Can Ottawa Redblacks defy odds and change perceptions, starting with CFL season opener?

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“I don’t really think about expectations at all,” he said. “I know a lot of people talk about that, and it seems too far-sighted. To me, it’s really just how we can fixate on playing good football and executing on a regular basis and being consistent. And then you’ll look back and you’ll either meet or not meet expectations that other people set for you.

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“But the things that people say outside of this building don’t determine who we want to be.”

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Brown also didn’t deny that, with the additions of Lewis, Stanback and having the explosive Kalil Pimpleton as a starter out of the gate, he has imagined leading the CFL in passing yards.

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“I think any human being at times thinks like that,” he said. “But It doesn’t dominate my frame of mind. I just want to consistently play good football and win. I think that’s kind of why I do this. It’s not to be the highest in passing yards or whatever. Individual success comes with team success, not looking to throw for X amount of yards and only win six games. That’s not really fulfilling to me. What’s fulfilling to me is us as a unit, being able to play good football and win games together and doing it together and for one another.”

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The injuries that have forced the roster shuffling for Thursday’s game are on offence, where veteran Jacob Ruby will fill in at centre while former Roughrider Peter Godber (finger) will have to wait to make his Ottawa debut, and at right tackle, where ex-Ottawa Gee-Gee Zack Pelehos (foot) is replaced by American Darta Lee.

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The latter move is a ratio-changer for the Redblacks, with former Argo Daniel Adeboboye starting at running back ahead of Stanback, who will still see plenty of action.

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“At the end of the day, everything’s by committee,” said Dyce. “Everyone on this team has their role that they have to fulfill, and we will work it through.”

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Nick Mardner’s season-ending knee injury means that rookie Keelan White, the third overall pick in this year’s draft, will start at wideout on the opposite side of the field as Lewis.

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“He’s awesome,” Brown said of White, a 6-foot, 190-pound, 23-year-old from North Vancouver who spent the last five years at the University of Montana. “He’s changed my perspective on how productive a young guy can come in and learn. He asks very studious questions. He’s a curious kid. He wants to do it right, and he’s very physically gifted.

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“It’s been awesome working with him, so I’m excited for him and for us to have him. I think he’s going to have a great year.

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While the defensive front seven is similar to last year, the Redblacks will feature a mostly new-look secondary.

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An injury to Alijah McGhee means Adrian Frye will start at one corner, with C.J. Coldon, who signed with the team last September, starting at the other.

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Two free agent signees — Robert Priester and former Roughrider Amari Henderson — will be the halfbacks, while Alonzo Addae returns from a season-ending injury to man the safety position.

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Meanwhile, the outcome could hinge on the right foot of Lewis Ward, the former Gee-Gee who will be suiting up for his 100th CFL game against the team in which he made his debut.

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“In the grand scheme of things, it’s just another game,” Ward said of the milestone. “It’s cool to hit that mark but it’s kind of like birthdays. You have a birthday and it’s over with, and it’s just another day.”