LCF.ca
MONTREAL – It was a surprise for Anthony Coady when he learned last year that he would have to participate in the regional evaluation camp to earn an invitation for the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) National event, in March 2015.
Author of a campaign of 20 tackles and of an interception with the eventual Vanier Cup champions, the Carabins of l’Université de Montréal in 2014, the Montrealer did not quite understand the CFL’s decision.
“In the beginning, I was disappointed because I thought that my university training would have allowed me to be directly invited to the national camp,” said Coady during an interview with CFL.ca.
Despite a shoulder injury that occurred when the blue and black won Canada’s university football championship finale, and of which he had not yet recovered from, the 5 ft. 10 young man and of 190 lbs. had finally chosen to take part in the regional evaluation camp, in Montreal.
“I attended the regional camp, I did what I had to do, and I am very proud of result today,” he noted.
“I was satisfied and pleased of what I had achieved. I had shown that I could stand out, that I had a lot of character.”
Having met a few clubs at the Toronto National evaluation camp, and having received a few phone calls from teams in the league subsequently, Coady knew that some facilities had an interest in his services outside the 2015 draft.
However, although he was convinced that he deserved to be selected, the former Old-Montreal Spartan was aware that his future among professionals was far from assured.
The rookie finally took part in 12 games last year, scoring five defensive tackles and six others on special teams. To the main person’s eyes, the season was altogether satisficing given the circumstances.
“I proved that I could have an impact on the special teams, and I showed the coaches that they could trust me,” said Coady. “Even though I ‘m not physically the most impressive player, I know the sport, and I know how to take advantage of my abilities.”
Beyond the period of adjustment he needed between the university and professional levels – a transition that took place more slowly than he would have hoped, Coady made his most important learning last winter.
“At the end of the season, the coaches asked me to be patient, which made me very angry on the spot,” said Coady. “But now I see that it was far from bad advice. ”
“Early in the offseason, I wanted to improve everything,” he said. “However, because I wanted to so much so rapidly, I burned myself in training. Therefore, it is something that I intend to remember: how to manage my offseason to get to training camp in great shape and to be ready to start fresh. ”
For 2016, Coady hopes to pick up from where he left off in the end of last year’s season. Unless Marc-Olivier Brouillette suffers an injury, the former Carabin will probably have to settle for a substitute role, at least in defense during his second season with the Alouettes.
Nonetheless, for the one who preaches patience today, without however being passive, the important thing is to arrive at training camp in shape, do his best and show that we can still trust him.
“We’ll see what the season holds for me. Every time I play in defense, it feeds the spirit within me,” explains Coady. “But I go slowly, one step at a time. I try not to worry too much, I prepare myself properly, to be ready when we need me. ”
“Every time I play in defense, it feeds the spirit within me.”
“I trust life. Everything will happen in due time. ”
May 12th, 2015, in a room at the CEPSUM of the Université de Montréal, Coady finally got a better idea of what the future held for him: with their seventh round pick, the fifty- seventh of the total draft, the Montreal Alouettes got their hands on the defensive player of the 2014 Vanier Cup.
“It was a long evening,” recalls Coady. “As the evening progressed, I watched the screen more intensely. When the Alouettes selected me, I was relieved. It was a dream come true, and the plan I had set for myself was achieved. I wanted to stay in Montreal, close to my friends and my family, so for sure it was perfect.”
“It was a dream come true, and the plan I had set for myself was achieved.”
Coady began his first professional season with the Alouettes’ practice team. After seven weeks, his decision was made. However, the moment he thought he was going to play a fifth and final season with the Carabins, his name was included in the starting lineup of the Montrealers.
Anthony Coady is now at the Alouettes’ minicamp in West Palm Beach until April 29th.
