Kelly Jeffrey, head honcho of the Mount Allison Mounties, believes his team possesses an outstanding array of defensive players, especially in the secondary, and now is the ideal time to have a person with extensive experience to take over as defensive coordinator.
And in choosing Scott Annand he has obtained the services of a man who has coached at every level from peewee to training camps with the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills. He has also worked camps for the Montreal Alouettes and just recently returned from a three-week stint with the Calgary Stampeders. The 48-year-old school teacher has been seconded by the Truro school board for three months to work with the Mounties.
Annand played football for Cobequid Education Centre and St. Mary's Huskies and coached the secondary for St. FX for six years and for most of the last 12 years has worked with the Huskies, much of it under Blake Nill, who is considered a defensive guru.
Jefffrey says the new coach is one of those people who can get his charges to play above themselves. And this may be a requirement since the Mounties in 2009 allowed 76 more points than the previous year – a grand total of 348 in eight games while scoring 124. The team has often been termed "predictable" on defense and Annand says he expects to change that image with an entirely new package of schemes designed to fit the available talent.
He says he expects a high-energy output, with each player performing to his best at all times.
"We will play with passion and emotion, being physical and will leave nothing undone on the field."
The Mounties open training camp later this week but prior to that Annand will have the opportunity to assess the talent available to him. This will include strength and speed testing among other aspects.
Nearly the entire defensive secondary lineup from 2009 will be back for another season with added experience. Returning are such well known and highly respected performers as Bradley Daye, Jerome Oram, Luke Ekoh and Matt Thompson.
However, Ekoh has enjoyed a great off season, muscling up from 188 to over 200 pounds and is a prime candidate to join the talented Ben Halpern at the linebacking position. Kwansi Antwi, who was the team's leading tackler in 2009, is being considered for a defensive end position and could combine with Ryan Downe to give the team two quick players in key spots.
The defensive line could again be the Mounties' Achilles heel unless some of the rather large recruits are prepared to fill up the middle, giving Halpern an extra split second to make his move.
Annand says he wants to eliminate the big play where the opposition breaks away for an 80- or 90-yard touchdown. This has been a problem in the past and he believes there is sufficient talent, if properly utilized, to prevent this type of breakdown.
"It will be our goal to force teams to drive the entire field if they are to score against us," he says, "and we must eliminate any "freebies."
Annand has absorbed football knowledge from such famous coaches as Joe Paterno, Merv Levy, Joe Popp and Chris Jones and believes he is prepared to apply his skills for the Mounties and force other teams to have second thoughts whenever his team appears on their schedule. But he feels it will take a few days during training camp to fully assess the talent available and then determine where each can make the best contribution.
Some changes have been made in the coaching staff as Jeffrey has reached out for what he believes are the best possible minds for football. He will, naturally, coordinate the offense and handle quarterbacks as that was his position in US college ball. Annand will coordinate the defense and devote a good deal of time to the defensive line that must be rebuilt. Pete Miller, a former X-Man and long-time coach with the MacNaughton Warriors, will have the linebacking assignment and the two expect to work closely to build a strong front seven that will harass the opposing signal callers and thus allow the secondary to do their jobs.
Gaetan Richard, who has done a magnificent job with the offensive line for the past couple of years, will have the same assignment and has a strong corps returning.
Veteran Kevin Artichuk will be back to instruct the receivers and long time Harrison Trimble coach Perry Kukkonen will attempt to improve the running game. Former All-Canadian DB Jock Gemmell will handle the special teams and Academic All Canadian Scott Brady will work with the defensive secondary.
As many as 82 prospects, including 55 returnees, will be put through their paces during the next few days in the hopes of having everything working like a well-oiled machine for the home opener on Sept. 11 against the St. Francis Xavier X-Men, which will be the annual Homecoming Game.
Jeffrey quickly points out that all 12 starting offensive players from 2009 will be back, including the premiere performer in Canadian college football, Gary Ross. With a year of play under his belt, quarterback Jake Hotchkiss is expected to be far above this time a year ago and eager to post his first of many victories. The coach says he believes Mount Allison will be the only team in the conference with a returning quarterback.
Special teams will feature a new kicker who will be coached by former punter/kicker Olivier Eddie and who is being viewed as a future All-Conference star.
While the team will lean heavily on the pass with so many great hands including those of Ross, Adam Molnar, Jared Collett, Jarett King and Ben Stehr in the receiving positions, an improved ground attack may be expected, which should enhance the air game.
Jeffrey is confident the team will be more than adequate in the offensive line, at quarterback, receiving and in the defensive secondary. He says Annand will face a challenge to create an outstanding defensive line but he looks forward to a fine season and a playoff position.
