3 bold predictions for the 2023 season
The 2023 season is only days away!
The Alouettes will open up at home against the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday, June 10th at 7:00 p.m.
The roster looks different than it did last year, which means that new players will have to step up for the team to be successful this year. Some foundational pieces will emerge among the rookies, but there are still cornerstone players on this roster.
Purchase your tickets to the Videotron home opener right here. On top of watching a great football game between two rivals, you’ll also be able to catch Our Lady Peace’s halftime concert! Click here for tickets!
With kickoff so close, it’s time to make some bold preseason Alouettes predictions!
Kaion Julien-Grant wins Most Outstanding Canadian:
By now, you’ve probably heard that the Alouettes will open the season without all three of the starting American receivers they had in their lineup at this time last year. Yes, overcoming the losses of Geno Lewis (signed with Edmonton), Jake Wieneke (signed with Saskatchewan) and Reggie White Jr. (knee injury) won’t be easy.
It also means that other players will have an opportunity to step into larger roles. One of those players is Canadian wideout Kaion Julien-Grant, who is entering his fourth season with the Alouettes.
The 26-year-old earned the respect of Als fans when he decided to sign an extension with Montreal this winter instead of going to free agency. He inked a two-year deal to stay with the team that drafted him, and his loyalty will be rewarded in the form of targets.
Julien-Grant has progressed each year he’s been in the CFL. He’s gone from accumulating eight yards in eight games during his rookie season in 2019 to 517 yards in 18 games last year. Don’t be surprised if those numbers continue to climb.
The Toronto native had an excellent training camp and he managed to secure a touchdown reception on the opening drive of Friday’s win against the Ticats.
It’s bold, but I really believe that Julien-Grant will get the necessary targets to have a huge year. I think he’ll be named the Most Outstanding Canadian in 2023.
Will Stanback rushes for 1400 yards:
On the surface, this may not seem bold, but it’s been a while since we’ve seen a running back rush for more than 1400 yards. The last time it happened was in 2013 when Calgary’s Jon Cornish (1813) and Saskatchewan’s Kory Sheets (1598) reached that mark.
Stanback missed 13 games in 2022 after suffering a foot injury in Week 1 against Calgary. In last Friday’s preseason win over Hamilton, he carried the ball four times and gained 25 yards. His longest carry went for nine yards. Those aren’t incredible totals, but it’s still average 6.25 yards per carry. In his first three CFL seasons, he averaged 6.7, 6.2 and 6.1 yards per carry. We know he can run for more than six yards per carry on a larger sample size.
Every game will be different, but if he averages 6.25 yards per rush and he gets 15 carries, that’s an average of almost 94 rushing yards per game. Over 18 games, that’s 1,687.5 rushing yards. Let’s just say he misses two games, that still means he’d rush for about 1500 yards.
A lot must go right for that to happen, I get that. But with the burst he’s shown in training camp and the preseason, he could easily get there.
Wesley Sutton leads CFL in interceptions:
Sutton, like Julien-Grant, signed a two-year extension with the Alouettes last off-season. Even though last year was his second season with the Alouettes, it was Sutton’s coming out party. The 27-year-old was limited to just two games during his rookie season, but he put together an All-Star year in 2022.
He registered 79 defensive tackles, four quarterback sacks and one interception in 18 games. That led to him being named an East Division All-Star last season. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Sutton take another step as he grows into a leadership role in the secondary this year.
He’s expected to line up at the defensive halfback position on the short side of the field, which is where he spent most of last season. Quarterbacks typically throw to the shorter side of the field more frequently because it’s a more completable pass, so he should see quite a few balls come his way. Sutton is typically in a good position to make plays.
He’ll lead the league in picks in 2022.
