2023-08-17 11:00:00
MONTREAL – It sounds crazy to ask little Tyler Snead to block a defensive end to which he concedes 70 pounds and almost a foot. But it works! A veritable nugget of gold unearthed by the Alouettes, Snead has shone in many ways since his arrival in Montreal.
After waiting for his turn for three games, Snead got his first start on July 9, and in his second game he caught three touchdowns.
At five-foot-seven and 174 pounds, his receiving skills are already amazing.
But it’s really with his stunning ability to block larger opponents that Snead amazes the gallery. And let’s face it, his teammates and coaches too.
We hear “Oh! “, of the ” what ! and words that cannot be written here in the Alouettes’ meetings when the coaches show the rest of the team mind-blowing blocks made by Snead.
The best example came on August 5 in Hamilton. Early in the fourth quarter, the Tiger-Cats lead 14-9 and head coach Jason Maas decides to pull out all the stops. flea flicker which requires maximum protection due to its longer deployment.
Where it surprises is that Snead is installed at the corner of the line, near the blocker on the left, Nick Callender. In front of them stands defensive end Tre Crawford (six-foot-three, 245 pounds) licking his chops seeing Snead in front of him.
Logically, Crawford darted towards Snead thinking of pulverizing him and getting a quarterback sack. Snead reacted instead with a sensational three-second block allowing Cody Fajardo to unleash a 43-yard bomb to Quartney Davis.
The funniest thing regarding the story is that the huge Callender (six-foot-six, 321 pounds) didn’t even have to help Snead stop Crawford.
“Sometimes when he’s around me I want to help him and protect him, but I see him go and it’s like he doesn’t need me, it’s cool to see,” said called Callender with a smile of admiration.
“Snead is a bully! He does everything that is asked of him. It’s crazy to see him doing so well once morest very large players,” added the blocker.
The sharp eye of our colleague and analyst Pierre Vercheval was quick to spot Snead’s important blocks. In a light-hearted tone, he recounted that he was becoming his number one supporter.
This is exactly the effect that Snead produces in his team. Here are the words of Luc Brodeur-Jourdain, the offensive line coach, regarding him.
“I haven’t seen this very often in my career! To see the blocks he performs and hold them for a few seconds is exceptional. He manages to do it with a very solid technique. It was taught to him in his youth and it is anchored in him,” boasted Brodeur-Jourdain.
“During the match, you don’t have time to realize everything he does. But viewing the images once more, we see that it is very impressive. Even on racing games, for a little guy, he’ll walk around with the bigger ones and he’ll dish out some punches! It’s really fun to be able to bet on a player as combative as him, ”chained guard Pier-Olivier Lestage who knows regarding the art of jostling his opponents.
However, Snead welcomes the amazement of his teammates with humility.
“It’s true that sometimes guys are surprised and it’s fun. But I don’t really want to see it as a big accomplishment. I know I can do it, ”reacted the 23-year-old American.
Snead’s confidence comes from his relentlessness.
“Since I was young, my dad has always coached me and he’s small too, so he always taught me to give it my all on the pitch and have a go-getter attitude,” he said. .
“Actually, I like it to contribute with a block. It’s also nice to be close to the offensive line players. Makes me feel a little bigger! laughed Snead.
To get to play three preseason games, including a touchdown, with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, the work has to pay off. But it also requires a great deal of intelligence.
“I learned a few techniques from the offensive linemen. I observe them and I sometimes listen to the instructions. It’s my reality to be the smallest player on the field so I try to reproduce their everything, I like to learn regarding the other positions, “explained the one who studied communications at East Carolina University.
Besides, his college coaches liked to say that he was, pound for pound, the toughest player in the United States.
An observation that no one will contradict with the Alouettes and probably soon throughout the CFL. The Birds’ coaches therefore intend to continue to maximize Snead’s amazing arsenal.
“As soon as a pass is completed, his reaction is to turn around and go find the first successful block. It’s intuitive in him and he’s not afraid of anything. We try to put him in situations that represent challenges, “said Brodeur-Jourdain regarding the player whose father, Scott, was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1991.
And how do you think Snead reacted following answering our questions generously? He raced full speed across the field for extra time following practice.
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