\u00bb\u00a05 Things to Know for 2026: Saskatchewan Roughriders<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a05 Things to Know for 2026: Montreal Alouettes<\/a>
\u00bb 5 Things to Know for 2026: BC Lions<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Key 2026 off-season dates you need to know<\/a>
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1. A WINNING PEDIGREE ARRIVES IN OTTAWA<\/p>\n
Ryan Dinwiddie was named GM and head coach last November,<\/a> bringing a winning pedigree to Ottawa. As a head coach with the Toronto Argonauts, Dinwiddie captured two Grey Cups (2022, 2024), won the East Division three times, appeared in four Eastern Finals and guided the Argos to a franchise record 16-win season in 2023.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s more to what the new head coach brings.<\/p>\n \u201cThat dude loves football and there\u2019s no one that can take that from him,\u201d said linebacker AJ Allen at the CFL\u2019s off-season content capture in April. \u201cHe\u2019s passionate with his wins, he\u2019s passionate with his losses.\u201d<\/p>\n Ottawa has made the playoffs just once (2024) since 2018. Will Dinwiddie be the one to make them a contender again?<\/p>\n 2. PATIENCE WILL BE REQUIRED A.J. Allen signed with the Ottawa REDBLACKS this off-season as a free agent (CFL.ca)<\/p>\n Anywhere you look on the REDBLACKS\u2019 roster, you\u2019re bound to see a new name. Nyles Morgan, C.J. Reavis<\/a>, Brian Cole II, Brett Lauther<\/a>, Dylan Wynn<\/a>, Demerio Houston, Greg Bell<\/a>, Ayden Eberhardt<\/a>, Habakkuk Baldonado<\/a>, Jake Maier<\/a>, the list goes on. Ottawa wasn\u2019t shy about making changes to their team this off-season.<\/p>\n With so many new faces in key spots, building chemistry will be just as important as talent to start the season.<\/p>\n \u201cGive us three games where we\u2019re all playing together, and then you\u2019re gonna be able to either see some issues or see some real progress,\u201d said Allen. \u201cThe only way to get better at football is by playing football. I don\u2019t care what anybody says about off-season work yada, yada, yada. Training Camp is great, but you\u2019re playing each other. Give us three (regular season) games before you start judging us too harshly.\u201d<\/p>\n The defensive additions will be especially important after Ottawa finished second-last in points allowed (29.8 per game) and forced just 30 turnovers (last in CFL).<\/p>\n 3. ALLEN TAKES ON A LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE<\/p>\n Perhaps the biggest off-season signing for the REDBLACKS was the addition of linebacker A.J. Allen<\/a>, who arrives in Ottawa with expectations to take on a leadership role.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s my first time doing this (being a leader) and I\u2019m okay to admit that,\u201d Allen admitted. \u201cI don\u2019t know what that looks like. I\u2019m not necessarily sure what is going to be required of me as of right now. Every team is different. Maybe they need a lead by example (kind of guy). Maybe they need a more communicative person. Who knows, but I think it\u2019s gonna be my job to figure that out.\u201d<\/p>\n His four years with the Saskatchewan Roughriders gave Allen plenty of examples to learn from as he shapes his own leadership style within Ottawa\u2019s defence. One of the players who stood out was fellow linebacker Jameer Thurman<\/a>, especially for his communication. Former CFL linebacker and current Riders\u2019 assistant director of player personnel Larry Dean<\/a> also left a lasting impression. And when it comes to passion and motivation, Allen looked no further than his head coach Corey Mace.<\/p>\n His play has already spoken for itself, finishing in the top 10 in the CFL in total defensive plays (109). The linebacker can play in the box against the run and in coverage, and can pressure quarterbacks as a blitzer, as evidenced by his four sacks, three tackles for loss, three interceptions and five knockdowns last season.<\/p>\n With plenty of leaders to use as the blue (or RED-and-BLACK) print, Allen\u2019s development should only grow as he settles into Ottawa.<\/p>\n 4. RUN THE ROCK<\/p>\n Greg Bell breaks out for 15 yards to end Q1.<\/p>\n \ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: Eastern Final LIVE NOW \u2014 CFL (@CFL) November 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n William Stanback<\/a> and Daniel Adeboboye<\/a> ran the football for Ottawa by committee in 2025. Stanback took the majority of the handoffs, tallying 698 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games, but the team struggled to maintain a consistent run game.<\/p>\n Now enter Greg Bell.<\/p>\n Bell was the feature back in Hamilton last season and was one of six running backs to pass the 1k mark (1,038). He also added five touchdowns and tallied 5.6 yards per carry in 15 games in his breakout campaign. The 27-year-old is also dangerous in the passing game, adding 426 receiving yards to his resume in 2025.<\/p>\n If Ottawa wants to make some noise in the East Division, establishing the run game will be priority No. 1 and the addition of Bell gives them a physical back to wear down defences and control the tempo.<\/p>\n 5. THE OFFENCE RUNS THROUGH DRU<\/p>\n Injuries plagued Dru Brown last season, with the quarterback playing in just 11 games. But when he is in the huddle, he brings a totally different energy to the REDBLACKS.<\/p>\n Dinwiddie has a knack for bringing out the best in quarterbacks, just look at Bo Levi Mitchell, Nick Arbuckle and Chad Kelly. With a full, healthy season, the sky really is the limit for Brown.<\/p>\n He has the pieces around him to succeed, too. Brown has two 1,000-yard receivers at his disposal, with Justin Hardy signing an extension before hitting free agency this year<\/a> and Eugene Lewis adding an extra year to his deal<\/a>. Brown also has the arm to stretch the field and adding Eberhardt gives Ottawa another explosive, vertical threat after the former Lion averaged 19.2 yards per catch in 2025.<\/p>\n
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\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6: TSN, CTV, TSN2, RDS
\ud83c\udf0e: CFL+#GCPlayoffs<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/WLFKoTJnUy<\/a><\/p>\n