(Trois-Rivières) According to Byron Archambault, the Montreal Alouettes will be looking for pearls in Friday’s preseason game against the Ottawa Rouge et Noir.
It was in these terms that he described what the coaching staff and general manager Danny Maciocia will be looking to see in the players who will be in uniform for this first of two preseason games.
“We asked them to be sharp, to give maximum effort, to know what they have to do and to be ready, because preseason games are chaotic: changes are made on all sides in defense and on offense, said the Birds’ assistant head coach and special teams coordinator. Sometimes a player is going to be in defense and on the next play, within the special teams. They will be tired. Who is physically ready? Who’s mentally ready? We want to find these new pearls. »
These young players will have every chance in the world to break through the training, since head coach Jason Maas intends to give the majority of the veterans a day off for this meeting, presented at TD Place.
“We want to see a good level of competition, their ability to seize the opportunity and their mental strength, because it’s never easy in preseason games,” noted the coach after Wednesday’s training at the Diablos stadium in CEGEP of Trois-Rivières. They have to assimilate several concepts and it is not easy, but I want to see players who never give up. Obviously, we want them to apply what we taught them during the camp. »
Several receivers will try to carve out a place for themselves in the Alouettes’ attack. With injuries to Reggie White Jr. (for six games), Greg Ellingson and Tyson Philpot, many new faces will be on the field.
The offense will also be led by Caleb Evans early in the game, since it has already been established that Cody Fajardo, the starting quarterback, will not be in uniform. Evans will be followed by Davis Alexander and Mike Glass III, who will also be used.
Evans starting the game doesn’t automatically make him the club’s No. 2 quarterback, but Maas still gave him a head start.
“They are all going to play and all have the opportunity to earn this position. Caleb is the one who comes in with the most experience: if he does the job, I think he should qualify, the coach said. He’s done a great job at camp, but all three have to fight.
“They know it, they know the conditions. It takes two good performances from these guys in the two preseason games. They are very aware of this. »
All of these plans could change. But until proven otherwise, it is with these newcomers that Maas intends to play the game.
“We try to go with the plan, but injuries or performance can dictate what we do. We have an idea of who we are going to play and for how long, but you have to know how to adapt. »
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
