In 2011, there’s no hiding the fact that injuries curtailed the Montreal Alouettes hopes of winning a third consecutive Grey Cup.
The team's depth was so depleted to the point that it seemed they were literally signing players off the street.
But one injury that deeply hobbled the Alouettes was linebacker Shea Emry. When the UBC product went down with an upper body injury it hurt the ratio status, given that he is a non-import playing a position normally occupied by an American.
But beyond Emry’s ratio status, he has the explosiveness to burst through the gaps to make a play in the backfield. He has the quickness and speed needed to keep up step for step with the inside receivers. Finally he has a high football IQ that enabled him to dissect a play before it happened.
When he went down, the team was missing these essentials on the field. Not to say that his cohorts were incapable of replacing him in the lineup. But it is hard duplicate this.
With much rumoured talk of new defensive coordinator Jeff Reinebold toying with the idea of implementing a 3-4 base formation. This would require Emry and the second level players to make plays.
If the team employs this new look defense, it could bode well to Emry’s skills. The linebackers would be required to be very active as the front three defensive linemen will eat up space for them.
For Emry this might have been a very long offseason. But for those who have seen online his offseason workouts with teammate Etienne Boulay, Emry looks primed, and ready to go.
Already the competition is heating up given the Alouettes have signed in Rod Davis, and Mark Restelli to loaded position.
Furthermore, with the release of former starter Ramon Guzman, it could serve as a warning that no player’s job is safe. Every linebacker will have to earn their repetitions. Emry is eager to repay the faith that the Alouettes have in him.
If the organization is to make it back to the Grey Cup in Toronto, it will be imperative that Emry is healthy and terrorizing opponents on the football field.
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Photo Credit: www.cbc.ca
of course your MLB is important to your D especially if he's a C!!
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