MontrealAlouettes.com
MONTREAL – Despite their share of injuries, there’s been no lack of depth — or production — in the Alouettes backfield this season as the next man in line has consistently come up big to fill in the gaps.
Yes, the Als’ contingent of running backs continues to be run by committee as 2011’s league-leading rusher Brandon Whitaker continues to rehab and is now joined in the team clinic by rookie Victor Anderson.
As a result, a trio has emerged to collectively take over the rushing duties as the season winds down.
Power back Chris Jennings, sparkplug Noel Devine and veteran Dahrran Diedrick can do it all; from running inside the tackle to lining up in the slot, given their respective running styles.
“Our running backs are very versatile and each possess their very own trademark,” admitted Anthony Calvillo, who needs just 239 yards to become the only quaterback in CFL history to throw for over 5,000 yards seven times in his career.
“I just want them to catch the ball, block when needed and hit the hole. Whoever I’ve been handing the ball off to, that running back has been doing just that.”
Jennings is a powerful, downhill rusher who continues to show that he’s very capable of carrying the load. The former NFLer with the Cleveland Browns will likely get the start again this weekend and be the workhorse against the Eskimos at Percival Molson Stadium.
“I’ll have another opportunity to get the start,” said Jennings, who had 19 touches for a combined 125 yards last weekend in Saskatchewan. “I have high expectations for myself and I’m just trying to improve with every game and every touch I get.”
Jennings doesn’t mind sharing the load with his fellow running backs and knows all three of them can get the job done.
“It’s a fun game up here in the CFL,” said Jennings. “There’s a lot of field for us to run and make plays on.”
While Jennings continues to learn and feel more comfortable in the Als’ system, his teammates aren’t concerned in the least.
“Jennings isn’t really new to this system because technically he was already here,” Diedrick of Jennings who was with the team in 2008. “Now he’s becoming an Alouette all over again. He’s running hard and it’s good for us to have him.”
Devine will be used as a change-of-pace speed option for the Alouettes and at times will possibly see action in a two-back formation.
“We all hold our breath every time [Devine] gets the ball, because we never know what’s going to happen,” explained Diedrick. “He can score and make good things happen when the rock is in his hands.”
The most experienced of the rushing trio, 33-year-old Diedrick is always ready to provide leadership to the young backs.
“We stick together as a group. We’ve been like that since the beginning of the season and we help one another,” concluded Diedrick. “That helps us not only individually, but also as a team.”
