May 24, 2018

Williams feeling ‘comfortable’ at Alouettes’ training camp

MontrealAlouettes.com

MONTREAL — Chris Williams is on a new team this year but that doesn’t mean he isn’t surrounded by familiar faces at the Montreal Alouettes’ training camp.

Williams, Ernest Jackson and Patrick Lavoie were all on the 2016 Grey Cup-winning Ottawa REDBLACKS. Offensive coordinator Khari Jones was the OC in BC last year, the same team that Williams suited up for in 2017.

“He was also my coach my rookie year in Hamilton,” Williams told MontrealAlouettes.com, explaining his relationship with Jones. “Me and Khari (Jones) go way back. We have a good connection. For me, personally, I’m healthy this year and that’s the biggest thing. I get to come out here and showcase what I can do. I get to reunite with BJ (Cunningham) and Ernest (Jackson) we well so that definitely is a nice comfortable feeling.”

MORE FROM TRAINING CAMPS:
» Breaking down the Alouettes’ QB competition
» Jones, Riders looking to find replacements on D-line at camp
» Position Battles: 20 to watch in training camp

Williams is feeling right at home with the Alouettes at training camp (MontrealAlouettes.com)

Having faces that he recognizes, and has played with before, has made learning his new team’s playbook a lot easier.

“It makes communicating so much easier,” he said. “We’re not lost out there. We’re on the same page and able to communicate the things that we see. It just puts us a step ahead of the game so now we can build off that and hopefully get out things turned around here quickly.”

Even though the 2018 season is just a few weeks away, the Alouettes still have yet to name a starting quarterback. While Josh Freeman was brought in during the off-season to compete for that role, it appears that Drew Willy and Matthew Shiltz have been the two taking the most meaningful reps with the offence.

“I think right now Drew and Matt have been great for us,” Williams said, explaining the chemistry developing with the quarterbacks. “They’ve been the ones I’ve been working with so far. Drew has a lot of experience so he knows the game. Him seeing stuff right away and us being able to communicate at that level is really helping and Matt is coming along great. He’s an explosive athlete, big arm and he’s making a lot of good plays out there.”

Henoc Muamba is not-so-new face around the Alouettes organization. The linebacker played for the Alouettes in 2015, suiting up for four games that season and collecting 14 defensive tackles and an interception.

“It was very intense,” Muamba said after the team’s first padded practice. “The guys were excited even before we started and I saw a lot of energy as soon as we started to play. I’m really happy with what I saw from the linebackers.”

After the first few days of training camp, Muamba says that the chemistry between himself and his teammates is starting to develop and that he’s hoping it continues to grow as camp continues.

“It’s not something that happens over night,” he said. “We’re growing together and learning together. You see it, between Day 1 and Day 2, at every practice, we keep learning and getting better and better.”

– With files from MontrealAlouettes.com