The Canadian Football League held their annual Canadian draft last night and the Montreal Alouettes draft choices raised some questions heading into the new, 2015 CFL campaign.
General manager Jim Popp made the first splash of the day by shipping guard Ryan Bomben to his hometown Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the 8th and 24th overall picks in the draft. This was before the Alouettes were called on the clock with the fourth overall pick – they traded their third round selection at 22nd overall to the Calgary Stampeders when the team acquired Larry Taylor in the 2014 off-season.
After the three best offensive linemen, Alex Mateas, Sukh Chungh and Sean McEwen were taken by the Ottawa Redblacks, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts, respectively , the Alouettes dropped a bombshell by not going after a big-man themselves , especially after they had just traded away a starter. Some big boys were still available, including the University of Laval tandem in Danny Groulx and Karl Lavoie, both favourited to be picked by their home-province’s team.
Then the league commissioner, Jeffrey Orridge, announced that they Alouettes had taken Chris Ackie, the defensive back out of Wilfrid Laurier University.
It was certainly a shocker for the Alouettes to go after someone like Ackie. He is an excellent athlete, was one of the best at the combine, but the team seriously needed to fill that hole left on the o-line. The center, Luc Brodeur-Jourdain and the tackles, Jeff Perrett and Josh Bourke are some of the best at their positions- Bourke and Brodeur-Jourdain were Eastern All-Stars in 2014- but the depth on the line is thin heading into training camp.
Jake Piotrowski was Bomben’s back-up, while Kristian Matte, six year’s Piotrowski’s senior, lined up on the left side of the center last season, in the guard position. NFL journeyman Philip Blake, who was a Montreal draft choice in 2011, signed a three-year deal with the club this past winter and seems to be the next in line for Bomben’s position. However, having not played under Canadian rules since his high school days in Toronto, Blake will need to do some readjusting and battle hard for his right to become a starter.
Four picks after selecting Ackie, after which Edmonton snagged Groulx, the guard Lavoie was still available but the Alouettes questionably went for Jacob Ruby, the left tackle Canadian who played at the University of Richmond. Ruby could make the switch to guard but his future in the CFL is also up in the air as he was invited to the New York Giants mini-camp.
Their next selection, just five picks later, was used on linebacker Nick Shortill, the McMaster Marauders leader on defence. He led his team to the Vanier Cup this past fall, only to lose to the Montreal Carabins.
After taking two NCAA products in the offensive lineman James Bodanis and quarterback Brandon Bridge with their next two choices, the Alouettes used two out of their final four selections to take the hometown boys from the Vanier Cup-winning Carabins. Defensive back Anthony Coady and wide receiver Mikhail Davidson had their dreams fulfilled when they were picked at 40th and 57th overall, respectively.
After nine selections, the team filled holes on their offensive line, just not in the right spots, with three rookies coming in and they also went after three defensive backs. This is a smart move considering the backfield is being led by ageing internationals in Billy Parker and Jerald Brown. Davidson was the second receiver selected after Alex Charette- both will look to be proteges to the veterans Nik Lewis, Brandon London, Fred Stamps, Sam Giguere and Eric Deslauriers, moving forward.
The Montreal Alouettes draft choices raise some questions, answers others, but most importantly, will hopefully guide the team to a bright future glistened by multiple Grey Cups.
