Training Camp Report-Day 7
May 18, 2024 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Montreal Alouettes News Release
Montreal - On Saturday, the Alouettes took to the field in front of more than 3,692 fans at the Complex sportif Claude-Beaulieu in Saint-Jerome. The offence is usually the star of the show during scrimmages, and that was the case today, but there are some defensive players that stood out for all the right reasons.
It's important to note that the offensive and defensive starters didn't play much, so that gave the newcomers an opportunity to shine.
DEFENSIVE PLAY OF THE GAME:
Bryce Cosby made the defensive play of the game in the second half, when he intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. Nigel Warrior and Smoke Monday also picked off passes during the two 30-minute halves on Saturday afternoon.
Veteran defensive back Cre'Von Leblanc didn't intercept a pass, but he did a nice job sticking to opposing receivers throughout the game. Leblanc is one of the newcomers with the most pro experience, as he played in more than 50 NFL games.
"We're just applying what coach (Noel) Thorpe has been teaching us in the meeting room," Leblanc said. "I'm just getting a real good feel for the difference between the yardage where I have to be (on the field), and my angles. I would say I'm getting a really good feel for (defending) the waggle. That's something new and something different that I've never seen before. I'm just trusting in my technique and I'm being patient."
With All-Star defensive back Wesley Sutton unavailable for the scrimmage, rookie Timarcus Davis stepped into the starting lineup and didn't look out of place.
OFFENSIVE PLAY OF THE GAME:
There were a couple of different receivers that commanded a lot of targets in this scrimmage. One of those players was rookie Charleston Rambo, who made the catch of the day when he hauled in a deep ball from quarterback James Morgan over a defensive back down the right sideline.
"I feel great out here," Rambo, who finished his NCAA career at the University of Miami, said. "I love football, so any time I get a chance to come out here and make plays, I love it. I'm just enjoying this team. We're building every day out here. "I know I'm going to compete and win every rep. I'm not losing. I don't have a bag or negative mindset. I'm positive, and I go as hard as I can go."
Fellow CFL rookie Jalen Wayne wasn't as flashy as Rambo, but he came up with several catches throughout the intra-squad game. Wayne caught a touchdown pass from Morgan late in the scrimmage.
Tevin Jones and Reggie White Jr. also hauled in touchdowns from Cody Fajardo and Caleb Evans, respectively.
QUARTERBACKS ON POINT:
Yes, it was only a scrimmage but all four of Montreal's quarterbacks looked sharp. Fajardo's first pass of the afternoon was a completion over the middle to Tyler Snead, who gained roughly 25 yards on the play. The Alouettes' starting quarterback found Jones for the major on his second offensive drive of the day. Caleb Evans, who won two games as a starter for the Alouettes in 2023, looked very comfortable on Saturday. On top of the touchdown pass to White Jr., he also made some impressive throws. One completion to tight end Regis Cibasu stood out because he fit the ball into a very tight window. Evans also scrambled for a 20-yard gain on a quarterback sneak.
Davis Alexander has had a strong training camp, and that continued in the scrimmage. He looks calm and poised in the pocket. The 25-year-old is in his third training camp as an Alouette.
Morgan is a former fourth-round pick of the New York Jets. He seemed to have good chemistry with Wayne, whom he completed three consecutive passes to on one drive in the first half. He was also able to get Rambo the ball consistently.
A NEW RUNNING BACK STANDS OUT:
The running back battle in this year's training camp has been well-documented. Running back is one of those positions that is difficult to evaluate during a scrimmage, but Stevie Scott III looked comfortable running between the tackles and catching the ball out of the backfield. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder moves surprisingly well for a player of his size. It will be interesting to see how he looks when the Alouettes take on the Toronto Argonauts at Percival Molson Stadium next Saturday night in their preseason opener.
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Canadian Football League Stories from May 18, 2024
- Training Camp Report-Day 7 - Montreal Alouettes
- RedBlacks Sign Domagala - Ottawa RedBlacks
- Ticats Release McGriff - Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- Edmonton Signs WR Shane Hooks - Edmonton Elks
- Blue Bombers Announce Transactions - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
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