SHERBROOKE – Alouettes fans assembled at Bishop’s University’s Coulter Field Sunday afternoon for the Montreal Alouettes opening day of training camp were eager to see their favourite team back in action. A strong wind of optimism could be felt on this first day of the 2016 season, which marks the team’s 20th year back in Montreal.
Strong start
Alouettes players jumped on the field twice for high intensity practices. More than ever this year, the competition is strong at camp and the few hundreds of fans on site witnessed first hand the many battles that will occur in the upcoming weeks.
Fans had a chance to see star players like S.J. Green, Bear Woods, Kevin Glenn and Tyrell Sutton up close, as well as cousins Duron Carter and Kenny Stafford who are back in the nest this year. The Montreal faithful also got a first look at newcomers Vernon Adams Jr., Vaughn Martin and Philippe Gagnon to name a few.
Difficult choices to come
Saying that the Alouettes offence is filled with talented and dangerous players would be an understatement. The team’s receiving corps, comprised of established veterans and dynamic rookies stole the show during this first day of camp, lifting fans off their feet on numerous occasions.
Back in Montreal following a year with the Indianapolis Colts, Duron Carter set the bar high right off the bat, making a spectacular one-handed catch on a 50-yard pass from quarterback Rakeem Cato. He struck again a few moments later, hauling in another 50-yarder from Vernon Adams Jr. in the end zone. A few moments later, the Kevin Glenn-Sam Giguère tandem made some noise, when the Sherbrooke native scored a touchdown on a nice pass from the veteran pivot.
Rookie receiver Corbin Louks also scored points. The former Denver Bronco started off his 2016 training camp on the right foot with two great catches. Adams Jr. connected with him in the end zone on a 60-yard play.
Offensive coaches Anthony Calvillo and Jacques Chapdelaine most likely enjoyed what they saw from their protégés on this first day, but difficult decisions will need to be made in the near future.
Defensive Coordinator Noel Thorpe and his staff will also have tough decisions to make, as the veterans from their squad showed up in great shape, hoping to prevent the young guns from stealing their jobs. Dominique Ellis was responsible for the first interception of the day, diving to get his hand under a falling ball. Andrew Lue also pilfered a pass during the first practice.
The defensive line, now under Anwar Stewart’s tutelage, showed many promising signs on this first day, as they got to the quarterback in hurry on numerous occasions during simulated play. The defensive squad’s depth will without a doubt be one of the team’s strenghts in 2016.
Tomorrow
The 2016 Alouettes training camp continues tomorrow on Coulter Field, as the team will partake in consecutive practices starting at 8:30 a.m.
