Inside the CFL: This ain’t roulette, but it may be time to bet on the Redblacks

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on September 26, 2024.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

It was a showdown between the new dogs and old dogs on the block, between the challengers and champions. As it turned out, neither the Edmonton Elks nor Ottawa Redblacks were ready for prime time.

The Larks continued to soar, the Blue Bombers awoke from their slumber in the fourth quarter and decimated the Herd. In both cases, the difference was defence.

On a gorgeous day in our nation’s capitol, Montreal extended their road winning streak, which began a year ago in Calgary, to 10 games, winning 24-12. They clinched a home playoff date.

At 8-5-1, the Redblacks have the second best record in the CFL. If Montreal beats Toronto this weekend and Ottawa loses in Saskatchewan on Saturday, the Als will finish first. If Ottawa wins, they will make the playoffs. However, both teams are having problems moving the ball.

The Als’ offence has been pretty anemic. Quarterback Cody Fajardo seemed to sustain a rib injury last Saturday but head coach and former QB Jason Maas bizarrely left him in and had him run several times, including third-down gambles. Redblack Dru Brown has struggled at quarterback the last couple of games. The 14-year veteran Jeremiah Masoli has performed admirably in relief, completing 17 of 26 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown last time out. But the injury bug has bitten the team hard with a dozen players knocked out of action the last two games.

Regardless of the setback to the defending Grey Cup champions, the Redblack rebuild seems complete.

The Redblacks were born 10 years ago. The ownership turned to former Ti-Cat executive Marcel Desjardis as general manager. He showed true genius stocking his club through the expansion draft.

Giving Rick Campbell his first head coaching job was also inspiring. He then signed the cornerstone of the franchise, free agent Henry Burris, the fifth quarterback to throw for over 50,000 yards, the 2013 leading passer fresh off a Grey Cup appearance against Saskatchewan.

Predictably for an expansion team, the Redblacks went 2-16 in their first year. What ensued was unheard of. In Year Two they won 11 games and made it to the Grey Cup, which they lost 26-20 to Edmonton thanks to Redcliff product and Medicine Hat High School grad Nate Coehoorn keeping a fourth-quarter drive alive with a clutch reception.

A fluke Cup appearance? No way.

They returned to the national classic the following year, defeating Calgary 39-33.

They were back two years later when the Stamps got their revenge winning the Cup 27-26.

The only expansion team success story that comes close to matching what the Redblacks did was Las Vegas making it to the Stanley Cup final in their first year in the NHL.

After the 2018 Grey Cup, Ottawa fell apart and a long journey back to respectability began.

GM Desjardins was a success at building the team but a failure at keeping it together

Questionable decisions involved letting key players like QB Trevor Harris and receiver Greg Ellngson sign elsewhere, as well as not re-signing several key components of the team’s success. Ottawa went 3-15 in 2019.

He and coach Rick Campbell didn’t get along, so Campbell left for B.C.

Quarterback was a problem. He traded for Nick Arbuckle but couldn’t keep him. His replacement Matt Nichols was hurt most of the time. His choice for Campbell’s replacemnt, Paul LaPolice, was a good one but the talent wasn’t there.

After two disastrous seasons and a mark of 5-22, Desjardins was fired in favour of another former Ti-Cat, Shawn Burke. The Redblacks finished last with 4-14 records in 2022 and 2023. But better days lay ahead.

He replaced LaPolice with Bob Dyce, a career assistant with Winnipeg and Saskatchewan. To solve his quarterback problem, he signed former Ti-Cat Jason Masoli who sustained season ending injuries after four games in 2022 and one game last year.

He picked up Bomber backup Dru Brown to start. He installed former Hamilton guru Tommy Condell as his offensive co-ordinator.

His biggest signing was Brendan Taman as director of pro personnel. Taman built the 2013 Grey Cup champion Roughriders.

So here they are. A team that can beat anybody. If starter Dru Brown continues to struggle, Jerermiah Masoli with a new found spring in his step might just lead the Redblacks back to Grey Cup glory come November.

Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 52 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com.