Young Rouge et Or defense: “We are still in training camp mode”

With the departure of eight starters out of 12, some doubts hovered over the defense of the Rouge et Or de l’Université Laval at the start of the season, but Marc Fortier’s unit ranks first in the vast majority of defensive categories in the RSEQ at mid-season.

The Rouge et Or points in particular to 1^is rank for the number of points allowed (47) and the average yards per game (193). A perfectionist through and through, Fortier, however, refuses to get carried away.

“We are still in training camp mode,” he said. There has been progress, but we still have things to work on. There are new things every week for some. Our young people gain experience with each training session.

Fortier does not base himself on the number of points awarded to evaluate the work of his protégés. “I don’t correct the number of points on the board,” explained the former star defensive back of the Concordia Stingers. Sometimes it’s the mistakes of our opponents that mean they don’t succeed in a game despite the weaknesses we show them. I correct the communication and the placement of the players.

“The statistics are good, but we look at the process,” continued Fortier. We improve every week without losing a match. The guys want to learn and it’s motivating to see that. We have talent everywhere and good football athletes who need to learn to play together. Chemistry takes some time to learn.”

“He handles it like a boss”

With three new starters on the tertiary line, Fortier discovered a new reality. “I wasn’t coaching the tertiary line last year,” he said in all seriousness. It was the players who made the calls.

Used in every way in the past, but in his first year as a starter, safety Vincent Delisle exceeded the boss’s expectations. “I knew Vincent was good, but he plays really well,” said the Laval defensive coordinator. He has regained his enthusiasm. It responds well and there has been no learning curve. He handles it like a boss. His experience at the Alouettes camp gave him confidence and he realized that he belongs at this level.

While changing positions in the past was a challenge, Delisle believes it was a good learning experience. “It’s easier to have stability,” he admitted, “but my use allowed me to understand the system well. It’s paying dividends this year. It’s a big job to make sure all the guys are on the same page.”

Confidence in one’s means

Delisle assures that he always believed he could establish himself as a starter. “It’s a great reward for all the efforts over the years,” he summarized. I never lost faith that it would happen one day.”

The product of the Champlain College Cougars had no fears about the youth shift to the tertiary sector. “We lost some really good players, but the arrival of new ones can bring positive things and allow us to grow. It makes me think of big programs like Alabama or Michigan. Players enter as starters later in their development and they become picks of 1^re round in the NFL after waiting their turn.

“If there were doubts about us before the start of the season, we eliminated them, continuing the student with the master’s degree in business administration. We allowed less than 150 passing yards in each of our first four games. It’s the strong point of our defense.”

The very last pick in the 2024 CFL draft, Delisle took full advantage of his experience at the Alouettes camp. “I gained confidence by showing that I belonged.”