CFL.ca Staff

TORONTO -- The Montreal Alouettes’ defence will have quite a different look when it steps on the field to face the Argos on Tuesday, as CFL pre-season Week Two opens at the Rogers Centre.

The Als have just four more quarters of precious game action to fit together the pieces of a defence that, compared to just a few months ago, fans may have trouble recognizing.

Less than 24 hours after the team’s 22-10 pre-season loss to the Blue Bombers, in which it sat most starters, sixth-year linebacker Diamond Ferri and former second-round draft choice and non-import Étienne Boulay were given the axe last Friday afternoon.

In the wake of Anwar Stewart’s off-season release from the Alouettes as well, the moves caught most people off guard.

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"It is a tough business when you choose to release veteran players, especially ones that have been major contributors in the community and in winning Championships," Als General Manager Jim Popp told MontrealAlouettes.com.

Ferri, who finished fourth on the team with 50 tackles last season along with three sacks, has earned a reputation for his versatility after spending time throughout his career at linebacker, safety, running back, special teams, and as a kick-returner.

Boulay, drafted by Montreal 16th overall in 2006, became a key leader and contributed both as a starter and off the bench.

“He loves his teammates, the Alouettes, and the city of Montreal. From the day we drafted him, he has played where we have needed him,” Popp told the Als’ website.

Kyries Hebert, an off-season free agent signing who’s also spent time with the Tiger-Cats, the Bombers, and the Renegades, is expected to take Boulay’s spot, but linebacker Chip Cox’s name has also been linked to the position.

While questions remain on defence, most of last year’s first-team offence returns this season and is expected to start Tuesday’s game after sitting out the opener. The first quarter will be a dress-rehearsal for next week’s regular season opener in Calgary.

After that, the veterans will make way for players battling for roster spots, with major cut-downs looming once pre-season ends. One player the Als will look for more from is third-string quarterback Josh Neiswander, after a disappointing showing against Winnipeg.

"He didn't perform with the efficiency we wanted, but there are 11 other guys on the field,” Trestman told the Canadian Press following the loss. “I don't want my comments to be misinterpreted. He's had a very good camp. I hate to put too much emphasis on his performance tonight."

Meanwhile, less than a week after non-import Brad Sinopoli dazzled a McMahon Stadium gathering by leading the Stamps to an impressive come-back win against Edmonton, the Als will unleash some Canadian content of their own on Tuesday.

Trestman says he’ll look to get a better look at non-imports Kyle Quinlan and Kyle Graves in the fourth quarter, after neither threw a pass against Winnipeg – although Graves, who also kicks at Acadia, did average 32.8 yards on five punts.

For Quinlan, it’ll be his first CFL action since leading McMaster to its first national title last November by completing 35 of 55 passes for 482 yards and two touchdowns in the Marauders’ 41-38 double-overtime Vanier Cup win over Laval. The dual-threat quarterback impressively also rushed for 106 yards.

Both Quinlan and Graves are expected to return to their respective universities to finish their degrees and play football following the conclusion of training camp.

While the Alouettes will be spending time fine-tuning on defence and looking at backup quarterbacks, the host Argos will centre their attention on the first-team offence as off-season acquisition Ricky Ray looks to get a little bit more comfortable with his new surroundings ahead of next weekend’s regular season opener against his former team.

He’ll certainly have the home crowd behind him, as the team is expected to draw a crowd of more than 30,000 – unprecedented for a pre-season game in Toronto – mostly made up of school children who will be enjoying a field trip to the Rogers Centre to celebrate student success.

Receiver Chad Owens says he’s excited for the opportunity to build the Argos’ fan base through the younger generation.

“That’s awesome because that’s our future, that’s how you build a fan base – creating that energy, that vibe so the kids of Toronto will want to come to games for the next 20, 30 years,” Owens said in an interview with Argonauts.ca. “I know the kids are going to be excited and they’re going to continue to want to come every week so I’m very happy that we’re doing that.”

Head Coach Scott Milanovich agrees, and says his own kids will be there too.

“I thought it was a really good idea getting the kids out there and I think it’ll get our players juiced up and it should be a great atmosphere,” the first-year coach told the Argos’ website.

Ray is expected to play about a quarter, and after that he’ll make way for a crowded group of quarterbacks behind him and backup pivot Jarious Jackson.  In the pre-season opener Trevor Harris and Zach Collaros, the latter of which not expected to play on Tuesday, battled for the number three spot, but this weekend Ricky Santos was added to the mix from Montreal.

The signing came a week after the Alouettes released the 28-year-old CFL journeyman, who also spent time with the Bombers as well as the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. Santos should find himself familiar with the offence though, having spent time with Milanovich while the two were in Montreal.

“Obviously he’s going to have a head start because he does know the system,” said Milanovich. “He should transition quickly and like I said, we’ll just give him more competition out there and let the best man win.”

Santos is confident that his past with Milanovich gives him an edge.

“A lot of the calls are similar, he obviously put his own little twist on it and I think what he’s done with it is pretty great,” Santos told Argonauts.ca.  “The offence is going to run pretty smoothly with Ricky Ray at the helm so I’m just excited for the opportunity to be here.”

He’ll have to beat out Harris though, who perhaps had the strongest showing last week in Hamilton after completing seven of 10 attempts for a team-high 84 yards, along with one touchdown. It’s the 26-year-old’s first real taste of the CFL, but he’s taking the competition in stride.

“That’s pro football – you have to expect competition every day,” said Harris to the Argos’ website. “If you’re not getting the job done, they’ll find somebody else to do it because there are millions of people that want to be in the position that we’re in. You just have to come with your hard-hat every day and be ready to battle.”

On the other side of the ball, the biggest battle comes on the defensive line. The team made shockwaves this week by cutting defensive tackle Claude Wroten, who spent most of last season as a starter.

That opens a spot for younger players competing for playing time, including 21-year-old Armond Armstead, who turned heads in his first CFL camp after being passed over in the NFL draft, along with Derrick Summers, who impressed in last week’s pre-season game. Summers will celebrate his 24th birthday on Tuesday.

Kickoff is at 12pm ET.