For the first time in over a decade, the Montreal Alouettes will enter the CFL Canadian Draft without a first-round pick.
Montreal’s first selection in the draft will arrive in the second round with the 11th overall pick, their first-round selection having been traded to the BC Lions in the Sean Whyte trade on draft day in 2011.
Though Als GM Jim Popp might be interested in moving up in the draft by-way of a trade, he might be content in standing pat and letting the talent fall down to them, rather than giving up more picks.
In 2005, the Als were also without a first-round pick because of the Scott Flory free agency fiasco the off-season before. However, Popp swung a draft day deal, giving up kicker Matt Kellett for the fifth-overall pick in the draft, which eventually turned into safety Matthieu Proulx.
“Proulx was the guy we wanted…very few times have we not gotten the guy we wanted,” said Popp from his home-office in North Carolina.
“Most deals I’ve done get done on draft day. We might get back into the first round this year but right now we’ll get a good player at 11.”
Some CFL experts suggest that if there is ever a year to be shutout in round one, this would be it due to the deep talent pool in rounds two to four.
Based on the preparation the Als’ draft team does, the challenge to find the diamonds in the rough will be welcome.
“I can’t tell you how many hours of film we watch, but we all make our lists then try to come to a consensus,” says assistant GM Marcel Desjardins.
Scouts Uzooma Okeke, Joey Abrams and assistant coach Jean-Marc Edme all do their own rankings then thrash it out with Popp’s master list.
“We certainly do our due diligence,” admits Desjardins. “After all the CIS games we’ve seen in the fall, in December we really get into our film work. It’s the little details that let you set your final list. Health, off-field issues, they all impact what goes on between the lines. Some guys will fall off the list because of those off-field things.”
Though there is an abundance of Quebec-born players in this year’s draft, Okeke insists that the Als don’t use geography as a reason when selecting players.
Just look at the 2008 draft as an example. After selecting Quebec natives with their first pick in three out of four drafts leading up to 2008, the Als opted to pass on receiver Sam Giguere and select linebacker Shea Emry instead.
“We pick good homegrown talent because they’re good, not because they’re homegrown,” said Okeke.
“We sold Jim on Shea Emry. Our scouting staff had tracked Seha and really liked his intensity. Sometimes he sells us on a guy and sometimes we sell him on a player he might not know much about.
Despite letting go of valiant Canadians on special teams or trusty backups like Walter Spencer, Danny Desriveaux and Paul Woldu this off-season, Popp feels the club is still working in the deep end of the Canadian talent pool.
“We’ve groomed guys like Curtis Dublanko, Brian Ridgeway and we expect more from Chima Ihekwoaba—(all from the 2010 draft class,” Popp calmly pointed out.
“Blaine Ruttan and Reed Alexander have signed (fourth & sixth round picks from 2011). Guys we draft also often go NFL and we’re fine with waiting them out,” he added.
But in a more competitive East Division, how patient can the Alouettes afford to be?
“Remember this is a different type of draft. Immediate impact star players like quarterbacks just aren’t there,” said Popp, ever the realist.
In fact the Als have drafted Canadian quarterbacks before, but on the hope they’d have physical impact on opposing players.
“We really wanted Marc-Olivier Brouillette and knew everyone else was eyeing him late,” said Desjardins.
“We acted early on him (third-round, 2010) because we didn’t want to risk losing him. Sometimes you never know how star players from college are going to do on special teams. We knew he’d help us.”
However, despite the fact that the East is now far more competitive than it was one-year ago, Popp is adamant in that the Als will once again compete for the division title.
“The division crossover possibility and the fact we’re a gate-driven league means you always have a shot and you can’t afford to fail,” advises Popp.
While he confirms draft lottery scenarios have been discussed in the past, Popp’s burning issue is extending the draft rounds longer.
“Since I’ve been in Canada its shrunk from 12 rounds down to just six,” says the only GM the re-born Als have known since 1996.
“It’s always better to have more talent in the system. It’s good for our game and good for Canadian players.”
It is one thing to have an eye for talent, but another to have an open mind.
“Be sure about how you grade them and don’t worry about what others are saying or projecting,” says Okeke of the Als’ draft philosophy.
This after all, is a former CFL lineman of the year who talked Popp into signing the free agent son of his barber back home in Garland, Texas.
“We get tips all the time from Als fans, from anyone and everyone,” said Okeke.
“We’ve got a good player for our second-round pick, so not having a first-rounder doesn’t change the way we prepare…you just have to be sure you have all the info and it’s a solid player.”
