SHERBROOKE – Alouettes players were back to work on Sunday at Bishop’s University’s Coulter Field for the second to last back-to-back practices of the 2016 training camp. The eighth day of camp was without a doubt the most intense day of practice since the opening of camp, as every squad fought for every inch out on the field.
Thirst for knowledge
The face of the Alouettes offensive line is not the same as it was a year ago today. The loss of certain players has forced Alouettes coaches to shuffle some pieces of the puzzle around. Veterans Kristian Matte, Jeff Perrett and Philip Blake have showed a lot of leadership since the beginning of camp. They have been working hard at facilitating the transition for the young offensive linemen in the trenches.
“These young players have an incredible chance to display all of their talent early on in their career. These guys are thirsty for knowledge and we want to help facilitate their transition. It’s very encouraging for what’s next, but we need to keep in mind that communication is crucial in these situations,” declared Kristian Matte, who has been muted at centre following Dominic Picard’s retirement and Luc Brodeur-Jourdain’s injury.
Young offensive linemen like Jake Piotrowski, Ryan White, Jacob Ruby, Quinn Lawlor and this year’s first-round draft pick Philippe Gagnon, as well as other 2016 draftees Matthew Toppan and Sean Jamieson, need to take advantage of the situation which is presenting itself in front of them. Like straight-A students, they are all ears to all the good advice which is being thrown their way.
Jeff Perrett’s experience is priceless for his teammates. With two Grey Cup rings and many individual awards on his résumé, he is without a doubt the young guys’ role model. As for Philip Blake, he has been one of the most consistent linemen since the start of camp. No matter the position he has been asked to play, the former Baylor University Bear and Champlain-Lennoxville Cougar has impressed the coaching staff with his versatility and consistence.
Quick hits
The play of the day belongs without a doubt to Aaron Lavarias and Bear Woods. In his third season with Montreal, Lavarias brilliantly put a stop to an offensive drive when he blocked a pass, which was then caught by Bear Woods, who returned it for the major… Cornerback Billy Parker continued where he left off with another solid outing on defence, winning most of his one-on-one battles. He also batted down a near-perfect pass during team competition… As for the offence, it wouldn’t be fair not to bring up the chemistry that has been developing between quarterback Kevin Glenn and receiver S.J. Green. The veteran pivot made Green his prime target during practice, completing many spectacular passes to the all-star receiver… The flamboyant Duron Carter also had a good day’s work, hauling in two long touchdown passes.
Transaction
Before beginning the eighth day of practice, the Alouettes added international defensive back C.J. Moore to the roster, as national defensive back Andrew Lue has been placed on the six-game injured list, following the knee injury he sustained during the team’s intra-squad game on Saturday.
Amateur level coaches
This past weekend, CIS and amateur coaches were invited to watch the team up close. During those two days, they had the opportunity to attend team and position meetings as well as meet with coaches and players. They also had the privilege to watch practice on the field with Alouettes coaches. This gave amateur coaches a great opportunity to learn from the best and soak in the CFL coaching experience.
Tomorrow
The 2016 Alouettes training camp continues tomorrow on Coulter Field, as the team will partake in a single practice starting at 8:30 a.m.
