TC is glaring proof); O'Connor might make perfect sense for the RedBlacks (Ottawa guy; several years of CFL roster experience; familiarity with the Canadian game), but the GOBs (yes, including Canadian HC Bob Dyce) would be terrified at the prospect of local yokel fans or media calling for them to give the Canadian kid a shot if their other QBs struggled or $ucked. Best solution there = don't allow a Canadian QB anywhere close to your roster.

[Argo57]

A classic case Ravi - Arbuckle gets handed playing/starting time for several CFL teams and shows a huge percentage of the time (outside of his first CFL play on a very good Stamps team/offence) that he is next to useless as a pro QB. O'Connor got one CFL start, didn't throw a bunch of picks or look useless, but was nicked (supposed injury that prevented from playing the rest of that game or next few ?), and then gets written-off by the Lions and now all other CFL teams after about one half of real CFL playing time ?

Face it, the GOBs want nothing to do with Canadian QBs (Canadian trained ones anyways) anywhere near their rosters (and the lower level US college ball QBs the Argos & Bombers signed this off-season for TC is glaring proof); O'Connor might make perfect sense for the RedBlacks (Ottawa guy; several years of CFL roster experience; familiarity with the Canadian game), but the GOBs (yes, including Canadian HC Bob Dyce) would be terrified at the prospect of local yokel fans or media calling for them to give the Canadian kid a shot if their other QBs struggled or $ucked. Best solution there = don't allow a Canadian QB anywhere close to your roster.

I remember being quite pleased that the Argos drafted O’Connor and subsequently disappointed that he decided to move on.
Truly boggles the mind looking at the quality (or lack there of) of some of the QB’s that are currently playing in the league while O’Conner apparently interests no team.

[ArgoRavi]

A classic case Ravi - Arbuckle gets handed playing/starting time for several CFL teams and shows a huge percentage of the time (outside of his first CFL play on a very good Stamps team/offence) that he is next to useless as a pro QB. O'Connor got one CFL start, didn't throw a bunch of picks or look useless, but was nicked (supposed injury that prevented from playing the rest of that game or next few ?), and then gets written-off by the Lions and now all other CFL teams after about one half of real CFL playing time ?

Face it, the GOBs want nothing to do with Canadian QBs (Canadian trained ones anyways) anywhere near their rosters (and the lower level US college ball QBs the Argos & Bombers signed this off-season for TC is glaring proof); O'Connor might make perfect sense for the RedBlacks (Ottawa guy; several years of CFL roster experience; familiarity with the Canadian game), but the GOBs (yes, including Canadian HC Bob Dyce) would be terrified at the prospect of local yokel fans or media calling for them to give the Canadian kid a shot if their other QBs struggled or $ucked. Best solution there = don't allow a Canadian QB anywhere close to your roster.

This has always been given as a reason not to have a Canadian QB on one's roster, but at what point does losing with QBs like Arbuckle and Cornelius become so untenable that you have to give a shot to a Canadian QB?

[jerrym]

The title of the following article tells you nothing has change with the Redblacks: REDBLACKS “BEAT THEMSELVES” IN FRUSTRATING LOSS TO STAMPEDERS

At least the team is being honest on their home website about where the team is.

The home loss was headlined by more offensive struggles, as the unit was once again held out of the endzone, picking up just 233 net yards on 49 offensive plays. On the first drive, it looked like Ottawa’s fortunes may change, as they marched right to the Stamps’ goal line, threatening to take the early lead. Three consecutive pass plays fell incomplete, and the REDBLACKS turned the ball over on downs, their first of five turnovers on the night.
Like Week 1, Head Coach Bob Dyce didn’t hide his frustration at the alarming number of turnovers, and the lack of offensive scoring. ...

Nick Arbuckle struggled throughout the night, completing 12 of his 21 pass attempts for 93 yards, and with the second quarter winding down, threw a pass that was picked off by Stampeders’ linebacker, Micah Awe.
When Arbuckle returned to the sideline, Dyce informed him he was making a change in an effort to spark the offence, turning to 26-year-old sophomore, Tyrie Adams.
“It was close to six quarters without scoring a touchdown,” Dyce said bluntly. “We had turned the ball over again, that has been an area of concern for us. At that point, we made the decision to take a look at Tyrie.”
Adams hasn’t seen much time under centre in the CFL, and there were times where it showed on Thursday night. He completed just north of 50 percent of his passes for 113 yards, including a 50-yard strike to Quan Bray, but Adams fumbled on short yardage, and threw a late interception. ...
The quarterbacking wasn’t the sole issue for the REDBLACKS in Week 2. There were drops in key situations, defensive breakdowns in big moments, the occasional miscue with the special teams, but all of those things Dyce considers to be self-inflicted.

https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2023...to-stampeders/

[ArgoRavi]

Very disappointing news out of Ottawa as the RedBlacks have released Quan Bray, who can't seem to get out of his own way. His career is likely over.

https://3downnation.com/2023/06/29/o...ssault-charge/

[jerrym]

The good news in loserville is that with is that with Ottawa playing Edmonton at least one of the losers will win, unless they tie of course. Sadly even a Elk win will not end their home losing streak of 19 straight, one that is only one loss away from tying the North American all sports record of 20 in a row by the St. Louis Browns, who then left town to become the Baltimore Orioles.

[jerrym]

Ottawa has dropped Arbuckle to third string QB against the Elks. They will start Tyre Adams for the first time in his CFL career.

Tyrie Adams is set to make his first career start at quarterback for the Ottawa Redblacks when they take on the Edmonton Elks on Friday. Adams joined the Redblacks in 2022 following a stellar stint with the Salina Liberty of the Champions Indoor Football league, dressing for six games. His only action of note came in the regular season finale, where he completed eight-of-12 passes for 98 yards and rushed for 30 more.

The second-year backup took over from Nick Arbuckle in a relief role during the club’s Week 2 loss to the Calgary Stampeders and completed nine-of-16 pass attempts for 129 yards along with four carries for 19 yards. He was announced as the starter earlier this week after it was revealed that franchise pivot Jeremiah Masoli is not yet ready to return from his knee injury.

Arbuckle had started the first two games of the season with disappointing results, throwing for 286 yards and four interceptions in a pair of losses. He will be active on Friday but has been dropped to a third-string role, leap-frogged on the depth chart by newcomer Dustin Crum.

https://3downnation.com/2023/06/29/o...tring-vs-elks/

[ArgoRavi]

I can see Arbuckle being released when Masoli is finally activated.

[gilthethrill]

The schedule makers didn’t do Edmonton any favours. After a short week they travel to Ottawa to take on the well rested Red Blacks. Lots of arm tackles which indicates fatigue.

[AngeloV]

The schedule makers didn’t do Edmonton any favours. After a short week they travel to Ottawa to take on the well rested Red Blacks. Lots of arm tackles which indicates fatigue.

Exact same scenario for the Ti-Cats last week, I mean EXACT. Played Sunday, then Friday to play a team coming off a bye. Why this game couldn't have been played Sunday or Monday is beyond me.

[paulwoods13]

I can see Arbuckle being released when Masoli is finally activated.

He is available for sure.