Rightly or wrongly, we can see it as a final preseason game that could determine who will be the Montreal Alouettes' number 1 quarterback to start the next season: Vernon Adams Jr. or Trevor Harris?
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• To read also: Alouettes: still hot struggles in defense
Both quarterbacks should actually see action this Friday night at Percival-Molson Stadium against the Ottawa Redblacks. For head coach Khari Jones, the objective of partially using the two men is mainly in line with the need to negotiate with the current schedule.
"We'll have a short week before the season opener on June 9 in Calgary," Jones noted Thursday ahead of the next trip to Alberta.
Like the quarterbacks, the most important thing for the head coach remains that his team is ready to face the Stampeders eventually. Thus, it would be surprising if running back William Stanback, still hampered by a minor lower-body injury, was in uniform.
"I don't think he's going to play, he's still a little bored and the goal is for him to be able to play against the Stampeders to start the season, that's what matters," Jones said.
Doors open for running backs
As was the case last weekend in Hamilton, during the preseason game lost by a score of 25 to 23 against the Tiger-Cats, the meeting against the Rouge et Noir will serve to test the depth of the team. at different positions.
If several struggles remain in defense, the possible absence of Stanback risks giving way to other ball carriers. Among these, the Canadian Jeshrun Antwi seems in the good graces of the coach.
"He's doing really well, he's slowly becoming a veteran and showing intelligence on the court," Jones said of Antwi.
With him, the Alouettes have the luxury of having a Canadian as a running back. Among the Americans, veteran De'Lance Turner has yet to prove he can support Stanback, while youngster Jordan Scarlett hopes to mix things up.
Quarterback trio in Ottawa
For the Rouge et Noir, it will also be a second and final preseason game after a 23-17 victory against the Toronto Argonauts last Friday.
Jeremiah Masoli, Caleb Evans and Tyrie Adams were then the three quarterbacks used by the Ottawa team. There too, the situation of the quarters manages to fuel certain debates. One reality remains: with possible injuries, every team needs several good quarterbacks in the Canadian Football League.
The staunchest fans of Canadian college football may remember running back Jeshrun Antwi. The former University of Calgary Dinos gave the Laval University Rouge et Or a lot of headaches in November 2016 during the Vanier Cup final.
Antwi was then 19 years old. Despite his 177 yards on land, his team lost 31-26.
"It was a good game for me personally, but in the end, we couldn't get the win," Antwi recalled Thursday after training with the Montreal Alouettes. I learned a lot that day about the importance of focusing on one game at a time and playing the full 60 minutes.
know how to do everything
A native of Ghana and having spent his teenage years in the Calgary area, Antwi is in his second season with the Montreal club. While he has good words for Quebec coach André Bolduc, who takes care of the running backs, the 24-year-old agrees that Gino DiVicentis has been an important mentor for him with the Dinos. .
“Many focus on the fact that a running back must run with the ball, but it is essential to know how to do everything: run, catch and block. Gino insisted a lot on this aspect and André repeats it to me in turn, ”he mentioned.
find the rhythm
Last week, during the preseason game in Hamilton, Antwi was limited to six rushing yards on three carries. He was also unable to report himself by air.
“I think I played the right way, I was neither good nor bad,” he commented, recalling that the preparatory games, where a variety of players are used, are used to quietly find the rhythm.
