OttawaREDBLACKS.com
Expectations can be a little bit like growing tomatoes in your garden.
You are thrilled when the first tomato appears on the vein. As summer progresses, and more tomatoes sprout, you begin wondering just how large your harvest will get.
The Ottawa REDBLACKS find themselves in a similar position. When the CFL season began the second-year franchise wanted to improve on the two wins it had in 2014 and hopefully make the playoffs.
Now, 17 games later, the REDBLACKS (11-6) have not only sewn up a home playoff game, they can finish first in the East Division.
Be honest. Who really expected the seed of hope planted in the spring would blossom into talk of the REDBLACKS playing in the Grey Cup in Winnipeg.
“Have we exceeded our expectations?” said general manager Marcel Desjardins. “Yes, a little bit.
“But we certainly anticipated that we would be playing after Nov. 7.”
A win Saturday, at home against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (10-7), puts the REDBLACKS in first place. Even a loss, by five points or less, gives them a bye in the first week of the playoffs.
“It would be huge,” said Desjardins. “To be able to finish first, and be one step away from the Grey Cup, would be outstanding for our franchise.”
The Ottawa turnaround is a result of some weeding and pruning, plus a little fertilizer.
The REDBLACKS were a dismal 2-16 last year. They didn’t win a game on the road. They scored the least points (278) and allowed the second most (465). Quarterback Henry Burris’s 60.9 per cent completion ration was second worst in the league and his lowest since 2009. He threw more interceptions (14) than touchdowns (11).
Desjardins went to work changing not only the players on the field but the coaching staff.
“We obviously had some limitations with respect to what we were or were not able to do last year in terms of players,” he said. “We worked through that in our first year. In the offseason we addressed the needs we had.”
Over the winter the REDBLACKS signed free-agent receivers Brad Sinopoli, Greg Ellingson and Ernest Jackson, while Maurice Price was acquired in a trade from the Calgary Stampeders. The offensive line got better with the addition of left tackle SirVincent Rogers.
A good receiving corps got even better with the addition of wide receiver and kick returner Chris Williams, the 2011 outstanding rookie, who returned to the CFL after two years in the NFL.
| Off-season acquisitions paying off |
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“Now we have a plethora of options. It doesn’t matter which of the receivers (Burris) decides to throw the ball too. Odds are pretty good they are going to make the big play when it needs to be made. If we need to run the ball, we have options there too.” – Ottawa GM Marcel Desjardins on the improvement of the REDBLACKS receiving corps. |
The upgrade at receiver made the REDBLACKS a more dangerous team, said Desjardins.
Last year Ottawa didn’t have a 1,000-yard receiver. This year Williams, Sinopoli and Jackson are all over 1,000 yards. Ellingson needs just 81 yards to reach the mark.
While Williams leads the club with 1,182 yards from 86 catches, Sinopoli tops the team by catching 79 per cent of the passes thrown at him and gaining 452 yards after catches.
“What we lacked last year offensively was a go-to guy,” said Desjardins. “Somebody you knew, when you need that big play, it was going to be made.
“Now we have a plethora of options. It doesn’t matter which of the receivers (Burris) decides to throw the ball too. Odds are pretty good they are going to make the big play when it needs to be made. If we need to run the ball, we have options there too.”
Jeremiah Johnson led Ottawa with 448 yards on 97 carries before suffering a season-ending foot injury. Since then William Powell has stepped in and has 328 yards on 59 carries.
Replacing offensive co-ordinator Mike Gibson with former CFL quarterback Jason Maas has been another key factor.
“He and Henry Burris basically were on the same page from the get go,” said Desjardins. “That propelled us forward.
“He (Burris) is so much more engaged in what we are doing as a team and offensively. That puts you in a better frame of mind in general. Last year was very difficult for him for a number of reasons.”
Burris leads the league with 5,335 yards after completing 453 of 641 passing attempts. He has an eye-popping 70.7 per cent completion ration, has tossed 20 touchdowns against 12 interceptions, and is a candidate for most valuable player.
Maybe even more amazing, in a season where there has been a rash of quarterback injuries, the 40-year-old Burris is one of only two pivots to start every game.
“That speaks to his preparation,” said Desjardins. “That speaks to his dedication as a pro, taking care of himself physically in the offseason and also in the season.
“He’s been around a while. He knows how best to prepare his body game by game.”
Ottawa’s turnaround has resulted in head coach Rick Campbell being mentioned as a potential winner of the Annis Stukus Trophy. Desjardins said last year was a learning curve for Campbell.
“He had never been a head coach,” said Desjardins. “To learn on the fly how to deal with that group of players, was something that took time for him.
“He’s so much more comfortable now. Guys understand him now, that what he says is what it is.”
The whole REDBLACKS organization has had another season to grow and mesh. Instead of a group of players wearing the same uniform, it has become a team focused on one goal.
“It contributes to it not only on the field . . . (but) the other part of it is off the field,” said Desjardins. “They hang out together more because they actually know each other.
“Those are little things but they all add up.”
The REDBLACKS’ season can already be called a success. But will enjoying a bumper harvest this year raise expectations even more for 2016?
“I don’t know if it raises the bar higher,” said Desjardins. “Our standards have always been high. Going into this year we anticipated to make the playoffs. I would expect the same things and greater going into next year.
“We have the roster, we have the coaches. We are going to have some changes, like everybody does. We feel like our arrow is pointed up.”
