Coming off what can only be described as the worst year in the football program’s history, there’s really nowhere for the Redmen to go but up. On the field the team finished a dismal 1-7, but that was only the tip of the iceberg. Instead it was the black eye the franchise suffered as a result of the team’s hazing scandal which will be remembered as the legacy of the ’05 edition of Redmen Football.
But with a fresh start comes renewed optimism and Head Coach Chuck McMann, for one, would rather leave the past behind. “It’s behind us, it’s gone” McMann said. “Our expectations are to be in the playoffs and win a playoff game. That’s our goal for this year.”
Veterans will lead the wayThis year’s squad boasts a good mix of youth and experience, returning all but three of last year’s starters on offense. Among the big names back are 2004 all-conference quarterback Matt Connell and running back Michael Samman as well as guard Ben Walsh and slotback Greg Heatherington-both of whom were selected to the 2006 CIS East-West Bowl game.
With the offensive nucleus intact, much more will be expected. Last year, Connell, Heatherington and Samman all missed time, resulting in an offense that performed well yet at times seemed out of sync.
“Matt Connell should have a great year and Greg Heatherington is in his final year, that’s usually your good year as a receiver,” McMann said. “I think our strength again would be offence. We should be potentially even better than we were last year.”
Aside from all the veteran leadership the group could also feature as many as six freshmen, including a pair of highly touted recruits in receiver Patrick Dodd and offensive lineman Paul Reinlein. Also, look for young receivers Tim Kraemer and Erik Galas to take on a bigger responsibility with the team. Both showed their worth in limited roles last season and should be relied on more this year.
Lots of fresh facesA team is only as strong as its weakest link, and last year it was McGill’s inability to stop the opposition. They struggled all year to get stops at key moments but more to the point, they failed to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks and were abysmal against the run.
“As far as last year, it’s just like football. If you make a mistake on one play, you have to forget about it so you can get back and make a big play to redeem yourself,” said linebacker Jean-Nicholas Carrière.
That being said, maybe it’s a blessing that only four of last year’s starters have returned. Better still is the news that among last year’s starters it would be hard to pick out anyone who performed better then the four who have returned.
Carrière and David Riendeau are back to lead a talented linebacking corps which could turn out to be the defence’s strength. Both showed play making ability last season notching a combined 51.5 tackles, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one sack, one interception and a blocked field goal, and all this in just six games.
“As a defence, the main thing is just aggressiveness,” Carrière said. “We’re going to be a faster defence then anything else, not the biggest but definitely fast.”
The secondary, meanwhile, will be young and inexperienced. The group is anchored by safeties Dan St. Michael and Anthony Lucka who combined for five picks last season. But the loss of corners Addley Dufour-Monice and Frederik Martin will hurt the most as both were solid last season.
“We’re going to be young” McMann said. “But that’s ok; it means we’ll get better as the year goes on. It’s hard to tell now but we could have two or three freshmen starting on defence.”
Playoffs within reach of RedmenA favourable schedule could certainly help as the team will play lowly Bishop’s twice as well as St. Francis Xavier–against whom the Redmen earned their only ’05 victory-and a dismal Mt. Allison side that finished last season 0-8. In addition, the two biggest games of the year, against Concordia and Sherbrooke don’t come until October which should give the young defence a chance to get it’s footing. If they don’t, it could be another long year for the Redmen.
