MontrealAlouettes.com
MONTREAL — All head coach Mike Sherman is asking for from his Montreal Alouettes is for them to put forth effort as they head into the 2018 season.
“It’s their team, not my team,” Sherman told members of the media after the team’s first day of training camp on Sunday.
“We can be as good as they decide that we’re going to be. I’m the guy they picked to be the leader but there’s a lot on their shoulders to step up and do the work and they did the work today, I was proud of them today.”
The Alouettes took to the field for the first official practice of the 2018 season in front of a few hundred fans and Montreal’s bench boss was happy with how the team responded.
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Cunningham practices with the rest of the Alouettes receiving corps (MontrealAlouettes.com)
“I liked our intensity and I thought we had a good practice,” said Sherman. “Our goal is to get better every day and I think that was the case today.”
Fourth-year receiver B.J. Cunningham echoed his coach.
“Guys were flying around today,” Cunningham told MontrealAlouettes.com. “It felt great to catch the ball, running around, playing against our new guys, play with our new guys.”
One of those new guys is Jean-Gabriel Poulin, who was drafted by the Alouettes just a few weeks ago in the third round (23rd overall). The linebacker from Western University had his first professional practice on Sunday and the nerves quickly disappeared after meeting with the linebackers.
“The guys are really welcoming,” he told MontrealAlouettes.com. “In the meetings, we help each other out with the playbook. Nicolas Boulay, DJ Lalama, Kyle Knox are all great guys and they care about our success. They want the team to get better. Everyone has been welcoming and I already feel like I’m part of the team.”
On the other side of the ball, Cunningham said the receivers group were all in good shape head into the opening practice of the year.
Sherman watches his team during the opening of training camp (MontrealAlouettes.com)
“Competition level is great,” Cunningham said. “As you can see, guys are out there flying around, making plays. Myself, I’m one of the guys making more plays too. E-Jack had a great day, too.”
With quite a few changes to the Alouettes roster this off-season – they’ve added a new quaterback in Josh Freeman, a few new pieces to the defence including linebacker Henoc Muamba, defensive end Jamaal Westerman and defensive back Mitchell White as well as the dynamic playmaker in receiver Chris Williams.
While it has only been one full official practice with the new additions, Cunningham is optimistic that his team can turn around the 3-15 season it had in 2017.
“All phases of the game (have changed),” said Cunningham. “I feel like last year we did some things well, this year we’re going to do some things well (or) even better. I’m really excited for that.”
-With files from MontrealAlouettes.com
