Alouettes’ Emry delivering standout season
Sidelined by concussions in past two years, he leads a ramshackle defence in tackles
It should come as no great surprise that one of the best players on the Alouettes’ defence — a unit that charitably still remains a work in progress two-thirds through the season — is a guy who wondered whether his career was over, almost before it began.
If 2011 was among the darkest moments for middle-linebacker Shea Emry, the fog has been lifted, figuratively and literally, this season, the 26-year-old flourishing after recovering from his second concussion in three years.
“This is it, why I’m out here. I take nothing for granted,” Emry said following Thursday’s practice at Stade Hébert. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity after (it) essentially being taken away. Who knows how long it could have lasted? You take in every moment, because it could be your last.”
The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Emry, a first-round (seventh overall) draft choice in 2008, is having a career season, and is quietly starting to garner attention as a potential outstanding Canadian nominee. Emry is flying to the ball, which has been his trademark, and remains one of the reasons why Montreal’s defence, despite some apparent deficiencies, continues to remain strong against the run, allowing an average of 92.4 yards rushing per game.
The Richmond, B.C., native leads the Als in defensive tackles, with 61, and has four quarterback sacks. He has never produced more than 58 tackles in a season, and had only three career sacks entering 2012.
“The guy’s passionate,” defensive co-ordinator Jeff Reinebold said. “He’s very smart and studies the game. Shea wants to learn. He’s hungry for knowledge and wants to take his game to the next step. He has turned into an extremely productive player.”
With Reinebold’s new defensive structure, the focus is placed on the middle-linebacker to make tackles, while thwarting potential big plays. Predictably, Emry and fellow linebacker Chip Cox are the team’s tackling leaders, Cox two behind Emry.
Defensive-backs Seth Williams and Wopamo Osaisai are next, with a relatively modest 32 tackles each, mean- ing Montreal’s linebackers are covering their ground. It’s a dangerous precedent when members of the secondary are making too many stops.
Emry suffered a concussion in late-August 2011, at Calgary. He was cleared to play once, late in the season, only to suffer a relapse, then was scratched again before the East Division semifinal, after developing food poisoning. When the Als were eliminated in double-overtime by Hamilton, Emry could only wait and wonder over the winter to see how his head would react to this punishing game.
Emry also missed two games in 2009 with a concussion.
“It means a lot to be back on the field,” he said. “Last season, I had anxiety, wondering whether I’d be able to play at the same level ... whether I’d play at all. I broke the barriers and the mental blocks down at training camp that I worried about all off-season.”
Emry wasn’t relegated to a dark room, constant hours of lying on his couch. But neither was he allowed to roam unencumbered, plagued by headaches and dizziness, while sensitive to light.
“It was four months of sitting on my butt at home, doing nothing,” he remembered. “I was so restless, trying to figure stuff to do. I was dying (inside). I couldn’t do anything.”
Emry admits he must improve his drops into pass coverage. He also must ensure players are aligned properly, since he is calling the defensive plays after receiving Reinebold’s signal from the sideline.
The Als are coming off one of their best defensive efforts this season, against Saskatchewan, limiting the Roughriders to one touchdown and a pair of field goals. But that effort came against rookie quarterback Drew Willy, making his first Canadian Football League start.
This Sunday, against the Toronto Argonauts at Molson Stadium, the Als will face Ricky Ray — 10 seasons removed from rookie status.
“We have a long way to go before becoming what’s considered a good defence,” Reinebold admitted. “We’ve shown signs at times, but consistency is the mark of all great defences. We have to show we can do that, against an elite-level quarterback.
“Elite-level quarterbacks,” Reinebold added, “can humble you — fast.”