The 2017 Ottawa REDBLACKS were close. They were closer than we’ll likely remember ten years from now when people are telling stories of the snowy slice of Canadiana that fell upon Ottawa one late November Sunday night with a double blue team from down the 401 upsetting the favoured Calgary Stampeders in fantastic fourth quarter fashion.

The thing is, that could have just as easily been the REDBLACKS.

Both Toronto and Ottawa played their best football down the always perilous regular season stretch and both teams had an opportunity to advance against a hungry division crossing Riders squad. The Argos made the best of their opportunity and made history.

The REDBLACKS failed to do so and had to watch those Argos whom they shared so much in common with celebrate a championship on Ottawa soil.

While this might serve as nothing more than fuel on the off-season workout fire for many players I believe it served as a catalyst for change in the REDBLACKS long term outlook.

That championship Toronto team is not going anywhere. After winning the Grey Cup Marc Trestman and Jim Popp have many wondering whether or not they’re building something special in the big smoke as they did together in Montreal. In order to do that Trestman needs the right quarterback.

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For now that is Ricky Ray but the proactive and ambitious move to acquire the rights to James Franklin gives the potential for sustained success in Toronto.

Meanwhile further West in the province June Jones is back as Head Coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after showing just how dangerous a team following his lead can be in the second half of the season including a win and close lose in Ottawa.

The Alouettes continue to find their footing in the slippery winter months but the East division by and large appears markedly improved heading into 2018. No longer is the East an Argos roster with several holes in need of leadership. No more are the Ticats a one dimensional passing team. The East is changing and with it the REDBLACKS must also improve.

This off-season for the REDBLACKS is about finding new ways to create positive production at every level of the organization. The departure of Offensive Line Coach Bryan Chiu, Defensive Backs Coach Ike Charlton, Receivers Coach Travis Moore and Linebackers Coach Derek Oswalt to start the offseason sent a loud and clear message that there would be a fresh approach to 2018.

Quickly afterwards former Alouettes defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe was named Defensive Coordinator while former defensive bench boss Mark Nelson agreed to stay with the team. That’s a huge bump for a team without a true defensive identity. Thorpe will bring the blitz relentlessly in a way Ottawa fans have not seen since returning to arguably the CFL’s best market in 2014.

It is not just coaching changes that are going to create a fresh approach to pro football in the nation’s capital. If the coaching moves tell you anything expect the REDBLACKS to be very active in free agency this February as well.

First they must attack their own list of possible free agents. The team was wise to snatch up receiver and emerging Canadian cult hero Brad Sinopoli quickly but then the real work began in re-signing the domino after which all others must revolve.

Bringing back quarterback Trevor Harris.

Harris signed in Ottawa Wednesday to the collective sigh of the vast majority of ‘RNation’. He is the perfect fit for offensive coordinator Jaime Elizondo’s up tempo passing attack. If the REDBLACKS are to win a Grey Cup in this era of Ottawa football the connection and understanding between those two men will be the catalyst.

Now General Manager Marcel Desjardins and Head Coach Rick Campbell need to find toys to surround Harris. Protection is the all important word in Ottawa. When Harris is healthy the REDBLACKS are a very real threat to win any game as shown by his late season comeback heroics in Vancouver.

Ottawa needs to solidify their line play and build a scheme around Harris that can not be as consistently penetrated as 2017.

As for skill position players to throw to Greg Ellingson is everything you could ever want and more. So is Diontae Spencer, but will he be back? It’s hard to imagine the Tiger-Cats not making a run at Spencer in February if both he and Hamilton’s Brandon Banks aren’t yet under contract.

Other names of importance include linebacker Taylor Reed, defensive tackle Zach Evans, defensive back Terrell Gavins and offensive lineman Alex Mataes but perhaps no name means more than running back William Powell.

Powell gave the REDBLACKS balance right up until the east semifinal when score and time led to Harris attempting to play superman with throw after throw. If they are going to challenge for an East crown in 2018 Powell will likely have to be press and accounted for by defences week in, week out.

Outside of roster changes what the REDBLACKS really need to find this offseason is a group that can win at home. Despite having some of the CFL’s best fans Ottawa has been unable to create a a true home field on turf advantage.

The REDBLACKS are fortunate to have what feels like a non-stop buzz rattling around town in season reverberating off the chainsaw cutting wood cookies after each score. Now they must use it to be one of the leagues best home teams.

Keeping Trevor Harris and adding Noel hope are huge steps in the right direction but their are many other important decisions to be made which will determine the on field Ottawa product come June.