THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL -- The mantra coach Marc Trestman has adopted for the 2010 Montreal Alouettes is that they cannot repeat as Grey Cup champions because the team is not exactly the same as the one that captured the title last year.

It sounds like hair-splitting, but the idea is to keep them humble and hungry for another shot at the Cup, even if the squad has hardly changed from the one that went 15-3 and edged Saskatchewan in the final.

The CFL has not had a repeat champion since the Toronto Argonauts in 1996 and '97. Before then, it hadn't been done since the Edmonton Eskimos ran off five in row from 1978 to '82.

So the official answer to the question the Alouettes have already been asked countless times since training camp is that this is a whole new season and, while Montreal may have won in 2009, this year's group can't take for granted it will win again in 2010.

And that's why the notion of a “repeat” is banned from the locker-room.

“Nope, there's no repeat because we don't have the same team,” rush end Anwar Stewart said with a big grin, before admitting “Coach Trestman told us all the things to say, but it makes sense.

“You can't repeat if we have different guys. But the new guys we have, we want to bring along and show how we practise and how we prepare each day because we'll need everybody.”

In truth, there were only a handful of changes to the starting lineup of a team that has impressive depth on both sides of the ball and continues to be led by veteran quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who is coming off his second straight CFL Outstanding Player award.

Snapper Bryan Chiu retired, but his replacement, former guard Paul Lambert, is a seasoned veteran who has backed up at centre for eight years, while Luc Brodeur-Jourdain has been groomed to move in at guard.

Everyone else is back on the offence that led the CFL with 600 points scored, including slotbacks Ben Cahoon, Jamel Richardson and S.J. Green, receivers Brian Bratton, Kerry Watkins and Danny Desriveaux, running back Avon Cobourne and fullbacks Dahrran Diedrick and Kerry Carter.

On a defence that held opponents to a league-low 324 points, tackle Keron Williams and Canadian cornerback Davis Sanchez both left, so Jermaine McElveen has moved inside to the tackle spot and Stanford Samuels, a veteran who hardly played last year due to injuries, could start in Sanchez' spot. If not, backup De'Audra Dix may get that job.

Otherwise, rush ends Stewart and John Bowman and tackle Eric Wilson are back, as are linebackers Diamond Ferri, Shea Emry, Chip Cox, Ramon Guzman and Walter Spencer, defensive backs Mark Estelle, Billy Parker and Jerald Brown and safeties Etienne Boulay and Mathieu Proulx.

The biggest question involves kick returns, as Larry Taylor left for the NFL. Impressive newcomer Tim Maypray could take that spot, or returnee Brandon Whitaker.

So, while it isn't exactly the same team, it must not look any easier to beat for the other seven clubs.

But what Trestman wants to battle is complacency.

“We should expect to see adversity,” the third-year coach said. “How it will come we don't know.

“It comes in different forms. The growth of our individuals is that we know how to handle it, and how to teach others who haven't had it. A lot of new guys come in thinking this is going to be the ride of a lifetime and they'll have to be taught.”

One setback came when backup quarterback Adrian McPherson damaged a knee ligament in a pre-season game. He'll be gone for six to eight weeks, although Chris Leak is a promising third-stringer, and ex-Alouette Ricky Santos was brought back from Winnipeg to provide depth.

Backups see little action as long as Calvillo is healthy.

The 37-year-old, entering his 17th CFL season, is coming off a season of 396 completions for 4,639 yards and 26 touchdowns.

The veteran has clearly thrived under the complex offence instilled by Trestman, a former NFL offensive co-ordinator and quarterbacks coach who was quick to figure out the 12-man game.

And while Trestman is now in his third season in Montreal, his message doesn't seem to be getting old.

“Coach is never, ever going to let us get comfortable,” said Calvillo. “He continues to challenge us and this year is no different.

“He doesn't want anyone to get complacent and with this offence, there's no way you can because there's so many new things, so many new formations. It's a challenge week in and week out. That's part of our challenge this year as a team coming off a championship.”

The Alouettes will play in a new-look Percival Molson Stadium, which has been expanded by 5,000 seats to a capacity of 25,012. To allow for final touches to be applied, their first three games will be on the road, starting July 1 with a Grey Cup rematch in Regina.

The only uncertainly hanging over the team is that general manager Jim Popp, the architect of teams that have gone to the final game seven times in the 2000s, winning twice, is on the final year of his contract. While talks on an extension are in progress, the notion of losing Popp may be unsettling.

But Trestman looks to have his charges focused on what happens on the field.

“I'm excited to see how this will all format itself out over the next six months,” Trestman said. “The exciting part is the process of being a new team.

“I don't have any goals or anything I'm specifically thinking about wins-wise or anything. I'm just looking at the end and hoping we'll be the best team we possibly could have been.”