In most professional sports leagues, draft is a key element to success and in football it is no less than essential.
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Unlike hockey or baseball, it’s not uncommon for players drafted into the Canadian Football League (CFL) or the NFL to have a direct impact on their team’s performance the following season. This is especially true for athletes selected in the first two rounds.
Aware of this reality, Montreal Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia notably has two first-round picks (5th and 7th) and one second-round pick (13th) in view of the amateur auction of the 2 allowed.
“These decisions will impact our organization and allow us to gain flexibility around our payroll for the next few years,” he said Tuesday during a meeting organized on the sidelines of the CFL assessment camp in Edmonton.
“It’s so important not to miss the draft because you want to get your hands on Impact players.”
The lucky hand
So far, it’s safe to say that Maciocia hasn’t often been down the wrong path with his first- and second-round picks. Among the athletes selected in these rounds, as he is GM of the “Als,” only offensive lineman Rodeem Brown (18th in 2022) has not played at least one game with the club. The latter played on the Canadian university circuit last year.
Marc-Antoine Dequoy (14th in 2020), Pier-Olivier Lestage (10th in 2021) and Tyson Philpot (9th in 2022) have become key cogs at the Sparrows. Tyrell Richards (1st in 2022) has been plagued by injuries over the past year, while Cameron Lawson (16th in 2020) now plays for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after four games with the Alouettes in 2021.
A special profile
The footballers mentioned above have common qualities and Maciocia would like to find them among those he will pick in 2023: character and competitiveness.
“We are looking for young people who can keep up on the pitch every day, whether in training or in a game,” said the DG.
“We are also looking for character. Players we can build on and who will be future leaders on and off the pitch.”
Of course, Maciocia and the Alouettes’ football operations staff didn’t begin their search in ratings camp. You’ve watched hundreds of hours of potential client videos over the past few months.
“The videos say a lot, but the assessment camp gives us the opportunity to see them perform in real life and see how they interact with others.”
Maciocia further explained that he analyzes a player’s reactions when they win or lose a drill.
“We look at their non-verbal language and overall behavior,” he revealed.
In addition to his three picks in the first two rounds, Maciocia has his say in the 32nd, 39th, 41st, 59th and 68th rounds.
News from Tyrell Richards
Photos courtesy of Syracuse University
While discussing the upcoming draft, Danny Maciocia was asked about the health of Tyrell Richards, the player he picked with the first pick in the 2022 draft.
The Alouettes’ general manager had also completed a transaction with the Edmonton Elks to ensure he could get his hands on the Syracuse University linebacker.
However, Richards was limited to seven games in his first CFL season as he struggled with multiple injuries. However, Maciocia was reassuring for the next season.
“According to the information we have, he is 100% fit and will be able to compete from day one of our training camp,” he said.
“I’m a huge Richards fan. We saw great things last year but unfortunately he picked up a few injuries.
The DG is convinced that his footballer can do well next season.
“We have high expectations for his case. I think he can dominate on special teams and have an impact on defense,” Maciocia said, adding that Richards’ versatility is a big asset for the Alouettes.