By Noah Sidel
MontrealAlouettes.com
Montreal – With the CFL Canadian Draft coming up this Saturday (11 a.m. live on TSN, TSN.ca and MontrealAlouettes.com), here’s a look at the Alouettes’ recent draft success:
Last year, GM Jim Popp and his crew made one of the steals of the year, trading up to get the seventh overall pick from Saskatchewan and selecting linebacker Shea Emry.
Emry was an instant hit with the Als, registering a team-leading 20 special teams tackles while learning the defence.
The UBC product is sure to be a presence on the Als’ starting defence soon and will put fear into opposing quarterbacks for years to come.
With his second pick last season, Popp took NFL-calibre prospect Andrew Woodruff, who stayed at Boise State for one last kick at the NCAA can in 2008.
He recently signed a three-year deal with Montreal, however, and is expected to compete for a starting spot at this year’s training camp in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC.
Another steal came late in the game when Popp grabbed Paul Woldu in the fifth round, 36th overall.
A relative unknown to those outside the football ops circle, Woldu was another instant hit, making several appearances in the Alouette secondary in 2008 and adding 14 special teams tackles – good for third on the club.
Woldu is expected to be a future start for the club as he learns his trade from probably the best Canadian cornerback in CFL, Davis Sanchez.
In 2006, Montreal had a banner year at the draft table as Popp and company selected seven players, with five now a part of the team’s core.
The Als’ first pick, seventh overall, was receiver Eric Deslauriers, while québécois star Étienne Boulay was picked second, 16th overall.
Offensive lineman Jeff Perrett was next, picked 24th overall in the third round, and special teamer Joel Wright was selected in the fifth round, 41st overall.
The most impressive pick of the draft, however, was Danny Desriveaux, who has gone on to become a key element of the Alouettes’ electrifying receiving corps.
Desriveaux has contributed with 549 yards and two touchdowns on 50 receptions over his two seasons in the CFL, but stats don’t tell the whole story.
As part of a high-powered long-range offence with wideouts like Jamel Richardson and Kerry Watkins scoring on deep balls, Desriveaux is often positioned short-range as a second option to CFL superstar Ben Cahoon.
With his reliable hands and above average speed, over the course of the next few years, Desriveaux will certainly become more and more of a key option.
A quick look at 2005 shows the Als were once again draft winners as Popp scored such standouts as free safety Matthieu Proulx and fullback Jeff Piercy, while 2004 netted standout offensive lineman Josh Bourke and defensive lineman Alain Kashama.
The 2009 CFL Canadian Draft will take place this Saturday, May 2 at 11 a.m. Follow all the action live on TSN.ca and track the Alouettes’ draft on MontrealAlouettes.com.
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