TROIS-RIVIÈRES – “If you want to give me a gift, kick their ass!”
Here’s the message General Manager Danny Maciocia sent to the Alouettes players on Thursday, after the light training session in Trois-Rivières for the first pre-season game scheduled for Friday night against Ottawa’s Rouge et Noir.
Maciocia, who celebrates her 56th birthday on Friday, was then treated to a “Happy Birthday” song, a signed football and a small pastry. There was a relaxed atmosphere on the eve of the game, as traditionally several players wore strange caps and hats on their heads.
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However, some athletes risk playing their future with the Alouettes in this game against the Rouge et Noir, which mainly uses the youngest players.
“I’m traveling to Ottawa with the intention of getting answers to a couple of questions I have, particularly from our passport recipients,” Maciocia said. It’s a great opportunity for our young people to show what they can do. The first preparatory game is theirs. Very often the veterans start a half during the second preseason game.
tough competition
As confirmed by head coach Jason Maas, American Greg Ellingson and Canadians Tyson Philpot and Kaion Julien-Grant will not play against Rouge et Noir. Her place in the Alouettes squad for 2023 is clear. However, the fight between all other recipients, especially among the Americans, is bitter because of the relationship to be respected in the CFL.
“The competition is tough and that’s good news,” commented the managing director with a smile. Now it’s up to these youngsters to show us that they have their place here and it’s up to us to decide which ones to keep for the start of the season.
Keshunn Abram, Austin Mack and Tyler Snead will be the ones to watch as they battle the Rouge et Noir.
“It’s a huge game for young people because there’s real evaluation during the pre-season calendar,” Maas generally noted. In practice, you cannot perfectly complete your tackles against your opponents. We will now see who can really play football physically.”
“For the receivers, we want people who respect the system and direct the plays. They have to show certain skills during the games,” he said.
Liberations… and new ones
If Maciocia thinks he can find good American receivers among the supporters of the current Alouettes camp, he does not hide the fact that certain defensive solutions will come from outside. After Friday’s game in Ottawa, we can also expect some cuts.
“It’s entirely possible that we’ll let some players go to put others in other positions,” admitted the manager. A few athletes that we have identified have shown interest in coming to Montreal over the past few days.
Some individuals recently released from NFL minicamps are particularly in Maciocia’s crosshairs. The reinforcements are likely to affect defensive players in particular.