Alouettes relying on strong manufacturing from fullback place this season

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TROIS-RIVIÈRES — After going virtually half a season and not using a true fullback final 12 months, the Alouettes will depend on a bunch of gamers to fill the position in new head coach Jason Maas’s offence.

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The lack of Christophe Normand, who was launched after being accused of luring a youngster for sexual functions, left a gaping gap within the Alouettes’ backfield final season. The group had already been with out the providers of tailback William Stanback, who was injured in final 12 months’s opener.

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Alexandre Gagné, referred to as up as a special-teams backup, performed fullback for just a few video games, as did running-back Jeshrun Antwi. The group additionally used a sixth lineman from time to time. However none of those gamers had a lot expertise creating house for a ball service or serving as a blocker on go performs.

That gained’t be the case this season.

The Alouettes introduced again James Tuck, who began his profession in Montreal however performed largely below Maas in Edmonton, in addition to drafting Rouge et Or alum David Dallaire with their second-round choose, thirteenth general, and Jacob Mason (fifth spherical, thirty ninth) this 12 months.

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These three gamers, along with Gagné, have been sharing reps at Alouettes coaching camp at CEGEP de Trois-Rivières’ Diablos Stadium.

“Tuck, Dallaire, Mason, Gagné have all performed job thus far,” Maas mentioned this week. I’ll even add Régis Cibasu and a few offensive linemen at that place to verify our offence has a full-fledged fullback.”

Maas is adamant that his fullback will do extra than simply block.

“That’s why we went out and bought James Tuck, as a result of he’s the man with probably the most expertise within the system we wish to play, however I’d say Gagné has improved vastly, as has Mason. Gagné, who is among the key gamers on particular groups, has performed very properly when used. Clearly, Cibasu’s dimension (6-foot-3, 232 kilos) makes him excellent to make use of there. We’re very enthusiastic about this group.”

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“Clearly Tuck is probably the most skilled of the group, on the sphere and with Coach Maas’s system, however he shares his information with the youthful guys,” running-backs coach Tyrell Sutton mentioned.

“It’s an essential place, one which we’re going to make use of so much,” Maas added. “We’re going to make use of a number of offensive formations and it’s essential that each one personnel can grow to be a possible weapon. Any time you’ve an athlete who can do one thing apart from block at that place, who can carry the ball or catch passes, you owe it to your self to make use of them. That’s what we wish to do.”

The position is “far more than being a blocker, but it surely’s true that at its core, it’s a blocking place,” admitted Tuck, who has the physicality for the job at six toes, 230 kilos. “It’s a tricky place, it takes character. What we wish is for (QB) Cody (Fajardo) to remain on his toes and open up the lane for our ball service.”

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With Stanback wholesome, it’s no secret the Alouettes hope to depend on the bottom recreation this season. However in Maas’s system, the fullback can be extra of an possibility.

“It’s not a giant adjustment for me as a result of it’s similar to what we had been doing with the Rouge et Or, particularly final season,” mentioned Dallaire, who’s 6-foot-3 and 217 kilos. Largely it’s important to study the schemes, but it surely’s a system I’m very snug in.”

Largely, he’s comfortable to be coming to a membership the place his place is valued.

“It was one in every of my needs to be below a coach who values the play of the fullback. In that respect, it’s mission achieved!”