MontrealAlouettes.com
MONTREAL – It may be still be the offseason, but Alouettes defensive line coach Mike Sinclair is already hard at work. As an assistant coach the 2012 CIS East-West Shrine Bowl, he will be on the sideline at the University of Western Ontario’s TD Waterhouse Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
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Mike Sinclair. |
With the CFL season only a few shorts weeks away, Sinclair will be shaking the rust off by guiding the top university players in Canada.
“It’s been a good camp so far for these young men,” explained Sinclair, who is on the staff of the Eastern squad. “For the past week I’ve been helping out with the defensive line and there are a few guys that look promising. I make them run the same drills we use during Alouettes’ practices to give them a taste of the pros.”
Sinclair jumped at the chance to participate in the event and the former NFLer is been keen on lending his expertise.
“This is not only a special event for the players involved, but the coaches as well,” admitted Sinclair, entering his fifth year with the Als. “It’s a learning experience for all involved. We use this platform as an opportunity to bounce ideas off each other. Different people bring their own style of coaching and philosophies to the table during meetings which only benefits everyone. I’m not just here teaching, I’m also learning.”
All CFL teams have provided position coaches to help out throughout the week. Sinclair has joined forces at the All-Star game with an already impressive coaching staff led by Glen Constantin, who has guided the Laval Rouge et Or to five national championships.
Certainly, playing in the CIS East-West Bowl provides participants with the some added exposure to raise their stock and make the jump to the CFL. Newly-signed Alouettes quarterbacks Kyle Quinlan and Kyle Graves both competed in last year’s game.
