Why did the Ottawa Redblacks trade Dru Brown, their starting QB the last two seasons?

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“We were looking for some things in practice … not everything in the game …. there’s a lot of evaluation that comes in practice,” said Dinwiddie. “We want to be able to push the ball down the field, and that’s one of the things that I think Jake allows us to do, and obviously McLeod does as well.”

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Brown threw for almost 6,500 yards with 32 touchdown passes and 20 interceptions while making 24 starts with the Redblacks, but there’s always been a question about his arm strength.

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“A little bit has to do with arm strength, obviously, and some mechanics that lead to arm strength,” said Dinwiddie. “You look at last year, and there weren’t a lot of opportunities to push the ball down the field. That’s one thing we wanted to get changed this year, so schematically we put that in our play action stuff. Now, does defence give us those looks? We’ve got to start running the football to be able to push the ball downfield and get in those plays.”

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Did Brown become a distraction?

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The short answer is yes.

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“I wouldn’t necessarily say a big distraction, but I would say it probably was a little bit of a distraction in just how he went about (the backup role),” said Dinwiddie. “I thought he did his best to support Jake, but he wanted to go someplace else, and so we gave him that opportunity to do that.”

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How did Maier react to the Brown trade?

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The two became fast friends at training camp.

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“I love Dru, and I wish Dru the best,” said Maier. “I wish his family the best. I got to know his family pretty well in the last month or so.

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“We’re going to be boys forever, as long as we’re both up here in this league, and then even beyond that. But, yeah, my reaction is that I’m just happy for Dru, that he gets to take the next step in his career. I pray that he and his family have a very safe and efficient move, and everything goes well.”

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Does Maier feel more pressure to keep his job against a stronger-armed veteran who has won with Dinwiddie?

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The short answer is no.

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“I would just say I left a lot of those things, those dynamics, those thoughts behind me a handful of years ago,” said Maier. “I am super grateful and blessed that my name is pencilled into the lineup here to play quarterback for this football team, and I will proudly work my tail off every single day, as long as I have that opportunity. I’m never going to take it for granted, and so I don’t worry about the potential outcomes or what directions these things can go.”

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At the same time, he welcomes the addition of MTB.

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“It’s something that’s absolutely necessary for our football team, there’s no doubt about it,” Maier said of the Redblacks’ latest signing. “I think everybody, at least all the great teams in this league that are winning championships, roll into games with the ability to have a great depth plan at quarterback. So, I’m not, yeah, I’m not naive to that at all. It’s going to be something that’s going to help me, probably personally, just because I’ve always respected his game, and I think he’s a heck of a player. I’ve always kind of watched his tape from afar, as like, OK, a guy that’s truly going to hang in there and deliver throws. Now I get to get a front-row seat to that and pick his brain a little bit. So I’m excited.”

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What roster changes could the Redblacks have in Week 4?

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They’ve released veteran right tackle Martez Ivory, an American, and moved former Ottawa Gee-Gees star Zach Pellehos back to that spot on the line.

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First-round pick Giardano Vaccaaro is dealing with a shoulder issue, and his status will be monitored, as will that of safety Alonzo Addae, DB Bennett Williams and linebacker Brian Cole II.

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