The 2023 RSEQ season gets underway in Sherbrooke on Friday when the Université Laval Rouge et Or, holders of the Vanier Cup, take on the Vert & Or, who had their best season last year. As of 2015, they hold a record of .500 (4-4). On Saturday it’s the turn of the Université de Montréal Carabins and the McGill Redbirds to break the ice. What can we expect in a very busy off-season when all teams except Laval have seen significant changes in their coaching staff?
• Also read: It’s a Friday night descent from Sherbrooke to the Rouge et Or that the Vert & Or doesn’t take lightly
• Also read: After a ten-year career in the CFL: a first game as a coach in the varsity ranks for Dominic Picard
There’s no doubt that the Rouge et Or and the Carabins have a good lead and it’s not a risky bet to predict that we’ll be entitled to another Battle on Highway 20 at the Dunsmore Cup in November.
We have to go back to 2012 to find a different team than the two powers in the final.
For the second time in three years, the Vert & Or defeated the Carabins in the semifinals to advance to the Dunsmore Cup.
1 – Will the Rouge et Or still be so hungry?
If we have to establish Rouge et Or as favorites due to the many returning players from Champion Edition 2022, Glen Constantin’s charges will have challenges to overcome.
The biggest challenge will be to go full throttle after last year’s unexpected successes. Head coach Glen Constantin summed up the situation well at the end of the training camp.
“We learned how to win last year and this year we have to learn how to deal with success.”
Given that the core of the Rouge et Or had never experienced the exhilaration of victory following losses to Montreal in 2019 and 2021, motivation always seems to be at the highest level.
The veterans want to relive the excitement of a long fall, while the younger ones want to relive those magical moments.
We’ll have to see if Laval doesn’t feel an excess of confidence along the way.
Quarterback Arnaud Desjardins of Laval University Rouge et Or. Archive photo, Didier Debusschere
2 – Will the Carabins’ offensive pick up steam again?
Despite the presence of RSEQ’s top quarterback, Jonathan Sénécal, the Carabins averaged just 163 points last season, the lowest total in the league.
Jonathan Senecal, quarterback for the University of Montreal Carabins. Archive photo by Didier Debusschere
While disappointing, the low production can partially explain it. Sénécal was sidelined for six weeks and several of his good receivers died in the fight, not to mention the offensive line was short on mileage.
Returning to his native CEPSUM after a year at Complexe Claude-Robillard due to construction work, Marco Iadeluca is confident the offensive will regain its former glory.
“With everyone in good health we have put in a great performance at the Dunsmore Cup and we want to continue that momentum,” said the Blues driver, who is starting his third season at the helm of the team after succeeding Danny Maciocia. I am very confident that the offensive will be successful. Jonathan is very mobile and was unable to walk for six weeks due to his injury.
In a 25-24 loss that ended on the last play, the Carabins had 433 yards, including 374 passes.
Iadeluca believes the offensive unit is mature. “Last year, 90% of our attacking players were first and second years.
They’ve grown together and I’m expecting great things from this group over the next two years.”
3 – Will the Redbirds’ defense be up to it?
Will the Redbirds, who have the most permeable defense with 262 points allowed, rivaling that of the Concordia Stingers, be able to do better despite very important dismounts?
Safety Tristan Fleury, cornerback Ben Labrosse and tackle Nicholas De Francisco-Paul were the heart of the defensive line.
“It’s never easy replacing people like Fleury and De Francisco-Paul when Labrosse was an incredible athlete that you don’t find anywhere,” admitted head coach and defensive coordinator Ronald Hilaire. However, we have depth on the secondary line with guys who have already seen some ground.
To help the defense. Hilaire wants to reduce sales.
“We value ball protection. Last year we lost a lot of possession and the defense was often in bad positions.
Additionally, the Redbirds have a brand new offensive staff. How will quarterback Éloa Latendresse-Regimbald, voted the country’s no. 1 rookie, react?
“Our new coaches are experienced and the adjustment is going well. Her presence at spring camp gave Eloa confidence. We needed a breath of fresh air and the new coaches bring great energy. Éloa is well supported with the group of attacking players.”
McGill Redbirds quarterback Éloa Latendresse-Regimbald, who was named the nation’s top rookie. Photo courtesy of Matt Garies, McGill Athletics
4 – Will the new defensive coaches be able to turn the tide at the Stingers?
Head coach Brad Collinson has cleaned up his defensive assistants.
He didn’t have to look far to find new coaches. He hired five former Carabins coaches.
Paul-Eddy Saint-Vilien was first approached by Collinson when he took charge of the team in 2018 and this time accepted the offer to lead the defensive unit.
Saint-Vilien then turned to his former Les Bleus colleagues Olivier Fréchette-Lemire, Gladymir Charmant and Martin Lapostolle to complete his staff.
Nicholas Melsbach, head coach of the Édouard-Montpetit Lynx, has also worked with the Carabins in the past under Marc Santerre.
“The players are adapting to the new coaching plans,” said Collinson, who will also oversee the offensive line this year. The goal, like everyone else, is to concede fewer points and fewer yards, and the new system will give players better conditions for success.
Olivier Roy, quarterback for the Concordia University Stingers. Archive photo, Didier Debusschere
The arrival of Saint-Vilien turned a difficult pre-holiday recruitment into a winter success.
Some of the best catches include defensive backs Mendel Joseph and Coslens Clairveaux and returner Jaylan Henry.
5 – Can Vert & Or’s offense compete with the best on the track?
Offensive coordinator Justin Chapdelaine worked wonders to keep the offense going last year when he had to field no fewer than five quarterbacks due to injuries.
This year, new offensive coordinator Dominic Picard can count on his number one pivot, Anthony Robichaud, from day one of the season. Forty-eight hours before the start of the season at Laval last year, Robichaud underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis and missed the first five games.
University of Sherbrooke Vert & Or quarterback Anthony Robichaud during a game against the Carabins, October 2021. File photo, Martin Chevalier
Well in the saddle, the fifth-year veteran performed well at the East-West Challenge last May. In addition to William Marchand, who is one of the best receivers in the world, Robichaud can count on the return of Charles Giroux, who missed the entire 2022 season due to a torn ligament in his knee.
“We keep our fingers crossed that Robichaud stays healthy,” said head coach Mathieu Lecompte. It’s going really well, but there’s nothing certain.
Lecompte thinks running back Freud Jean Ernst César has an interesting contribution to make.
“I take my hat off to him because he showed a lot of endurance training with us last year even though he didn’t qualify.”
A former member of the Old Montreal Spartans, César chose the Carleton Ravens as he left the college ranks before moving to the Eastern Townships.