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The Ottawa Redblacks failed to perform in 2023, making it four straight seasons without getting to the playoffs but, with some solid draft picks, Canadian Football League success could be on the horizon.
Fans of the franchise know what Redblacks players are capable of when they’re firing on all cylinders. Ottawa’s finest emerged out of the Rough Riders dynasty following the collapse of the Renegades.
It only took two CFL seasons for the Redblacks to win the Grey Cup. However, that was almost ten years ago, which is why the current Ottawa Red Black roster needs to perform this season.
Can an influx of new talent take Shawn Burke’s men to the playoffs in 2024? Let’s assess the current Ottawa Redblacks roster and make some predictions.
Ottawa Redblacks Roster 2023
Did Ottawa Redblacks players perform well in 2023? Individually, some members of the team put in solid performances last season. However, in comparison to the CFL’s elite, the Ottawa Redblacks roster was lagging behind the pace.
Dustin Crum had the second-best completion percentage for passing in the CFL at 69.1%, just 2.5% behind the league’s most successful thrower, Cody Fajardo (71.6%).
However, when it comes to total passing yards, Crum’s 3,109 yards is a fair clip behind Vernon Adams Jr.’s 4,769. This lack of total passing yards is one of the main reasons why the Ottawa Redblacks didn’t score enough touchdowns in 2023.
Lewis Ward was on point with his kicking in 2023, scoring 125 points, but touchdowns were hard to come by. Again, Crum did his bit for the team, scoring nine touchdowns.
However, the team’s total of 40 touchdowns throughout the season was below the CFL average of 55. Defensively, the Red Black roster was surprisingly effective with players such as Douglas Coleman and Cariel Brooks notching up interception averages of 36.00 and 42.00, respectively.
As a team, Ottawa Redblacks players were above the league average for interceptions but below par on total tackles made.
So, while the defensive line wasn’t as lackluster as the attacking lineout, coach Baker needs to make improvements in 2024 if he wants to make the Redblacks an Ottawa football team fans get behind.
2023 Ottawa Redblacks CFL Season Overview
For all the strengths and weaknesses of individual players, football is a team sport, and, at the end of last season, the current Ottawa Redblacks roster wasn’t a cohesive unit. Baker’s men finished fourth out of four teams in the East Division.
The season started badly with a loss to the Montreal Alouettes. Another loss five days later to the Calgary Stampeders set an ominous precedent. The Redblacks won Game 3 of the season, before losing again. A two-game win streak was followed by disappointment for seven straight games.
Overall, it was a poor season for the Redblacks. Not enough touchdowns were scored and, while there were some highlights with regards to passes completed and interceptions, the 2023 team was well below average.
That means Ottawa Redblacks players need to make some serious improvements if they’re going to challenge not just in the East Division but the playoffs in 2024.
Ottawa Redblacks Roster 2024
Coach Baker will have plenty of top prospects to choose from in the 2024 CFL draft. Only Edmonton Elks coach Chris Jones gets to pick before Baker, so there’s every chance he’ll get the players he wants.
The question is, how can Baker bolster the Ottawa Redblacks roster in 2024? Based on what we saw from the Ottawa CFL team in 2023, a defensive lineman would be useful.
Justin Sambu out of Baylor University is ranked as a top ten prospect. The 6’4 lineman from Calgary had a breakout season in 2022, completing 32 tackles in 11 games with 32 tackles.
Sambu took six record-breaking QB hurries that season. He was also named Canada’s second-best defensive end for his age bracket back in 2016.
Wallace Could Make an Offensive Difference
Another prospect coach Baker may want to draft in 2024 is Gabe Wallace. The offensive lineman from Salmon Arm, British Columbia, was ranked second in the CFL Scouting Bureau report.
Kurtis Rourke was the number one ranked player but, if coach Baker continues to put his faith in quarterback Dustin Crum, he may not be needed. Wallace, however, could be a strong addition to an offensive line that needs changing.
Wallace is solid at tackling and guard work. He’s also extremely agile for someone standing 6’6 and weighing over 335 lbs. That’s thanks to his background as a rugby player.
Changing direction and physicality are core skills in rugby, which is why Wallace has become a reliable offensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills. If he can carry those skills into professional football, he’d be a welcome addition to the Ottawa Redblacks roster.
Ottawa Redblacks History and Titles
The Ottawa football team’s name has changed three times over the years. The original Ottawa CFL team was known as the Rough Riders. They first took the field in 1876 and quickly became a dominant force.
As one of the CFL’s founding members, the Ottawa Rough Riders won nine Grey Cups before folding in 1996. The Renegades brought CFL football back to Ottawa in 2002 but folded six years later due to financial issues. Next into the limelight was the Ottawa Redblacks.
Provisions for a new Ottawa football team were made in 2010 and, by 2014, the Redblacks ran out for the first time. Two years later, they won the Grey Cup but, since then, titles have been hard to come by.
The 2018 Ottawa Redblacks roster did win the East Division but lost the Grey Cup to the Stampeders (27-16). Since then, it’s been all about the fours, i.e. four fourth-place finishes in a row. That means there’s plenty of room for improvement next season.
Bet on the Ottawa Redblacks with BetVictor
Will the 2024 Ottawa Redblacks roster turn the franchise’s fortunes around? It’s certainly possible. What we know for sure is that there will be plenty of dramatic moments during the 2024 CFL season and, as ever, we’ll cover all the action.
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