2011 CIS Football Team Preview: Montreal Carabins

Regular season record: 6-3
Regular season standing: 2nd
Playoffs record: 0-1
Final playoff game result: 33-26 loss vs Sherbrooke Vert & Or in the Conference semi-finals.

Despite the cloud of controversy under which Marc Santerre left the head coaching position with the University of Montreal Carabins, the Blues are kicking off the 2011 campaign with their eyes fixed ahead.

Danny Maciocia starts his university head coaching career on September 1st. He became the third skipper in the program’s history after 14 years as a professional.

The two-time Grey Cup winner with the Edmonton Eskimos is happy to tackle this new challenge. “It’s a privilege to be working at the University of Montreal. I wanted to find myself in a school with an excellent reputation, both in the classroom and on the field. Montreal meets all these criteria.”

The Carabins had their best start since 2004 last year with four straight victories, climbing up to third place within CIS’ Top 10 rankings. The Carabins ended the season second in the Quebec Conference and hosted a playoff match for a second consecutive year.

The Blues are looking ahead to continuing on this trend, but Maciocia is clear that nothing is won in advance for every player. « When I came on board, I wanted to put every counter back to zero. Each player must show me they can earn their starter spot. I’m looking forward to see them working together on the field during training camp. I can already guarantee this team will be built on speed.”

RB Rotrand Sené (Montreal, QC) is back for a third consecutive season after being selected on the CIS First All-Star Team and leading the nation with 1,155 rushing yards. Twice named Montreal’s MVP, Sené will work alongside his high school team mate Alexis Rousseau-Saine (Montreal, QC). The linesman was among the Quebec Conference All-Star Team last year and has been a starter in each of the 20 games the Carabins played since he arrived two years ago.

Montreal welcomes a pair of rookie WR from André-Grasset College, Mikhaïl Davidson (Montreal, QC) and Félix Prévost (Ste. Therese, QC). Both were elected to the D2 All-Star Team in 2009 and 2010 and won the Bol d’Or in 2010. Davidson lead the league in 2010 with 25,4 yards per catch and nine touchdowns. These two young men will work to erase the memory of Djems Kouamé (Montreal, QC) who has left to become a starter with the Toronto Argonauts, being drafted in the third round (18th pick) of the most recent CFL Draft.

On the other side of the ball, the team is glad to see the return of Quebec Conference’s 2010 Rookie of the Year David Ménard (Chicoutimi, QC) for a second season. Last year, Ménard set a new team record with nine sacks in a season. Many rookies will be worth a watch including Jean-Samuel Blanc (Montreal, QC) from Vanier College and Anthony Coady (Montreal, QC) from Vieux-Montréal. DL Blanc was a member of the College All-Star Team in 2009 and winner of the D1 Bol d’Or en 2010. DB Coady was a member of the D1 College All-Star Team in 2010 and won the Bol d’Or en 2009. Expect both to cause surprises.

Head coach Danny Maciocia’s record:
Seasons as head coach in Montreal (including 2011): 1
Seasons as head coach in CIS (including 2011): 1
Career regular season record in Montreal: 0-0
Career regular season record in CIS: 0-0
Career record (both regular season and playoffs) in Montreal: 0-0
Career record (both regular season and playoffs) in CIS: 0-0

OFFENCE

Offensive coordinator: Pat Gregory

Impact returning players: RB Rotrand Sené (Montreal, QC.), RB Olivier Renière (Trois-Rivières, QC.), R Jean-Christophe Morin-Phaneuf (Montreal, QC.), OL Alexis Rousseau-Saine (Montreal, QC.).

Key recruits (or newcomers & transfers): QB Yan Cyr (Laval, QC.), R Mikhaïl Davidson (Montreal, QC.), R Félix Prévost (Ste. Therese, QC.).

Key losses: R Frank Bruno (Montreal, QC.), R Djems Kouamé (Montreal, QC.), FB Mark Deluca (Montreal, QC.).

DEFENCE

Defensive coordinator : Denis Touchette

Impact returning players: LB Jonathan Beaulieu-Richard (Trois-Rivieres, QC.), DL Garlins Duclervil (Quebec, QC.), DL David Ménard (Chicoutimi, QC.), DB Olivier Fréchette-Lemire (Montreal, QC.), DB Antoine Pruneau (Montreal, QC.).

Key recruits (or newcomers & transfers): DL Jean-Samuel Blanc (Montreal, QC.), DB Anthony Coady (Montreal, QC.), LB William St-Laurent (St. Bruno, QC.).

Key losses: DB Jean-Gardy Clermont (Montreal, QC.), DB Julien Hamel (Boucherville, QC.), DL Gregory Alexandre (Montreal, QC.).