Alouettes turn to Île-Bizard speedster Marc-Antoine Dequoy at safety

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It was expected the Alouettes would use an import at safety this season, but the position will belong to Canadian Marc-Antoine Dequoy when Montreal opens its 2022 schedule Thursday night at Calgary.

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The Île-Bizard native is relatively inexperienced, but believes he’s well equipped for the responsibility the position entails. And, as long as we don’t see the back of his jersey too frequently — because he’s been beaten by a receiver — he could become a fixture in the middle of the secondary.

“Just put the best player out there; that was my thinking,” Dequoy said Tuesday after practice. “They proved to me the thinking was right, since I’m playing. To me, actions speak louder than words. Now the action is we don’t care about the ratio. We want the best player. To me, that’s a winning mentality. And I’m grateful for this mentality.”

Dequoy, selected 14th overall in 2020 by the Als, dressed for eight games last season, mostly on special teams. He made his first start in early September at Ottawa, replacing an injured Ty Cranston. But Dequoy suffered a hand injury in the first half and spent six games sidelined. Dequoy also played in the East Division semifinal at Hamilton, producing a sack.

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During the early stages of training camp last month, Wesley Sutton was the starting safety. But by the second week, Dequoy was with the starters while Sutton moved to cornerback.

“As young as our secondary is, at that point, it doesn’t matter who you’re practicing with, I just need you to lead the team,” defensive coordinator Barron Miles said. “With a younger group, they’re more likely to follow him. I told him that scenario. It doesn’t matter which group you’re with. If you’re a leader, they’re going to follow you.”

And in Miles’ defensive system, the safety has to be a vocal leader because he’s relaying the signals from the sideline to his fellow secondary members.

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“He’s in the middle of the field,” Miles said. “He sees and hears everything. He has to be vocal and tell everyone where to go. Whether it’s right or wrong, he has to make them believe it’s right and get them to do what needs to be done to get the play finished.”

Miles doesn’t appear overly concerned with Dequoy’s lack of experience, noting every player was raw and untested at one point.

“He’s going to sink or swim and you’re hoping he swims,” he said. “He’s a very good athlete who understands the game. Now, it’s putting it all together. Getting them to trust their instincts and trust what they see — that’s the hardest thing right now.”

Dequoy, a 6-foot-3, 195-pounder, might be the fastest player on the Als’ defense. He attended camp with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent before signing with Montreal, so the potential is there.

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“It’s about being confident,” Dequoy said. “I’m really confident about this position even though I’ve never started. I feel it’s natural for me to be there. I don’t feel pressure. I feel it’s my time to show who I am and to play the game I love.

“I’m just going to take the responsibilities that come to me,” he added. “On the field, the safety’s the voice of the defense. That’s what I’m going to be. You want to make sure all the communication comes across to everybody. It’s my job to be more of a leader. It’s going to come naturally to me.”

While CFL teams are required to start seven Canadians, the Als are expected to use eight — four offensive linemen, two receivers, linebacker Chris Ackie and Dequoy.

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