Training Camp Notebook: Als to lean heavily on Canadian D-Linemen
In the CFL, you’re only as good as the Canadians on your roster. That’s a rule that many personnel people across the league live by. Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia lives by that principle, and you see it by the way his roster is constructed.
Most teams load their Canadian starters on the offensive side of the ball. By the looks of the first week of training camp, it looks like the Als could have as many as four defensive starters from north of the border. The Canucks on the defensive line could play a significant role on this team in 2025.
Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund, Joshua Archibald and Lwal Uguak all can make big plays on defence and special teams. Adeyemi-Berglund signed with the Als as a free agent during the winter of 2024, Archibald was signed from B.C. this past winter, and Uguak was drafted by the Als in the first round of the 2023 Draft.
“It gives us a lot of flexibility,” defensive line coach Corvey Irvin said. “A guy like Lwal can go down inside (to play defensive tackle) and you can bring Joshua in. You’ve got Berglund on the outside. It gives us a lot of flexibility. Lwal can go play defensive tackle and play well inside. Joshua and Isaac can come off the edge. We’re really excited about that and we’re going to utilize it a lot.”
Uguak had a tricky 2024 season. He joined the Alouettes during the second half of the year because he had a stint with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he suffered an AC joint injury in his left shoulder. The 25-year-old made his season debut for the Als last season in Ottawa on Sep. 21. Unfortunately for him, suffered a slightly torn rotator cuff in the same shoulder in that game. He tried to play through it, but the injury was holding him back.
Lwal Uguak
“I’m not going to lie, that was pretty tough,” the former TCU Horned Frog said of last season. “I just tried to keep pushing through and doing what I do. I tried to stay on top of everything that I could when it came to the football aspect of things. Once I was fully healthy, it felt like my mind fully cleared. It was tough and an uphill battle.
“I hit a spin move. It was on a draw play and the back of my shoulder was very exposed – the rotator cuff. I got hit by an offensive lineman’s helmet and it didn’t feel too good. I knew something was wrong right then and there and I reaggravated my AC joint injury.”
During his rookie season in 2023, Uguak showed that he could be a force on defence. In the second half of that season, he took over as a starter and he found a way to make big play after big play right through the Grey Cup victory over Winnipeg.
A healthy Uguak can make a huge difference for this squad.
Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund
Adeyemi-Berglund was one of the greatest stories in the CFL last year. After three seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, the third overall pick in the 2020 CFL Draft signed with the Als once free agency opened in February.
In his first year with Montreal, the 28-year-old exploded for 36 defensive tackles, five on special teams and seven quarterback sacks in 17 games. He was named the Most Outstanding Canadian in the East Division.
“All those plays last year that got me the Most Outstanding Canadian (in the East), that made that career year were effort plays…I’m not going to say that effort is the only part of my game, but I’m confident to say that I have the highest effort level of any player in the CFL. I can say that confidently.”
Like Adeyemi-Berglund last year, Archibald could burst onto the scene in his first year with the Als. The 27-year-old is returning to his home city after three years with the B.C. Lions.
Over his first three years in the CFL, Archibald has played more and more snaps on defence with every passing season. In 2024, he had 15 defensive tackles, six on special teams and four quarterback sacks.
“I believe that (the Als) recruited me for a reason and they have a plan for me,” the McGill alum said. “As long as I execute and do my part in the plan, everything should pan out the way that it should.
“I’m not sitting here expecting to be named an outstanding player. I’m sitting here to play here like Joshua Archibald. If that happens, it happens. Honestly, I’m just happy to be here. I chose Montreal because it’s a great team with great coaches, and my family is here.”
Joshua Archibald
In 2024, he had 15 defensive tackles, six on special teams and four quarterback sacks.
It won’t just be up to these three to get to the opposing quarterback. The Alouettes have a nice blend of young players and veterans on the defensive line in camp, but they’ll be counting on the Canadians to give them some strong production throughout the year.
“I don’t think the Canadian defensive ends in the league get as much love as Canadian running backs and receivers, and all the flashy guys,” Adeyemi-Berglund added. “You have three top of the guys on one team, on one defence. I think there are going to be plays when all three of us are in there. It’s exciting.”
Roster news:
Prior to practice, the Alouettes released defensive end Jordan Domineck. The 25-year-old had 10 tackles in five games with the Als last season. In a corresponding move, the team signed defensive lineman Jalen Harris, who played six games for the NFL’s Washington Commanders in 2023. He registered six tackles in those five contests.
Punter Joseph Zema, who began training camp on the suspended list, was back participating in practice today.
