When the CFL schedule hit the Internet earlier this year, many took exception to the structure of the Ottawa Redblacks upcoming campaign. Critics point to the fact that they will have to play 18 games before their first bye week. They also balk at the thought of having week 20 off shortly thereafter. Not to mention the week 5 double dipper and the fast paced start of the year. If the defending champs hope to repeat this year in front of their home crowd, it will not come easy. So how does the schedule construct look? Find out in the:
Ottawa Redblacks 2017 Season Preview
The 2017 season shakes out into three stages for the Redblacks. First, they will have thousands of frequent flyer miles accumulated. That happens every season you say? Try telling that to Ottawa as they will accrue most of those in the first month of the season. Then, there’s the long stretch of games in a row that will test their stamina. To top it all off is the time off at the end of the season leading into the playoffs. Let’s break it down in terms we can all relate.
First Down: The Gauntlet
Last season, Ottawa began their year with a rematch with their Grey Cup competitors. This season, they get to do it again, and then again. Yes you read that right. The Redblacks kick off 2017 with back to back games against the Calgary Stampeders. The first comes opening day at TD Place, the host of this year’s 105th Grey Cup. Then, everyone will jump on their respective planes and take a trip out west to do battle.
Bright side, it will be the only two times in the regular season the Redblacks will have to take on Bo Levi Mitchell and company. Down side, after finishing in Calgary, they will have to get back on the plane and head back to Ottawa to prepare for the visiting Toronto Argonauts.
But the fun doesn’t stop there. Week four sends them west again, back to Alberta this time to take on Edmonton. There will be no rest for the weary as five days later week five begins at home against the Montreal Alouettes. Five days after that, they travel east to meet the Argonauts again.
If you are keeping score, that is three games in ten days. The first month and a half pans out to just over 14,000 kilometers of back and forth. Weeks one through five will be a grueling obstacle course that will test the will power of the champions. In that time they will face the defending MOP, their former running back as well as Mike Reilly and his array of weapons. Act One of the Redblacks season is a script any drama writer would love to pen.
Second Down: The Grinder
While there is no official game listed under week six, don’t assume that means Ottawa has a bye week. The first game of the week starts exactly three days after the Redblacks game in Toronto. Therefore, there will not be an official week six game. In fact, they will turn around and play on Friday Night Football in week seven. From that game on, they will endure a stretch in which they will not see another week off until late October.
For three solid months, both sides of the ball will be put through the grinder. Over that span is an even mix of contests at home and away. Even still, no other team in the league has their first bye week as late in the year as does Ottawa. It will come as no surprise to anyone if by the time week eighteen finally comes, the Redblacks will be running on fumes. Surviving this part of the season will come down to a matter of conditioning. Something Coach Rick Campbell will hope to accomplish in training camp.
Third Down: The Wait
Common sense will tell you that if Ottawa has to wait until the third to last week of the season for their first bye week, the next will come on the last week of the season. Obviously they can’t have back to back off weeks. This might be a blessing and a curse. Should the Redblacks make it back to the playoffs, it could give them another week to rest their legs. Remember of course, they will have successfully survived almost an entire season non-stop to get there. That being said, it might be just enough time to get too well rested. Momentum is a tricky thing. If enough is build up, an extra week might slow things down too much. With every other team in the East Division playing that week, Ottawa could get caught flatfooted after their second late bye week.
Navigating the 2017 schedule will be difficult for the Redblacks. Coaches and management alike have acknowledge the perils that lie ahead of the team. Despite them all, Ottawa is confident in their ability for a repeat trip to the postseason. Nothing good comes easy, and this season is certainly not that.
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