The Canadian Press
TORONTO — DeVier Posey has made his way around the CFL over the past three years.
After winning his first career Grey Cup as a member of the Toronto Argonauts, he made his way out west for a stint with the BC Lions before heading back East to join the Montreal Alouettes.
In his first season with the Als, Posey has become one of the catalysts of the league’s most potent passing attacks.
On the latest episode of The Waggle presented by Sport Clips, Posey joined Davis Sanchez and Donnovan Bennett to talk about his season, the stellar play of Vernon Adams Jr., the process that landed him in Montreal, and the team’s ability to come together this season.
Episode 177: Beef in la Belle Province + Posey pops by
EPISODE OVERVIEW: The boys break down all the pre- and post-game beef in Montreal last weekend. Plus, how did it all go down from John Lu’s perspective? And DeVier Posey tells all about what it’s really like to play in Montreal. That and more on this week’s episode of the Waggle.
EPISODE RUNDOWN: Bowman vs. Harris (2:00); DeVier Posey (14:15); John Lu drops in to talk Als (33:30); Did MTL win or WPG lose (50:00)? Quarterback change in Toronto (54:00); Objectionable conduct (56:30).
“I didn’t know much about the city; I only played here once prior to signing here so I spoke with B.J. Cunningham and honestly, me and Khari (Jones) had a long talk early in the free-agency process,” said Posey of his journey to signing with the Alouettes. “As soon as it was able to start, we connected and (I) kind of saw what he was saying and Kavis (Reed) recruited me hard. Montreal’s a great place.
“In the summertime, it’s unmatched. I’ve heard about the winter, so I can’t sleep on winter but the city is great. My wife loves it and my son loves it.”
Coming out of Ohio State, Posey was selected by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. After stints in Houston, New York, and Denver, he’d make his way to the CFL and the Argonauts, who held his rights.
He appeared in four games for the Argos during the 2016 campaign but it would be a year later where he’d make a mark with the double blue. He’d have 744 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2017 season with Toronto. His biggest snag of the campaign came in the 105th Grey Cup, with a 100-yard touchdown reception down the left sideline highlighting the Argos’ championship win over the Calgary Stampeders. For his efforts, Posey would also be named the game’s MVP.
He’d make the move to join the BC Lions alongside Argos teammate Shawn Lemon for the 2018 season. After appearing in just eight games for the Leos, he found himself as a free agent once again.
Jones connected with Posey as soon as the free-agency window opened and laid out his plans for what the offence would look like in 2019.
“I just got a look on the inside of what he was thinking and the outlook for the year,” Posey said. “He was going to have a quarterback competition and that was going to be a hurdle. He knew that we were going to have to gel as a new unit and he kind of knew that (William) Stanback was going to have a good year. So all the things he said and mentioned about moving me around and highlighting me on second down, that’s something I do well and something I thrive in.
“Making those plays and knowing that the guys around me are on the same vibe too, it’s making it easier. Khari was right.”
Jones was correct on a lot of different fronts when it came to the offence. Yes, Stanback has had a career year for the Als. He’s rushed for 895 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games, and while he did have a quarterback competition in the preseason, one man has clearly run away with the starting job.
Adams Jr. came into the first game of the year as the backup to Antonio Pipkin, but after receiving a shot, the 26-year-old is now the man firmly in charge of leading Montreal to the promised land.
“The guy is playing the game,” Posey said. “If you ask him, it’s always ‘man, I’m working to be better,’ that’s what he always says. But just how things are going, I couldn’t be happier for him.
“Just the way he entered the CFL, I spoke to him and he really shed light on his story and Montreal gave him his first professional shot and he’s always felt indebted to this city because of that.”
He’s thrown for 2,953 yards and 15 touchdowns while completing nearly 65 percent of his passes. In four of his last five outings, Adams has tossed for 300-plus yards. In Week 15 against Winnipeg, he tossed for 488 yards and four majors to help his team to victory. His ability to bear down and do anything to win hasn’t been lost on his teammates.
“One stat that I always love is that he on the right side of the win column,” Posey said. “You put someone like that In a city that he feels indebted to and a place where he got his first professional start. You gave him the keys to the Lamborghini and he’s driving it now and we’re all along for the ride.”
Montreal Alouettes quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. scrambles out of the pocket (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
The Als’ receiving unit hasn’t been at full strength for much of the year. Posey was placed on the six-game injured list with a lower-body injury. When he returned, Cunningham was put on the six-game. Chris Matthews was signed in August but he has yet to make his debut due to injury. Despite that, the Als still possess one of the most dangerous air attacks in the CFL.
Posey is currently splitting touches in the passing game with Eugene Lewis, Quan Bray, and Jake Wieneke. Once they get Matthews and Cunningham back, they’ll have one of the most well-balanced attacks that the league has to offer.
With the uncertainty surrounding the team to open the year, many people didn’t expect these sort of results from the Als. They currently sit at 7-6 and are on the cusp of clinching their first postseason berth since 2014. While it may be surprising to some, Posey and his teammates knew that they’d be in this spot when they opened training camp.
“We had a long meeting that really wasn’t about the coaches, the organization, or the team being sold or bought — who cares. It was about these plays, it’s about these 72 plays, what are you going to do with them?” Posey said. “And every guy is on that same vibe and every guy is down to ride and down to give everything they have. That’s the blood, sweat, and tears on the field and off the field, we have fun. We go out to eat, we do Taco Tuesdays together, we do pre-game meals, we do brunch on game days.
“We’re ready to fight for each other and we know each other’s stories and backgrounds and where we come from. That’s not on paper so you couldn’t have seen that coming; Nobody could’ve seen it coming.”
