Boutette tackles to the top
By Ryan Rogers
Sports Editor
October 10, 2007
 Lancer Defensive Back Kyle Boutette, in only five games so far this season, has amassed an OUA league leading 35.5 tackles and is 1.5 tackles shy of leading all of Canada’s undergraduate football. With 31 solo tackles and 9 assisted, only Simon Fraser’s Mark Bailey is ahead of Boutette anywhere in Canadian Intervarsity Sports.
Head coach Mike Morencie said, “[Boutette’s a] real aggressive kid, and very intuitive on the field. He’s always where he’s supposed to be, he’s real good at that.”
Defensive Back Coach Jon Binns agreed, “He’s very confident and very capable, at covering the pass as well. He plays with great confidence, but not too extreme, and he’s a great team player.” He added, “[Kyle’s a] positive leader on and off the field.”
As for off the field, Binns says Boutette works with the rest of the defensive backs to make sure the team is doing the best it can. “He’s almost like an assistant coach,” said Binns. “He teaches the younger kids the techniques we’re looking for,” he continued.
“I think he’s great instinctual player within coach Morencie’s scheme, which is ‘think and react.’ He reacts well to whatever is thrown at him,” affirmed Binns.
Aggressiveness is Boutette’s bread and butter while on the field. “He’s very aggressive... and he’s very strong,” said Binns.
Those attributes lend themselves handily to the team’s motto, ‘If you’re going to make a mistake, make sure you do it at full speed.’ The idea is, even if you’re out of position or unsure of what you’re supposed to be doing, you can still contribute by hitting someone fast and hard.
Binns says that hitting people hard is another favourite feature of Boutette. “Some people have a love for hitting, and Kyle really has that love for hitting people... It’s an attitude you have to have, you either have that attitude or you don’t,” said Binns. “You look for that when you recruit.”
Born and raised in Windsor, Boutette has been interested in playing for Windsor since he played at Holy Name where he served as captain. “It’s my hometown, and I went to high school here and played junior here. I respect Mr. Morencie a lot and I grew up with his kid [Offensive Linesman Matt Morencie], so I mean, it was pretty much my only choice,” he said.
Boutette said he credits the good technique taught to him by his coaches, and his sense of pride, for helping him play as aggressively as he has.
“I’m a really proud guy, and the way I look at hitting is, I’d rather hit them and knock them down then have them him me and make me look like an idiot,” he laughed.
“It’s all proper technique, basically I’m going to take the guy down, no matter which way,” he continued. But it’s hard practicing hitting really hard. “You know what, that’s probably my biggest weakness. I hate hitting my teammates hard. Basically I’ve got to just work on technique and wrapping up and just wait for game time,” said Boutette.
But once game time comes, he loves to get out there and take guys out. His favourite part? “It’s the entire thing, the sound of hitting, how hard he falls to the ground, and then the reaction of your teammates afterwards. It just gets you fired up,” he smiled.
While he gets teased from time to time because he’s fully aware of his national ranking in tackles, he admits it’s difficult to ignore the statistics. “There’s a lot of people in your ear telling you what you are [ranked],” said Boutette.
“I just like to make plays. I would rather it be me at the ball, than to let someone else make the plays. I just try and make the plays. I’m not out there just to get tackles or sacks, I’m just helping the team by doing my thing,” he said.
Coach Binns has been working on using Boutette in more roles than one. “I’ve tried to move him to safety, which is a different concept. He will play that eventually, but he has to understand more pass coverage and assignments,” said Binns.
Boutette agreed, “Binnsy likes to move guys around. Especially when he mentions stuff like the CFL. Canadian players have to know every safety position, if they want to play.”
With Boutette’s aggressive play and leadership, the Lancers are hoping to overcome the impact of their latest losing streak and beat out the Western Mustangs and the York Lions in a battle for the remaining playoff spot in the OUA.
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