Believe it: the Ottawa Redblacks are 2-0 and feeling confident for the first time in the franchise’s short history. What a difference a year makes. Last season the Redblacks looked like the expansion team they were, totalling a depressing 16 losses in what was a inaugural season to forget. The Redblacks knew they had to address major issues if they wanted to avoid another disaster. And the most glaring issue was a lack of hands for the ageless wonder Henry Burris to complete a pass.
Enter Burris’ new weapons who, unlike last year’s offensive liabilities, do not possess hands of stone. Ernest Jackson, Chris Williams, and Brad Sinopoli have been invaluable to Burris in what looks to be a third wind for the 40-year-old quarterback, after being tied to an offence that struggled with consistency all season long.
This start can be viewed directly as a increase in offensive output. The 2014 Redblacks scored over 20 points just five times; now they’ve hit the 20-point mark or higher in their two wins to start the year.
Burris so far has accumulated 559 passing yards in the franchise’s two wins. Those notable additions to the receiving corps have accounted for 379 yards of Burris’ production, 68% of the passing game.
The defensive side of the Redblacks game also looks stable through their first two, not allowing a opponent to score more than 20 points. The Redblacks last season allowed 26 points per game on average. Combined with their dismal offensive production, the Redblacks were doomed.
It’s early in the year, and the experts will claim Ottawa has not truly been tested yet on the field. With wins against Montreal and a B.C. team that is going through growing pains to start the season, their opponents may underestimate them. That will be good for the team, as wins are equally important at the start of the season as in the finish.
One important thing to focus on in the Redblacks start is they did survive “bad Hank”. Burris has a reputation of being a streaky, inconsistent quarterback. He can show great decision making and his execution at times, but then he can also look amateur. In the first half of the Redblacks’ week one victory, Burris was bad Hank, tossing three picks that should never have been thrown. Last season that could have spelled defeat in big bold red letters, but this year the team’s confidence never wavered. There seems to be a true belief that they belong in the game. With the weapons acquired this off season and Burris’ ability to live and die with the pass, they may be in every game.
Rejoice, Redblacks fans. You now look to be on your way to a fun-filled season, not just the “Hooray football is back” high from last year. Good and bad Hank will be entertaining and painful to watch, but with his new offensive weapons, and if the D can keep things close, this group may just shock a few people. Edmonton is next and they are hurting, so for Ottawa, 3-0 is a very big possibility.
