(Montreal) The Alouettes’ defensive unit was among the best in the Canadian Football League in 2022. According to Noel Thorpe, the Montreal team should be exciting to watch without the ball again this season.
The Birds defense coordinator assured that his unit would disturb opposing quarterbacks this season.
“We will be a very physical unit, which will disturb the opposing quarterbacks,” he said after training for his team on Thursday at the Percival-Molson stadium.
The Alouettes will count on four veterans on their offensive line: Nick Usher and Jamal Davis II as defensive ends, as well as Almondo Sewell and Mustafa Johnson as tackles.
This quartet will be joined by Avery Ellis, back from his short stint in Edmonton, Brock Gowanluck, but above all, newcomers Lwel Uguak and Israel Antwine.
Uguak was a first-round pick, seventh overall, in the last draft. Antwine signed a contract with the Alouettes last March.
Antwine, a six-foot-three, 309-pound colossus, particularly stood out in the last preseason game, against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, with two sacks. But both rookies had a strong camp and Thorpe was adamant he wouldn’t mind dressing both rookies for the season, even if the Alouettes’ roster could only have six defensive linemen in uniform.
“They went through the camp and they are here because they can play,” he said.
“(In Antwine’s case), everything he did in practice translated into the preseason game,” Thorpe continued. We can’t see everything in training, because we don’t touch quarters. But in the match (against Hamilton), you could see all his explosion, his aggression and his power. He’s a player who will help us chase the quarterbacks.
“(Uguak) it was his ability to reach the quarters, his reach, his ability to touch the balls with his long arms that made him stand out. He is solid against the run, he quickly learned the playbook. I am very happy with his development during the camp. »
Antwine, who played his college football at Oklahoma State University, promises the type of performance we saw from him last Friday is what we should expect game after game.
“I want to first emphasize that I am very grateful to the Alouettes for giving me this chance,” said the 23-year-old footballer. Now that I’m part of the team, I want to show all of Montreal, but also the whole league, what I’m capable of. »
“These are men!, For his part, indicated the marauder Marc-Antoine Dequoy. They’re pushing the offensive line and I can’t wait to see them play. He will just have to get used to the rhythm of the league and the dimensions of the field. »
PHOTO CHRISTINNE MUSCHI, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Marc Antoine Dequoy (24)
Dequoy also agreed with his coordinator by assuring that the Alouettes’ defense should be better this season than last year.
“This is the second year in the system. Last year, we changed coordinators in the middle of the season. We had a full camp to review the basics, which was interesting. We want to resume at the same level we left last year, but like every season, we also want to improve. »
And for the Quebecer, the goals for this season are high for the Alouettes: nothing less than a championship.
“It’s the commitment we made among ourselves and that we made to the “fans”: we want to bring the cup back to Montreal. »
It starts Saturday, against the Ottawa Redblacks.