MontrealAlouettes.com
ORLANDO – A mix of Alouettes veterans and hopefuls landed in Florida on Wednesday to kick off the team’s three-day mini-camp in Orlando, Florida, at Airport Lakes Park. It marked the second year in a row that the club conducted a mini-camp in the Sunshine State and while the heat was welcomed by all, something else brought a smile to the guys.
“I really missed the camaraderie and just being around the guys,” admitted defensive back Jerald Brown. “It’s been a long time since I’ve last seen them all so you know the season is almost here.”
Brown wasn’t the only jonesing for the 2012 CFL season to begin.
“We each do our individual workouts during the off-season, so just seeing familiar faces is a blessing,” said Seth Williams. “I’m really anxious to get back on the field, for real.”
For the next few days, head coach Marc Trestman will swap his desk and drawing board for his cap and whistle as his players look to regain their form and compete for a roster spot with the Alouettes.
“The ultimate goal of our mini-camp is to look at new defensive players and bring the coaches together,” described Trestman. “We want everyone interacting with one another and absorbing as much information possible.”
With the new defensive coordinator Jeff Reinebold coming on board this offseason, along with two new assistants – Matt Sheldon (linebackers) and Brendan Nugent (quality control, special teams), the main focus for the next two days will be squarely on the defensive side of the ball.
Reinebold spent the majority of the offseason, watching tape of his new team’s 2011 season. Now acquainted with his defensive players, Reinebold is getting the chance to examine his squad from up-close.
“He is a guy that has a profound knowledge of the game of football and he is going to challenge us and makes us better,” warned Brown. “With a new defensive coordinator, no one can take for granted that they will have a starting gig and we all will have to prove ourselves.”
While most of the offensive starters will not participate in this camp, that did not stop slotback S.J. Green, who lives in Florida during the winter, from catching a glimpse of the action as he made a brief appearance.
