2015 Ottawa Redblacks season
General managerMarcel Desjardins
Head coachRick Campbell
Home fieldTD Place Stadium
Results
Record12–6
Division place1st, East
Playoff finishLost Grey Cup
Team MOPHenry Burris
Team MOCBrad Sinopoli
Team MORForrest Hightower
Uniform

The 2015 Ottawa Redblacks season was the second season for the team in the Canadian Football League. The Redblacks improved upon their unimpressive 2–16 record from 2014 after just five games when they collected their third win in week five against the Calgary Stampeders. Ottawa clinched a playoff berth in week 17 with a victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on October 16, 2015.[1] The Redblacks became the first Ottawa-based CFL team to have a winning record since 1979. They were also the first Ottawa-based CFL team to finish first in East Division since the 1978 Rough Riders and the first Ottawa-based team ever to finish with at least 12 regular season wins.

The Redblacks posted the fifth best winning percentage posted by a second year expansion team in any established North American professional sports league after the 1951 Cleveland Browns, the 1995 Baltimore Stallions, the 1996 Carolina Panthers and the 1997 Montreal Alouettes – although of those four teams, only the Stallions and Panthers were expansion teams in the same sense as the Redblacks and only the Panthers had a losing record in their inaugural season.

On November 22, 2015, the Redblacks defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 35–28 in the Eastern Final to advance to their first Grey Cup game, which they lost 26–20 to the Edmonton Eskimos. It was the first time that an Ottawa CFL team advanced to the Grey Cup game since the 1981 Ottawa Rough Riders.

Off-season

Trades

On January 15, 2015, the Redblacks traded Jasper Simmons and Dan Buckner to the Calgary Stampeders in exchange for Maurice Price. Ottawa is hoping that Price can provide the offense with some explosiveness which the team lacked during its inaugural season.[2]

Free agency

Within the first two days of the start of the free agency period, the Redblacks made four substantial acquisitions. On February 10, 2015, the Redblacks signed Ernest Jackson from the BC Lions to a two-year, $270,000 deal. The next day Ottawa announced they had signed Greg Ellingson (from the Tiger-Cats), SirVincent Rogers (from the Argonauts), and former Ottawa Gee-Gees quarterback and current wide receiver Brad Sinopoli (from the Stampeders).[3] On April 21, 2015, the Redblacks announced they had signed wide receiver Chris Williams. Williams had a very productive two seasons with the Ti-Cats accumulating 153 receptions for 2,362 receiving yards 17 receiving touchdowns, 1,198 punt return yards and five punt returns for touchdowns.[4]

CFL draft

The 2015 CFL Draft took place on May 12, 2015. The Redblacks had six selections in the seven-round draft, including the first overall pick where they selected Ottawa native Alex Mateas.[5] The club traded their third-round pick to Calgary for Justin Phillips.[6]

Round Pick Player Position School/Club Team
11Alex MateasOLUConn
210Jake HartyWRCalgary
428Tanner DollLSCalgary
537Jefferson CourtFBUtah State
645Kienan LafranceRBManitoba
754Alexandre LeganiereOLMontreal

Training camp

The Redblacks conducted their spring mini-camp at TD Place Stadium on April 27–29. Rookies reported to training camp on May 27, with veterans following a few days later on May 31.[7] Training camp was held at Keith Harris Stadium on the campus of Carleton University.[8]

Preseason

Due to the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup taking place in June at TD Place Stadium, the Redblacks played their home pre-season game at Telus Stadium in Quebec City, Quebec on the campus of the Université Laval.[9] It was the second game that an Ottawa CFL franchise played in Quebec City, with the first being in 2003, and the second consecutive year that the Redblacks played their home pre-season game away from Ottawa.

Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary
Score Record
A Mon, June 8 7:30 p.m. EDT at Hamilton Tiger-Cats L 10–37 0–1 None Tim Hortons Field N/A Recap
B Sat, June 13 7:30 p.m. EDT vs. Montreal Alouettes L 9–26 0–2 RDS Telus Stadium (in Quebec City) 4,778 Recap
C Bye

[10]

 #  Games played with colour uniforms.

Regular season

Standings

East Division
Team GP W L PF PA Pts
Ottawa Redblacks1812646445424Details
Hamilton Tiger-Cats1810853039120Details
Toronto Argonauts1810843849920Details
Montreal Alouettes1861238840212Details

Schedule

Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary
Score Record
1 Thurs, June 25 7:30 p.m. EDT at Montreal Alouettes W 20–16 1–0 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 Molson Stadium 21,524 Recap
2 Sat, July 4 6:00 p.m. EDT vs. BC Lions W 27–16 2–0 TSN/RDS2 TD Place Stadium 24,376 Recap
3 Thurs, July 9 9:00 p.m. EDT at Edmonton Eskimos L 17–46 2–1 TSN/RDS2/ESPN2 Commonwealth Stadium 29,904 Recap
4 Fri, July 17 7:00 p.m. EDT vs. Edmonton Eskimos L 12–23 2–2 TSN/RDS TD Place Stadium 21,078 Recap
5 Fri, July 24 7:00 p.m. EDT vs. Calgary Stampeders W 29–26 (OT) 3–2 TSN/RDS TD Place Stadium 23,018 Recap
6 Bye
7 Fri, Aug 7 7:30 p.m. EDT vs. Montreal Alouettes W 26–23 4–2 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 TD Place Stadium 24,427 Recap
8 Sat, Aug 15 10:00 p.m. EDT at Calgary Stampeders L 3–48 4–3 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 McMahon Stadium 27,566 Recap
9 Sun, Aug 23 4:00 p.m. EDT at Toronto Argonauts L 24–30 4–4 TSN Rogers Centre 14,748 Recap
10 Sun, Aug 30 4:00 p.m. EDT vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders W 35–13 5–4 TSN/RDS2/ESPN2 TD Place Stadium 24,468 Recap
11 Bye
12 Sun, Sept 13 4:00 p.m. EDT at BC Lions W 31–18 6–4 TSN BC Place 19,833 Recap
13 Sat, Sept 19 9:00 p.m. EDT at Saskatchewan Roughriders W 30–27 7–4 TSN/RDS2 Mosaic Stadium 30,480 Recap
14 Sat, Sept 26 7:00 p.m. EDT vs. Toronto Argonauts L 26–35 7–5 TSN/RDS2 TD Place Stadium 24,586 Recap
15 Thurs, Oct 1 7:30 p.m. EDT vs. Montreal Alouettes W 39–17 8–5 TSN/RDS TD Place Stadium 21,607 Recap
16 Tues, Oct 6 7:30 p.m. EDT at Toronto Argonauts L 35–38 8–6 TSN/RDS2 TD Place Stadium 15,011 Recap
17 Fri, Oct 16 7:30 p.m. EDT vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers W 27–24 9–6 TSN/RDS2 TD Place Stadium 22,867 Recap
18 Sat, Oct 24 4:00 p.m. EDT at Winnipeg Blue Bombers W 27–20 10–6 TSN/RDS2 Investors Group Field 23,773 Recap
19 Sun, Nov 1 1:00 p.m. EST at Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 12–6 11–6 TSN Tim Hortons Field 24,340 Recap
20 Sat, Nov 7 4:00 p.m. EST vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 44–28 12–6 TSN/RDS2 TD Place Stadium 24,459 Recap

[10]

 #  Games played with colour uniforms.
 #  Games played with white uniforms.
 #  Games played with alternate uniforms.

Post-season

Schedule

Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary
Score Record
East Semi-Final Bye
East Final Sun, Nov 22 1:00 p.m. EST vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 35–28 1–0 TSN/RDS TD Place Stadium 25,093 Recap
103rd Grey Cup Sun, Nov 29 6:00 p.m. EST Edmonton Eskimos L 20–26 1–1 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 Investors Group Field 36,634
 #  Games played with colour uniforms.
 #  Games played with white uniforms.

Team

Roster

2015 Ottawa Redblacks roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Fullback

Receivers

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Injured List

6-Game Injured List

Practice Roster

Suspended

Disabled

Territorial Exemption

Italics indicate International player
Roster updated 2015-11-29
Depth Chart • Transactions
46 Active, 10 Injured, 7 Six-Game Injured,
9 Practice

→ More rosters

Coaching staff

2015 Ottawa Redblacks staff
Front office
  • Owner – Jeff Hunt
  • President and ceo – Bernie Ashe
  • General manager – Marcel Desjardins
  • Coordinator, Football Administration – Chantal Covington
  • Video Coordinator, Braun Gheller
  • Towel Folder, Colin Farquharson
  • Pro Scout, Kenny McClay

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams coordinator – Don Yanowsky

→ Coaching Staff
→ More CFL staffs

References

  1. ↑ "Redblacks clinch first post-season berth". TSN. Canadian Press. October 16, 2015. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  2. ↑ Robb, Peter. "Redblacks pick up wide receiver Maurice Price from Stampeders". Ottawa Citizen.
  3. ↑ "Redblacks sign OT Rogers, three receivers". TSN.
  4. ↑ "Redblacks sign WR Williams". TSN. The Canadian Press.
  5. ↑ "Calling Home: Ottawa pegs Alex Mateas first overall". Archived from the original on 2015-05-24. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  6. ↑ "Continuing to Deal: Stamps send Phillips to Ottawa". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  7. ↑ Baines, Tim. "RedBlacks to hold spring minicamp in Ottawa". Ottawa Sun.
  8. ↑ "Redblacks to Hold Training Camp at Carleton University; May 27 to June 19". Archived from the original on 2015-05-25. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  9. ↑ "REDBLACKS and Als set to play in Quebec City". Archived from the original on 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  10. 1 2 "2015 Schedule". Archived from the original on 2015-02-14. Retrieved 2015-02-14.
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