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As a team that sacked the opposing quarterback just 31 times in 2017 -19 behind both the Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts (yep, they faced each other in the Grey Cup) — the Ottawa Redblacks know they need to be better in 2018.

Enter A.C. Leonard, signed as a free agent in the off-season. The Redblacks are hoping the duo of Leonard and Jonathan Newsome puts some fear into quarterbacks around the league.

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Asked about the addition of Leonard at the other defensive end position, Newsome said: “It brings another dynamic to that field side. That speed and athleticism is hard for any offence to contain. Having that on both sides of the field, that’s going to do wonders for our defence. Me and A.C. are really going to surprise people with the way we go after the quarterback.”

Speaking about Leonard, Redblacks coach Rick Campbell said: “He doesn’t say much, he just comes to work all the time. We knew he was a good player. You don’t really know people until you get to work with them first hand. He’s a no-nonsense guy who shows up every day and works hard. He’s definitely going to help us this year. He’s an active guy. He can win in a pass rush 1-on-1. You don’t always have to scheme it up or blitz, sometimes he’s going to just make a play by beating the guy across from him.”

Campbell knows there has to be more pressure coming from the outside guys on the defensive line, something that’s been consistently lacking.

“We’ve kind of been by committee,” he said. “We’ve had some good players there these past four years, but we haven’t had that really week-in-and-week-out kind of dominant couple of guys. That’s what we’re looking for from (Leonard and Newsome). We want to get them comfortable with what we’re doing on defence and turn them loose so they can get to the QB.”