Unforeseen Results Revealed
Just 24 hours ago, no one would have guessed the Montreal Alouettes were about to hand the starting running back position to Sean Thomas Erlington. That's precisely what transpired, shocking everyone.
Nicholas Richard, our man Here's what went down. On Saturday night, the Alouettes axed 20 players, and Walter Fletcher, their main ball carrier from last season, was number 12 on the list. In contrast to expectations, the organization severed ties with the 28-year-old player who had garnered solid performances in 17 games, earning him a spot among the league's top CFL running backs.
With Fletcher's departure, the spotlight shifted to Stevie Scott III and Travis Theis, two rising stars from training camp. Scott III joined the Alouettes in February 2024, while Theis made a recent arrival.
Scott III showcased his potential in the two exhibition games against the Ottawa Redblacks, amassing 44 rushing yards and 40 receiving yards. What set him apart was his height (6'2") and weight (231 lbs) advantage over Fletcher, as well as his exceptional pass protection and physical strength.
Despite Scott III's impressive performance, this wasn't the sole factor in his favor. Head coach Jason Maas highlighted that Erlington, a former Université de Montréal Carabins player, had been rock-solid during the training sessions, consistently practicing with only minor misses. Additionally, Erlington had been tearing it up in camp, displaying his aptitude in pass protection and demonstrating his physical prowess by shedding tackles.
What made Erlington's promotion truly surprising was his age (32) and past injury history. Last season, Erlington had a personal best of 70 carries with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and had never started a game. However, his experience and reliability during training camp seemed to outweigh these concerns.
In fact, many believed that Stevie Scott III would get the starting nod instead, as Fletcher's departure had been linked to his good performances during camp. But, as it turns out, things aren't always as straightforward.
Though team management has remained tight-lipped about Erlington, it's no secret among insiders that he delivered a fantastic camp and displayed a deep understanding of the offensive game plan. However, Erlington is aware that there's always room for improvement, and he's determined to prove himself week after week.
"It feels like I have everything to lose," admitted Erlington.
Coach Maas, however, is confident in his decision to start Erlington, viewing him as more than capable of excelling in the role. In an additional twist, given that American Donny Ventrelli has taken the place of Philippe Gagnon on the offensive line, the Alouettes needed a Canadian starter to meet the league's ratio requirement. Erlington, being a Canadian, was evidently a valuable asset in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Alouettes also cut receiver Jordan Veasy loose after a strong training camp performance. Despite Veasy's impressive preseason game with four touchdowns and 63 yards, the coaches decided not to insert him into the already packed starting lineup of talented receivers for the first game. Maciocia explained that it was a mutual decision, as there were differences in their evaluation of the camp and the preseason games.
Sean Thomas Erlington's exceptional performance and understanding of the offensive game plan during training sessions were pivotal in earning him the starting running back position in football, despite his age and past injury history. The Montreal Alouettes, in need of a Canadian starter to meet the league's ratio requirement, found a valuable asset in Erlington, given that American Donny Ventrelli replaced Philippe Gagnon on the offensive line.
