How the Ottawa Redblacks made strides of improvement over the CFL offseason

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There will be significant improvements in the Ottawa Redblacks’ roster that opens the CFL season on Thursday in Saskatchewan against the Roughriders — a team some pick to finish atop the West Division standings and contend for the Grey Cup — and the one that was bounced from the playoffs last Nov. 2 in a 20-point loss to the defending champion Toronto Argos.

Among them will be the return of Adarius Pickett, the Redblacks’ outstanding linebacker/special teams player and emotional pulse after a remarkable recovery from the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered last season in Week 15 against the Hamilton Ticats.

“Yes,” head coach Bob Dyce confirmed after Monday’s practice at TD Place when asked if Pickett will complete his comeback by suiting up against the Roughriders. “Adarius will play.”

Another roster refinement comes in the form of William Stanback, a 6-foot, 200-pound running back who has three 1,000-yard rushing seasons on his resumé.

The Redblacks missed the type of ball carrier they want to complement a very strong group of receivers after they had to release Ryquell Armstead for disciplinary reasons last September.

Khalan Laborn had some fine moments, but, ultimately, they turned to veteran Bralon Addison, who also performed admirably in the backfield but is a receiver by trade.

When Stanback was released by the B.C. Lions in January, Ottawa GM Shawn Burke wasted little time in signing him to a one-year deal.

“We’re going to be a physical team, and William is a physical back,” said Dyce. “The talents he has bleed into what we want to be. You want to give him the opportunities to be physical and wear teams down throughout four quarters. So I look forward to seeing William carry the ball, and I look forward to seeing our offensive line be extremely physical.”

After five seasons with the Montreal Alouettes, Stanback figured he’d be back for a second year with the Lions after he was the CFL’s second-leading rusher in 2024.

“I was in conversations with GM and everything, and it looked like it was a bright future (in B.C.),” the 30-year-old Stanback said Monday. “But it’s a business, and I guess some plans change. I just had to go along with it.”

Money, as it relates to the salary cap, and age could have been factors, as presumably was the case when two other very good backs — 32-year-old Ka’Deem Carey and 28-year-old Walter Fletcher — were cut by the Argos and Alouettes on the weekend.

“Guys like that getting released is very shocking,” said Stanback. “And it kind of sucks.”

If Stanback is slowing down, it certainly didn’t show in his stats last year.

He averaged just over five yards a carry for a total of 1,175, which is just one yard off the career high he set in 2021.

“I feel like my ability to play at this level is very high,” said Stanback. “I’m thankful for every opportunity I’m always given. I never take anything for granted, because you never know what can happen tomorrow. So I just play every game, every down, like it’s my last. My body feels great. Maybe some things may change with how I attack certain games, whether it’s catching the ball more out of the backfield or protecting the quarterback, but as long as I can still produce and help the team in any way, I feel like there’s no reason for me to stop playing right now.

“I’ve never been an,  ‘Oh, give me the ball’ type of guy. Whatever is drawn up, I’m going to try to run it to the best of my abilities. I’ll do whatever you need me to do. If I need to go tackle, I can tackle too.”

To back up Stanback, the Redblacks gave a practice roster spot to Elijah Collins, who looked good with five carries for 26 yards and three receptions for 62 yards in Friday’s pre-season finale against Montreal.

If they want to go a different route, on the active roster is a quality Canadian in Daniel Adeboboye, a special teams whiz who has proved he’s more than capable of handling the running back chores.

Is there a quorum for euchre in the Ottawa quarterback room?

Yes. The Redblacks, Alouettes, Argos, Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers are the only teams with as many as four quarterbacks currently on their roster, although each team can only dress three for a game.

Behind starter Dru Brown in Ottawa is a newcomer, veteran Matt Shiltz, as well as returnees Dustin Crum and Tyrie Adams. Expect the 32-year-old Shiltz to be the primary backup out of the gate, but that could change as the season goes on.

“Dusty’s growth as a passer has been fantastic,” said Dyce. “Tyrie hasn’t played that many games, but he’s been in the league for three years. So to have that experience in the room, learning from (offensive co-ordinator) Tommy (Condell) puts us in a very good position.”

Did the Redblacks get stronger at a position of strength?

Yes. The marquee signing of the offseason was Eugene Lewis, who would have five 1,000-plus receiving yards in the CFL had he not been limited to 13 games in 2021 and 12 in 2023.

Lewis should be an upgrade on the departed Dominique Rhymes at one wide receiver spot, while Keelan White, the third overall pick in this year’s draft, replaces Nick Mardner, who was slow to get going as the second overall pick in the 2024 draft and is gone for the season with a torn patella.

At slotback, Ottawa will also have a whole season with Kalil Pimpleton, who had 715 yards in eight games last year, as a replacement for the retired Jaelon Acklin, who had 739 yards in 16 games, along with returning, savvy veterans Justin Hardy and Bralon Addison.

Is there a big hole on the O-line?

Yes. Right tackle Zack Pelehos, the 6-foot-5, 300-pound former Ottawa Gee-Gee who made great strides last season, has been lost for six to eight weeks with a foot injury.

“But if you know Zack, he attacks his therapy and has always come back quicker,” said Dyce. “So obviously, that’s what we’re hoping for.”

His absence is a ratio-changer for the Redblacks, who will likely turn to 26-year-old Texan Darta Lee as a replacement to give them a couple of Americans (along with the returning Dino Boyd) as the big bookends on their O-line.

Veteran centre Peter Godber (hand) is questionable for the opener, and if he can’t go veteran Jacob Ruby will be snapping the ball to Brown, with Eric Starczala dealing with a head injury.

The dependable Dariusz Bladek and Drew Desjarlais are back as the guards, with rookie Sam Carson as a backup.

Do you need a new program to identify the defensive front seven?

No, last year’s will do. The familiar line sees Lorenzo Mauldin and Bryce Carter at the ends, with Mike Wakefield and Canadian Cleyon Laing inside. Mauldin and Wakefield were tied for the league lead in sacks last season with eight, while Carter was tied for second in the same category a year earlier with 12.

Blessman Ta’ala, a Hawaiian who falls into the Global classification, is a veteran backup, while Canadians Aidan John and Kene Onyeka have proved invaluable. Second-year Canadian Daniel Okpoko is also expected to take some positive steps.

Davion Taylor appears to have an edge on Frankie Griffin as the starting WILL linebacker, although both should play plenty of defensive snaps and be backed by Canadian Lucas Cormier, who had an outstanding camp.

Pickett will be the SAM linebacker, with Bennett Williams as his backup.

Veteran Jovan Santos-Knox is back as the leader of the ‘D’ at middle linebacker, with Tyron Vrede (Global), and Canadian James Peter and Jayden Griffiths as backups and key special teams contributors.

Were the questions in the secondary answered?

Yes, and the Redblacks hope it’s better than last year’s group.

Alijah McGhee is back at one corner spot and C.J. Coldon, who was signed last September, is at the other.

The starting safety position is in the capable hands of Alonzo Addae, who played 14 games last season before going down with an injury.

Newcomer Amari Henderson, a former Roughrider, will be one starting halfback and returnee Deandre Lamont appears to have locked down the other.

In the mix will be Robert Priester and Adrian Frye, as well as Canadian backups Eric Cumberbatch, Dawson Pierre and Charlie Ringland.

Last, but certainly not least ….

The kicking duties will be handled by sure-footed Lewis Ward, who will be playing his 100th game on Thursday, and veteran American punter Richie Leone. Peter Adjey is back as the long snapper.

“This group knows who they are and they’re tight,” Dyce said Monday. “If you heard Jovan talk at the end of practice, you’d know that he ends up with family, and that’s what we’re working towards, to continue building trust amongst each other. I told them on Day 1, this is a unit, and this unit is going to take us where we want to go. And they fully believe that.”