2020 Ottawa Redblacks season
{{Infobox NFL team season
| logo =
| team = Ottawa Redblacks
| year = 2020
| record = N/A
| division_place = N/A, East
| coach = Paul LaPolice
| general manager = Marcel Desjardins
| stadium = TD Place Stadium
| playoffs = Season cancelled
| MOP =
| MOC =
| MOR =
| uniform =
| shortnavlink = Redblacks seasons
}}
The 2020 Ottawa Redblacks season was scheduled to be the seventh season for the team in the Canadian Football League. This would have been the first season for Paul LaPolice as the team's head coach and the seventh season with Marcel Desjardins as general manager.
Training camps, pre-season games, and regular season games were initially postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa. The CFL announced on April 7, 2020 that the start of the 2020 season would not occur before July 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/04/07/ambrosie-issues-statement-behalf-cfl/|title=Ambrosie issues statement on behalf of CFL|publisher=cfl.ca|date=April 7, 2020|access-date=April 7, 2020}} On May 20, 2020, it was announced that the league would likely not begin regular season play prior to September 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/05/20/cfl-issues-update-regarding-2020/|title=CFL provides update regarding 2020|publisher=Canadian Football League|date=May 20, 2020|access-date=May 20, 2020}} On August 17, 2020 however, the season was officially cancelled due to COVID-19.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/08/17/cfl-not-play-shortened-season-fall/|title=CFL not to play shortened season in the fall|publisher=Canadian Football League|date=August 17, 2020}}
Offseason
=Personnel changes=
Three days following the conclusion of the 2019 season, on November 4, 2019, Rick Campbell announced that he was stepping down as head coach of the Redblacks.{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/article-ottawa-redblacks-part-ways-with-head-coach-rick-campbell/|title=Ottawa Redblacks part ways with head coach Rick Campbell|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=November 4, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/11/04/report-rick-campbell-not-return-redblacks-2020/|title=Redblacks, Rick Campbell agree to part ways|date=November 4, 2019|publisher=cfl.ca}} In a press conference, Campbell explained that he had become disappointed that several former players left the team feeling underappreciated and dejected and that he had a strained relationship with the team's general manager, Marcel Desjardins.{{cite web|url=https://ottawasun.com/sports/football/cfl/ottawa-redblacks/according-to-multiple-reports-rick-campbell-wont-be-returning-to-redblacks|title=Emotional coach Rick Campbell says goodbye to Redblacks|date=November 4, 2019|publisher=Ottawa Sun}} Campbell left the Redblacks with a {{win-loss record|w=44|l=62|t=2}} record over six seasons with one Grey Cup championship in three appearances. He had one year remaining on his contract that OSEG agreed to pay out over five years.
On December 7, 2019, it was announced that Paul LaPolice had agreed to a three-year contract to become the head coach of the Ottawa Redblacks.{{cite web|url=https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2019/12/07/paul-lapolice-named-redblacks-head-coach/|title=Paul LaPolice named Redblacks Head Coach|publisher=ottawaredblacks.com|date=December 7, 2019}} He was most recently the offensive coordinator for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 2016 to 2019, including the 107th Grey Cup championship. He has also served as head coach of the Blue Bombers from 2010 to 2012 while compiling a {{win-loss record|w=16|l=28}} record.
=CFL National Draft=
The 2020 CFL National Draft took place on April 30, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://press.cfl.ca/cfl-to-hold-global-player-combines-in-europe-mexico-and-japan|title=CFL to hold global player combines in Europe, Mexico and, and Japan|publisher=press.cfl.ca|date=November 5, 2019|access-date=December 8, 2019}} By virtue of recording the worst record in the league in 2019, the Redblacks had the first selection in each round, not including traded picks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/draft-tracker/2020/|title=2020 CFL Draft|website=CFL.ca|language=en|access-date=January 31, 2020}} After trading for the rights to Nick Arbuckle and re-signing him, the Redblacks swapped first-round picks with the Calgary Stampeders and also sent them a third-round pick.{{cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/01/31/redblacks-sign-nick-arbuckle/|title=Redblacks sign Nick Arbuckle|publisher=Canadian Football League|website=cfl.ca|date=January 31, 2020}} The team also gained a territorial selection after finishing in the bottom two of the previous year's standings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/04/17/cfl-draft-feature-territorial-picks/|title=CFL Draft to feature territorial picks|date=April 17, 2019|website=CFL.ca|language=en|access-date=January 31, 2020}}
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||||
| scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};"| Round
! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};"| Pick ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};"| Player ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};"| Position ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};"| School ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};"| Hometown | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center"
|align=center| 1 | 6 | Adam Auclair | DB | Laval | Quebec City, QC |
| align="center"
|align=center| 2 | 10 | Michael Hoecht | DL | Brown | Oakville, ON |
| align="center"
|align=center| 2 | {{Abbr|19T|Territorial selection}} | Dan Basambombo | LB | Laval | Ottawa, ON |
| align="center"
|align=center| 4 | 29 | Jakub Szott | OL | McMaster | Toronto, ON |
| align="center"
|align=center| 5 | 38 | Terrance Abrahams-Webster | DB | Calgary | Pickering, ON |
| align="center"
|align=center| 6 | 47 | Brad Cowan | LB | Wilfrid Laurier | Ashton, ON |
| align="center"
|align=center| 7 | 56 | Reshaan Davis | DL | Ottawa | Oshawa, ON |
| align="center"
|align=center| 8 | 65 | Kétel Assé | OL | Laval | Quebec City, QC |
=CFL Global Draft=
The 2020 CFL Global Draft was scheduled to take place on April 16, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/01/27/key-dates-circle-calendar-2020/|title=Key dates to circle on your calendar in 2020|date=January 27, 2020|website=CFL.ca|language=en|access-date=April 7, 2020}} However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this draft and its accompanying combine were postponed to occur just before the start of training camp, which was ultimately cancelled.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/03/24/cfl-global-draft-rescheduled-lead-event-prior-training-camp/|title=CFL Global Draft rescheduled as lead-in event prior to training camp|date=March 24, 2020|website=CFL.ca|language=en|access-date=April 7, 2020}} The Redblacks were scheduled to select first in each round with the number of rounds never announced.
Planned schedule
=Preseason=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |
| scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};" | Week
! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};" | Game ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};" | Date ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};" | Kickoff ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};" | Opponent ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};" | TV ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};" | Venue |
|---|
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | A | colspan=10 align="center" valign="middle" | Bye |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | B ! align="center" | 1 | align="center" | Fri, May 29 | align="center" | 7:30 p.m. EDT | align="center" | vs. Montreal Alouettes | align="center" | {{Abbr|NA|Not announced}} | align="center" | TD Place Stadium |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | C ! align="center" | 2 | align="center" | Thu, June 4 | align="center" | 7:30 p.m. EDT | align="center" | at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | align="center" | {{Abbr|NA|Not announced}} | align="center" | Tim Hortons Field |
{{cite web|url=https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/schedule?season=2020|title=2020 Ottawa Redblacks Schedule|publisher=Ottawa Redblacks|access-date=December 21, 2019}}
=Regular season=
The Redblacks had planned on hosting a number of themed home games during the season, one of which was scheduled to feature the unveiling of new red alternate jerseys July 24, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2020-theme-games/|title=2020 Theme games|publisher=Ottawa Redblacks|access-date=March 12, 2020}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" |
| scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};" | Week
! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};" | Game ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};" | Date ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};" | Kickoff ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};" | Opponent ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};" | TV ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};" | Venue |
|---|
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 1 ! align="center" | 1 | align="center" | Fri, June 12 | align="center" | 7:00 p.m. EDT | align="center" | vs. Toronto Argonauts | align="center" | TSN | align="center" | TD Place Stadium |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 2 ! align="center" | 2 | align="center" | Sat, June 20 | align="center" | 10:00 p.m. EDT | align="center" | at Edmonton Football Team | align="center" | TSN | align="center" | Commonwealth Stadium |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 3 | colspan=10 align="center" valign="middle" | Bye |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 4 ! align="center" | 3 | align="center" | Thu, July 2 | align="center" | 7:00 p.m. EDT | align="center" | at Montreal Alouettes | align="center" | TSN/RDS | align="center" | Molson Stadium |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 5 ! align="center" | 4 | align="center" | Sat, July 11 | align="center" | 10:00 p.m. EDT | align="center" | at BC Lions | align="center" | TSN | align="center" | BC Place |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 6 ! align="center" | 5 | align="center" | Sat, July 18 | align="center" | 7:00 p.m. EDT | align="center" | vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats | align="center" | TSN | align="center" | TD Place Stadium |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 7 ! align="center" | 6 | align="center" | Fri, July 24 | align="center" | 7:00 p.m. EDT | align="center" | vs. Edmonton Football Team | align="center" | TSN | align="center" | TD Place Stadium |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 8 ! align="center" | 7 | align="center" | Thu, July 30 | align="center" | 9:00 p.m. EDT | align="center" | at Saskatchewan Roughriders | align="center" | TSN | align="center" | Mosaic Stadium |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 9 ! align="center" | 8 | align="center" | Thu, Aug 6 | align="center" | 7:30 p.m. EDT | align="center" | vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers | align="center" | TSN | align="center" | TD Place Stadium |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 10 ! align="center" | 9 | align="center" | Sat, Aug 15 | align="center" | 7:00 p.m. EDT | align="center" | at Hamilton Tiger-Cats | align="center" | TSN | align="center" | Tim Hortons Field |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 11 ! align="center" | 10 | align="center" | Fri, Aug 21 | align="center" | 7:00 p.m. EDT | align="center" | at Montreal Alouettes | align="center" | TSN/RDS | align="center" | Molson Stadium |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 12 ! align="center" | 11 | align="center" | Thu, Aug 27 | align="center" | 8:30 p.m. EDT | align="center" | at Winnipeg Blue Bombers | align="center" | TSN | align="center" | IG Field |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 13 ! align="center" | 12 | align="center" | Thu, Sept 3 | align="center" | 7:30 p.m. EDT | align="center" | vs. BC Lions | align="center" | TSN | align="center" | TD Place Stadium |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 14 ! align="center" | 13 | align="center" | Fri, Sept 11 | align="center" | 7:30 p.m. EDT | align="center" | vs. Montreal Alouettes | align="center" | TSN/RDS | align="center" | TD Place Stadium |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 15 ! align="center" | 14 | align="center" | Sat, Sept 19 | align="center" | 4:00 p.m. EDT | align="center" | at Toronto Argonauts | align="center" | TSN | align="center" | BMO Field |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 16 ! align="center" | 15 | align="center" | Sat, Sept 26 | align="center" | 7:00 p.m. EDT | align="center" | vs. Toronto Argonauts | align="center" | TSN | align="center" | TD Place Stadium |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 17 | colspan=10 align="center" valign="middle" | Bye |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 18 ! align="center" | 16 | align="center" | Sat, Oct 10 | align="center" | 4:00 p.m. EDT | align="center" | vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders | align="center" | TSN | align="center" | TD Place Stadium |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 19 ! align="center" | 17 | align="center" | Fri, Oct 16 | align="center" | 9:00 p.m. EDT | align="center" | at Calgary Stampeders | align="center" | TSN | align="center" | McMahon Stadium |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 20 ! align="center" | 18 | align="center" | Fri, Oct 23 | align="center" | 7:00 p.m. EDT | align="center" | vs. Calgary Stampeders | align="center" | TSN | align="center" | TD Place Stadium |
| align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"
! align="center" | 21 | colspan=10 align="center" valign="middle" | Bye |
Team
=Roster=
| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
|+ colspan="9" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};color:white;text-align:center;"| Ottawa Redblacks roster |
style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Quarterbacks
|
| -|I|Kevin Anderson}}
|
| -|I|Taryn Christion}}
Running backs
|
| -|N|Anthony Coombs}}
|
| -|I|Timothy Flanders}}
|
| -|I|Jarvion Franklin}}
|
| -|I|Akeem Hunt}}
|
| -|I|Kenny Young III}}
Receivers
|
| -|I|Jovon Durante}}
|
| -|I|Justin Hobbs}}
|
| -|I|Ervin Philips}}
|
| -|I|Jalen Saunders}}
|
| -|I|Cortrelle Simpson}}
|
| -|I|Shannon Smith}}
|
| -|N|James Tyrell}}
|
| -|I|Joe Walker}}
|
| -|N|Malcolm Williams}}
| style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Fullbacks
Offensive linemen
|
| -|N|KC Bakker}}
|
| -|I|Tyler Catalina}}
|
| -|I|Jamar McGloster}}
|
| -|I|Na'ty Rodgers}}
|
| -|N|Tanner Secord}}
|
| -|I|Darrell Williams Jr.}}
| style="width: 25px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Defensive linemen
|
| -|I|Patrick Afriyie}}
|
| -|I|Johnny Dwight}}
|
| -|I|Connor Flagel}}
|
| -|N|Cleyon Laing}}
|
| -|N|Clement Lebreux}}
|
| -|I|Charles Williams}}
Linebackers
|
| -|I|Junior Joseph}}
|
| -|N|Christophe Mulumba-Tshimanga}}
|
| -|I|Dwayne Norman}}
|
| -|I|Don Unamba}}
| style="width: 15px;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Defensive backs
|
| -|I|Kalon Beverly}}
|
| -|I|Lashard Durr}}
|
| -|I|Ironhead Gallon}}
|
| -|I|David Jones}}
|
| -|I|Jocquez Kalili}}
|
| -|I|Abdul Kanneh}}
|
| -|N|Dagogo Maxwell}}
|
| -|I|Corey Moore}}
|
| -|I|Brad Muhammad}}
|
| -|I|Delvon Randall}}
|
| -|I|Marcus Roberson}}
Special teams
Suspended
|
| style="text-align:center;font-size: 95%;background:#F9F9F9;border:2px solid #A6192E" colspan="10"|
Italics indicate American player • Bold indicates Global player • 104 Roster, 1 Suspended |
=Coaching staff=
| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
|+ colspan="7" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Ottawa Redblacks|border=2}};color:white;text-align:center;"| Ottawa Redblacks staff |
| colspan=7 style="text-align:right;" | |
| style="vertical-align:top;" |
| style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|width="35"| | style="vertical-align:top;" | | style="font-size: 95%;vertical-align:top;" | Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
→ [http://ottawaredblacks.com/footballops Coaching Staff] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113031749/http://ottawaredblacks.com/footballops |date=2014-11-13 }} |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.http://ottawaredblacks.com}}
{{2020 CFL season by team}}
{{Ottawa Redblacks}}
{{Ottawa Redblacks seasons}}
Category:2020 Canadian Football League season by team