Redblacks know expectations are high a year after going from basement to Grey Cup

OTTAWA – The Ottawa Redblacks know expectations will be high this year, and that’s exactly where they want them.

A year after debut season in which they won just two games, the Redblacks posted a 12-6 record in 2015 and advanced to the Grey Cup, where they lost 26-20 to the Edmonton Eskimos.

This year’s team believes it can be even better after going from basement dwellers to legitimate contenders in just one season.

“We want to have a winning culture around here,” said Redblacks head coach Rick Campbell. “We know it’s not easy. We know it takes a lot of hard work, but that was part of the culture we wanted around here.

“Expectations are a healthy thing, if you don’t have expectations from yourself or from your team that’s usually not a good thing so I think expectations are good.”

While a number of changes occurred during the off-season, the Redblacks are finally at a point where they’ve developed some of their own talent and have a solid core.

The Redblacks parted ways with some significant talent including offensive lineman Colin Kelly, defensive linemen Shawn Lemon, Justin Capicciotti and Keith Shologan, receiver Maurice Price and defensive backs Jovon Johnson and Brandyn Thompson.

The face of the franchise remains quarterback Henry Burris, who was named the Most Outstanding Player last season. Burris, who turns 41 in less than a week, knows the skeptics are sure to come out despite his production last season.

“It is what it is,” said Burris. “I’ve put my body in the position to be able to play this young man’s game through my training. Of course I’m not as quick as I was when I was 25 or 26, but I find other ways mentally to get the job done.

“I find ways to take care of my body, use the weapons that are around me and understanding how to create the offence and execute within the offence and that’s what allows me to be much better when I step on this field is knowing how to manage this game and making good decisions.”

Burris has no intention of making this his last season, announcing that a contract with Ottawa is in place for 2017. Burris anticipates Ottawa hosting the Grey Cup in 2017 as part of the country’s 150th anniversary celebrations and wants to ensure he’s around.

Should Burris falter, the Redblacks are confident they have a reliable backup in Trevor Harris, who started Toronto Argonauts for much of last season with Ricky Ray recovering from surgery. It should be noted the Redblacks were 0-3 against Toronto last season.

In a key move on the sidelines, Jaime Elizondo was hired as offensive co-ordinator to replace Jason Maas, who left the Redblacks to take over the head coaching position with Edmonton.

Elizondo spent last season with the Argonauts as receivers coach. While he will bring some new ideas to the table, he said he won’t be implementing a whole new system.

“We still have our base that’s intact and everything springs from that,” said Burris. “We understand the offence that we’re playing in, but now we’re being challenged to take it one, two steps further.”

Not to be overlooked is the experience gained from having gone through the playoffs and the agony of losing the Grey Cup.

“Just getting to the playoffs allows you to realize that you can take your game to a whole other level,” said defensive back Antoine Pruneau. “During the season you believe you’re giving everything you’ve got, but then you get to the playoffs and you realize you’ve got more.

“Now it’s a matter of trying to reproduce that playoff work ethic every week during the regular season. And let’s not forget all of us who were there last year remember how much it stung to lose and we want to get back to the Grey Cup to prove that the Redblacks can get the job done.”