This week, our reporter Émilie Desgagné met up with Éric Deslauriers, the team’s director of football operations. Free agency, the salary cap, the other East Division teams and the upcoming tryouts and combines were all hot topics of conversation, especially with training camp starting in just two months’ time!
Priorities established… and met!
- The defensive line: Danny made it clear during his first press conference that the defensive line was THE area that required immediate attention. A few players were released and in their place we were able to obtain some key players. For example, Adrian Tracy is a big piece of the puzzle that we were missing. Éric, Danny and their staffs did their research, and Adrian is now here and ready to play a major role. He’s also a leader and extremely knowledgeable about the Canadian game. Along with Antonio Simmons, John Bowman, the return of Woody Baron and the arrival of Quebecer David Ménard, we now have a very good defensive line to rattle opposition quarterbacks.
- Canadian content: A number of Canadian players are returning to the fold or have come aboard in recent weeks. Among the linebacking crew, for example, Canadian DJ Lalama – who proved his value to the team as a starter at the end of last season – will provide support to Hénoc Muamba, the general of our defense and also a Canadian. And there is Quebec talent with the arrival of former Université de Montréal Carabins players Junior Luke and Frédéric Chagnon.
- The salary cap: The salary cap situation is under control, and therefore we’re able to strengthen, or increase depth in, key positions.
Stability on offense
- Vernon Adams Jr. will return at quarterback, now with one year of experience leading Khari Jones’ offense under his belt. His mobility, his arm strength and the chemistry that he has already established with Geno Lewis and Jake Wieneke promise to provide us once again with spectacular evenings at the base of the mountain.
- And the offensive attack with be reinforced this season with our two new powerhouse additions in the backfield: James Wilder and Tyrell Sutton.
- Among the receiving corps – a position that was already brimming with talent in 2019 – we can once again look forward to electric performances with the return of Geno Lewis, B.J. Cunningham, Jake Wieneke, as well as the addition of Naaman Roosevelt.
- Stability on the offensive line: We realize that the offensive line caused us some problems in recent years… But we did have a lot of success in 2019 with the O-Line. It’s also very encouraging that (almost) everyone is returning in 2020 with young players like Trey Rutherford, Chris Schleuger and Sean Jamieson back in the fold along with veteran (and St. Hubert’s very own) Kristian Matte.
A strengthened East Division
- Whether it’s Toronto and its Canadian content, Ottawa and its new coaching staff or Hamilton remaining a very competitive team, the upcoming 2020 season promises to be an exciting one in the East Division!
- And our team is very capable to up its game once again in 2020 and continue to be… THE BEAST OF THE EAST!
Finish the job during the evaluation camps…
- We’ll be in various U.S. states where the goal is to discover new talent. And the objective is not just to find players to make the team, but to become future starters. Recent examples include Jarnor Jones and Greg Reid who were both discovered at previous tryouts…
- Our scouts will be attending upcoming national and regional combines across Canada and within Quebec to assess our local talent and determine who might become potential additions to our team come the 2020 draft.
Final stage: the draft
- This year, the CFL’s draft takes place on April 30 in Toronto. Although we don’t presently have a first-round pick in 2020, that won’t hinder our staff to ensure they are well-prepared for what is a very important day, and how it impacts planning for the upcoming season.
- There’s no question that each player’s skills are evaluated, but there’s more to it than that. For instance, Éric, Danny and the scouting staff are interested in each player’s character traits. The team spirit and camaraderie that was so much in evidence in 2019 went a long way towards explaining the team’s success. It’s important that players who come to the team are able to easily integrate.
- Positions that often garner special attention include offensive linemen, receivers as well as linebackers…
