CFL Odds: The Ottawa Redblacks are the new kid on the block in the CFL but they may not look like an ordinary expansion team. They will be led by an experienced quarterback in Henry Burris who is a former Grey Cup champion. The team has some talented players to support Burris including running back Chevon Walker. Let’s take a look at the 2014 Ottawa Redblacks.
Ottawa RedBlacks Will be No Easy Mark
Normally in pro sports when you talk about an expansion team you are talking about a team that is going to lose a lot of games and not be competitive. That will not be the case with the Ottawa Redblacks. They may not make the playoffs but they should be competitive right away. They have an experienced quarterback in Burris and some other talented players like Walker at running back, receiver Paris Jackson, and a solid offensive line led by John Gott, Joe Eppele, and J’Michael Deane. Not to be left out is former Most Outstanding Defensive Player Jovon Johnson along with veterans Keith Shologan, Anton McKenzie, TJ Hill, and Malik Jackson.
Schedule is a Challenge
The one problem for the Ottawa Redblacks is that their home stadium won’t be ready until Week 4. They are renovating Landsdowne Park into the new TD place so that means the team will play their first two games on the road and they have a bye in the opening week. Eventually the team will settle in and be fine but the first month of the season could be a challenge. And because they are an expansion team the last month of the season could be tough as well simply because they won’t have the depth of other teams.
2014 Ottawa Redblacks Schedule
Week 1 – Bye
Week 2 at Winnipeg
Week 3 at Edmonton
Week 4 vs. Toronto
Week 5 at Hamilton
Week 6 vs. Saskatchewan
Week 7 at Calgary
Week 8 vs. Edmonton
Week 9 vs. Calgary
Week 10 at Montreal
Week 11 vs. British Columbia
Week 12 Bye
Week 13 at Saskatchewan
Week 14 vs. Montreal
Week 15 vs. Winnipeg
Week 16 at British Columbia
Week 17 at Hamilton
Week 18 vs. Montreal
Week 19 vs. Hamilton
Week 20 at Toronto