Als GM Maciocia 'ecstatic' over workforce's Canadian school draft picks

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Some dangers are price taking, Alouettes common supervisor Danny Maciocia believes.

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He is aware of Jonathan Sutherland, taken fifth total by Montreal in Tuesday’s Canadian school draft, gained’t go to coaching camp with the Als later this month in Trois-Rivières. However Maciocia believes in Sutherland he secured one of the best accessible defensive participant.

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“I don’t imagine you choose somebody you need to go to camp with in case you don’t really feel is nearly as good as the opposite guys which are price ready for presumably a yr,” Maciocia mentioned. “You’re not going to choose a man for the sake of selecting a man as a result of he exhibits up on Might 13. You choose a man in case you really feel strongly about him, if he’s a distinction maker and a ratio changer. You analysis it. The knowledge you’ve is he’s worthy of grabbing and holding onto. That’s what we did.

“I’m ecstatic in regards to the guys we picked.”

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Sutherland, a linebacker and security from Penn State, was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent final week and acquired a US$10,000 signing bonus — a nominal quantity by NFL requirements. Marc-Antoine Dequoy, the Als’ beginning security, acquired a US$7,000 bonus from Inexperienced Bay as a UFA and didn’t final lengthy with the Packers, whereas Pier-Olivier Lestage, possible a beginning guard this season, additionally returned to the Als final July following a season on the Seahawks’ follow roster.

Sutherland ought to persist with Seattle, at the very least for a season, due to his prowess on particular groups. However had he not been signed, the Ottawa native may need gone first total Tuesday to the Redblacks.

Sutherland can play strong- or weak-side linebacker together with security. And the 5-foot-11, 214-pounder was a workforce captain with the Nittany Lions.

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“A workforce captain at a program that’s famend,” Maciocia mentioned. “They’ve a historical past of nice gamers and there’s an awesome custom at that establishment. He’s revered, not solely by his teammates however the teaching employees. He’s a excessive character, chief form of man.”

The Als additionally had the seventh total choose after buying and selling quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. to B.C. and chosen TCU defensive-lineman Lwal Uguak, who shall be attending rookie mini camp with the New York Giants.

The Horned Frogs went to the NCAA nationwide championship recreation final season, dropping to Georgia. That alone influenced the Als to pick out Uguak, a 6-foot-5, 271-pound Edmonton native over Southern Utah defensive-lineman Francis Bemiy, a Montreal native, who went ninth total to B.C.

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“Lwal performed towards some big-time applications,” Maciocia mentioned. “Among the guys … have been drafted within the NFL. You may’t be oblivious to that. We favored Bemiy, however when Lwal was there at seven … we had him (rated) above Bemiy. We couldn’t bypass the chance of selecting him.”

One other participant Maciocia expects to make an influence is Université Laval fullback David Dallaire, taken within the second spherical (thirteenth total). The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder was the most efficient fullback accessible. The 2-time RSEQ all-star final season caught 21 passes for 327 yards, scoring two touchdowns, and in addition rushed for 5 scores. He has been used at quarterback out of the wildcat formation, tight finish, tailback and as a receiver. He’s additionally anticipated to contribute on particular groups.

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Montreal made 5 further choices: OL Theo Grant (thirty second total); FB Jacob Mason (thirty ninth); receiver Shedler Fervius (forty first); RB Chase Brown (59th) and DB Maxym Lavallée (68th). Each Lavallée and Mason have school eligibility remaining whereas Brown, who performed on the College of Pittsburgh, was chosen within the fifth spherical (163rd total) final week by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Université de Montréal linebacker Michael Brodrique was the very best Quebec college product chosen, going second total to Edmonton. Concordia receiver Jeremy Murphy went twenty sixth to Winnipeg; McGill offensive-lineman Alexandre Marcoux, thirty third to Calgary, whereas a pair of Carabins — RB Terancy Bertrand-Beaulieu, thirty eighth, and DB Bruno Lagacé, 56th — are each headed to Edmonton.

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