It’s all well and good, the physical abilities and talent in football players. But what will interest Danny Maciocia and Jason Maas this week at the CFL evaluation camp in Winnipeg are mainly “the interviews” that the Alouettes will conduct with the athletes.
These discussions, combined with the “body language” that the players will display throughout the exercises, will help the general manager and his head coach make their decisions in view of the draft on April 30.
At least that’s what emerged from their virtual press briefing organized by the league on Tuesday afternoon. All the organizations on the circuit are converging this week in Manitoba to observe and meet the hopefuls available at the next auction.
” Is the combined will change the order [de préférence des joueurs] in my eyes?, asks Danny Maciocia. I do not think so. Personally, I’m really curious to see how the interviews will go. »
And beyond the results of bench presses or sprints, the Alouettes will examine how players “will react when they lose a one-on-one situation,” for example.
I like to see how they communicate. I want to know if they can verbalize their feelings towards football, show us their passion for the sport, and what they value more than anything.
Jason Maas, head coach of the Alouettes
“It’s difficult to reach conclusions with 15-minute interviews,” he agrees. But we want to see how they react in situations that are unfamiliar to them. »
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Montreal Alouettes head coach Jason Maas
A colleague asks Maciocia if a poor performance at the evaluation camp can reduce a player’s chances for the draft. The CEO cites the case of David Dallaire, chosen in the second round in 2023 by the Alouettes despite difficulties in combined a month earlier, for example.
“I can say it wasn’t his best week,” recalls Maciocia. Probably after that weekend, he could have found himself lower on your table. But you have to look at the work as a whole. We have [vidéos de matchs] over three years, we did additional interviews, several things happen over the next few days. »
“For me, what matters is how he carries himself, his body language, his approach to coaches’ instructions, his interactions with his teammates on the field. For the rest, we have enough information so that it does not alter our decisions. »
No head start for Quebecers
That doesn’t mean the Alouettes don’t attach importance to this week’s event.
“This evaluation camp is as important as the hopeful matches for which I traveled south of the border during the month of January,” emphasizes Danny Maciocia. We have invested resources in it, we will have our scouts and our coaches here. We will do all the necessary checks on these young athletes. »
Of the hundred invited footballers, 20 are from Quebec. For the Quebec Canadian Football League team, do these players have a head start in the draft?
“It’s certain that I know them better, because I have my network in the RSEQ,” observes Maciocia. I know all the head coaches very well. Does that mean they have an easier or direct path to the Alouettes draft in 2024? I would say no. »
The CEO has often said it, and he repeated it on Tuesday: “with equal talent, we will keep our best staff at home”.
Jason Maas is an American native of Wisconsin. When asked what he sees in Quebec players, the word “passion” comes to mind. But as for its CEO, the principle of “equal talent” takes precedence.
“To play in our arena,” said the coach, “you have to be the best. Because it is the best that we are looking for. »