Marc-Antoine Dequoy can say mission accomplished, as he will be the Montreal Alouettes’ starting safety for the club’s first regular season game this Thursday.
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A little over two weeks ago, it was not the Quebecer who was expected to be in action against the Stampeders in Calgary. Head coach Khari Jones leaned more towards an American in this position.
“Things have changed. He was the best candidate for the job,” Jones said after Monday’s session.
Well aware that he was not the favorite, Dequoy made sure to take advantage of every opportunity that came his way. After the first preseason game, he benefited from an injury to one of his teammates to get more reps. He was also challenged by being given the safety position for the first half of the second game of the preseason.
“He [Dequoy] deserved it and achieved some great things for us. We will therefore give him the opportunity to play,” added the Sparrows head coach.
Not a question of passport
If Tuesday’s practice is any indication, the Als will have eight Canadian players as starters in their Calgary roster. National Athlete Ratio regulations in the Canadian Football League state that teams must have at least seven.
“If you are a good player, you are a good player. [Nationality] doesn’t matter to me,” defensive coordinator Barron Miles said. If you can play, you will play. I try to keep it simple. I think the majority of Canadian players enjoy playing under me because I have that mentality. I don’t look at my players’ passports.”
“It makes me so happy to know that I’m on a team where the coaches don’t make their decisions based on the ratio,” Dequoy said. It’s the best player on the field that takes precedence. […] It means a lot when your “coach” sees you for the player you are. It is something extraordinary.”
Be in confidence
Whoever is playing a second season with the professionals in 2022 is convinced that he has won his job by remaining strong between the two ears.
“When the camp started, the position was open. The best [player] was going to get it. I was told that I was not the starter at the start of the camp. I still had to stay focused,” said Dequoy.
“Last year I felt like I could be one of the starters. I now feel like that’s my position. I am confident and it is important to be so that your teammates have confidence in you.
Dequoy and his Alouettes acolytes will now head to Alberta, who are to train at McMahon Stadium on Wednesday.
