Dissatisfied with the performance of the offensive line since the start of the season, the Montreal Alouettes coaches have decided to shuffle the cards.
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Earlier in the week, the big guys were told they would all be competing for the five starting spots for Thursday’s game against the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg.
“All options are on the table,” interim general manager and head coach Danny Maciocia said after Tuesday’s drill.
“I don’t think we’re in a situation where anyone can feel comfortable in their position. They are going to have to compete,” added the man whose team has maintained a 2-6 record so far in 2022.
In fact, there are rather two competitions currently taking place within the Sparrows’ offensive line. There’s the one between Nick Callender and Chris Schleuger as left tackle, while it would be very surprising to see Landon Rice lose his right-hand post. The second involves Kristian Matte, Pier-Olivier Lestage, Philippe Gagnon, David Brown and Sean Jamieson for the center position and those of guards.
“We are in the lowlands [de la ligue] for awarded quarterback sacks. We wanted to stir things up a bit and bring a higher level of competition internally,” said Alouettes offensive line coach Luc Brodeur-Jourdain.
“The reality of professional sport”
For their part, the players put in the hot seat this week claim to understand the reasons behind this upheaval.
“We know our reality and we know that we have only won two games this year. […] We have to try everything we can. We’ll see what works best,” said veteran Kristian Matte.
“It’s the reality of professional sport and no one is guaranteed a job. We try different combinations, added the guard Philippe Gagnon.
“No one is happy with what we have done so far. It’s not bad wall-to-wall. We did some good things, but it’s not the standard we set last year.”
Speaking of last year, Maciocia had bet on continuity by offering the same day of November two-year contract extensions to Matte, Gagnon, Jamieson and Rice.
Nearly nine months later, two of them could be confined to the sidelines.
Matte in the center?
In addition, Matte performed several reps at center during Tuesday’s practice, a position that has belonged to Jamieson since the start of the season.
During his long career, the 36-year-old Quebecer has already played in this position, when an injury forced a change.
“I’ve always said that Kristian is a good center, but a great guard. The important thing for him is to find his bearings and have confidence in his game,” said Brodeur-Jourdain.
The principal concerned seems rather to want to demonstrate that he deserves to keep the position of guard on the right, but will do what is asked of him.
“Of course we all have our preferences, but it’s a team sport and doing what the coaches ask us to do,” he said. As long as I can hit someone, I’m going to be happy.”
Pier-Olivier Lestage says he is ready
Pier-Olivier Lestage is convinced that he is ready to assume a starting position in the Canadian League, even if it has been less than two weeks since he made the jump to the Alouettes.
The arrival of the man who spent the last year on the Seattle Seahawks practice squad in the NFL allowed Danny Maciocia and his coaching staff to establish the competition that is currently raging in the sparrows attack line.
“I feel ready. Digging into the playbook wasn’t too difficult for me,” Lestage said after seeing action at multiple positions on Tuesday.
The product of the Carabins of the University of Montreal joined a tightly knit group. According to Philippe Gagnon, the 25-year-old athlete “fits in well” and “learns quickly”. It remains all the same that Lestage could take the position of one of his new teammates.
“In the offensive line, we are all very close, indicated the newcomer. It is a unit that is truly always together. I think it will displease those who do not get the start, but it is a “business”. I don’t think I’m going to feel bad for what’s going to happen. I am here to work. Of course, if I succeed, someone gets it.”
Of the dog
Maciocia said a few times that he wanted his offensive line to have more bite, more dog. Being “mean” is one of Lestage’s great strengths on the pitch.
“He is a player that everyone knows when he finds himself on the pitch. It’s that kind of attitude and fighting spirit that we need,” said Maciocia.
Luc Brodeur-Jourdain, however, said he found it “a little early” to offer a start to Lestage, but that it was a collective decision of the coaches.
“Once you’re a starter, things go very quickly and you have to adjust quickly,” said the Sparrows’ offensive lineman. As a coach, when you make this type of decision, you have to accept to live with stress or assignment errors, as well as the risks that this incurs for the guys around him.
“His approach and ethics are professional, however,” he added, also praising his technique and intensity.