Montreal Alouettes Thread

[jerrym]

Boris Bede's back.

.@BrizzyUL17 will be back with the #AlsMTL! The former Rouge et Or player has signed a new one-year deal. #IsItJuneYet pic.twitter.com/h4gp1ATk01

— #AlsMTL (@MTLAlouettes) February 14, 2017

[jerrym]

While the #AlsMTL have made offers to Jabar Westerman and Jacory Harris, the contracts haven't been registered yet, according to Kavis Reed.

— Herb Zurkowsky (@HerbZurkowsky1) February 15, 2017

[jerrym]

Als are considering pursuing Rider OL Thaddeus Coleman.

Kavis Reed said #AlsMTL are watching film on Thaddeus Coleman, reviewing @Deanejmi64 medical history.

— Herb Zurkowsky (@HerbZurkowsky1) February 15, 2017

[jerrym]

BREAKING: Three-year deal for defensive end Jabar Westerman @BigWest99 👉 https://t.co/bkHT6qroRJ #AlsMTL pic.twitter.com/0hmtbrfA9j

— #AlsMTL (@MTLAlouettes) February 15, 2017

[jerrym]

Update with signing of Jacory Harris: Alouettes add QB Harris, lose Venable, Brouillette and White to free agency https://t.co/nYaW6Ake4k

— Herb Zurkowsky (@HerbZurkowsky1) February 15, 2017

[jerrym]

told terms for WR Ernest Jackson deal with @MTLAlouettes will see him paid around $220 K per year on a two-year deal #cfl @cfl

— gary lawless (@garylawless) February 16, 2017

[jerrym]

Als have signed National DT Don Oramasionwu away from the Eskimos.

I'm also hearing #AlsMTL have signed non-import DT @DonnyO93 from @EdmontonEsks

— Herb Zurkowsky (@HerbZurkowsky1) February 16, 2017

[jerrym]

National Michael Klassen has resigned with the Als through 2017.

Klassen (6’5”, 275 lbs.) will be entering his fifth season in the Canadian Football League, all of which has been played in the Alouettes uniform. He was a fourth round (32nd total) selection by the Alouettes during the 2013 CFL Canadian Draft. The Calgary, AB native missed a good part of the season after being placed on the six-game injury list in August. He played seven games in 2016. Michael Klassen collected a total of 52 defensive tackles, including eight quarterback sacks in 54 regular season games in career. The 25-year-old athlete also forced two fumbles. He is a product of the University of Calgary Dinos football program.
The Alouettes also announced the signing of Donald Oramasionwu to a one-year contract.
Oramasionwu (6’02”, 290 lbs.) joins the Alouettes after spending five years with the Edmonton Eskimos. He was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the fifth round (39^th total) in the 2008 CFL Canadian Draft. Before coming to Montreal, Oramasionwu had 107 regular season appearances, collecting 104 defensive tackles as well as 18 quarterback sacks in eight seasons with Winnipeg and Edmonton respectively. He also forced four fumbles. The 30-year-old athlete played in the 103^rd Grey Cup game against the Ottawa REDBLACKS in front of friends and family in Winnipeg, helping the Edmonton Eskimos engraved their names on the Grey Cup. He registered one defensive tackle in that game. The Winnipeg, MB native, played his collegiate career home, suiting up for the University of Manitoba Bisons football program, where he won a national championship in 2007. He recorded 36 defensive tackles as well as a sack and a fumble recovery during his senior year with the Bisons. He was named Canada-West All-Star on top of being recognized with the CIS All-Canadian honour.

http://en.montrealalouettes.com/2017...chael-klassen/

[jerrym]

Herb Zurkowsky looks at Als gains and losses so far.

Kavis Reed, the Alouettes’ new general manager, has a simple philosophy when it comes to building a football team — you can never have enough quarterbacks or Canadians.
He displayed that Wednesday night, when the team announced the addition of former B.C. Lions non-import, nose-tackle Jabar Westerman to a three-year contract. The 6-foot-2, 280-pounder has spent five seasons with the Lions, who selected him second overall in 2012. He had five sacks in 16 games last season — including three in two games against Montreal — increasing his career total to 17.
Westerman, 27, would probably still be with B.C., but became a victim of the salary cap. He earned approximately $140,000 with the Lions, who want to go to an all-import defensive line.
“He works hard. He’s a good football player. But his salary, for us, was just too high,” said Wally Buono, the Lions’ general manager and head coach, who always seems to know the opportune time to jettison a player. “He’s a solid player. He can play inside and outside.
“If he and Keith Shologan split, you’ll get good production out of both. We went with six defensive linemen and kept him fresh. He played maybe 40 snaps a game and it worked out well.”

Westerman’s arrival reunites him with veteran B.C. defensive-back Ryan Phillips, who signed a one-year deal with Montreal on Tuesday, the opening-day of CFL free agency.
Earlier Wednesday, the Als announced the signing of yet another quarterback, Jacory Harris, who played only one game over two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. It was also reported special-teams player Daryl Townsend has re-signed. Harris signed for two years.
But the Als also suffered some significant losses to their defence, which had been expected, losing weak-side linebacker Winston Venable to Toronto and safety Marc-Olivier Brouillette to Saskatchewan. As well Ryan White, a backup offensive lineman, signed with the Roughriders.
Both Venable and Brouillette took significant pay cuts with their new teams. Venable, who earned $200,000 with Montreal, will receive $140,000 from the Argonauts in 2017. Brouillette earned $140,000 last season, but will be paid about $110,000 by Saskatchewan. Both players signed for two years.

http://montrealgazette.com/sports/fo...stockpiles-qbs

[jerrym]

Jacory Harris discusses his signing and future with the Als in the video below.

http://en.montrealalouettes.com/2017...-for-the-fans/

[jerrym]

The following article discusses Alouettes' signings during free agency, including ST/safety Daryl Townsend.

http://www.pressreader.com/canada/mo...81930247738322

[R.J]

Not as much as initially reported.

Le salaire d'Ernest Jackson sera de $160 000 en 2017 et $180 000 en 2018. / Ernest Jackson's salary for 2017: $160 K & 180 K for 2018. @CFL

— Didier Orméjuste (@DidierRDS) February 17, 2017

[jerrym]

Also hearing #Alouettes have added WR Philip Enchill. He's a local product, won a Vanier Cup with U of MTL and was with the Redblacks in '16

— Joey Alfieri (@joeyalfieri) February 14, 2017

[jerrym]

Two more Als have resigned with the team.

BREAKING: Happy to announce the signings of new deals for @brandon_rutley and @Mr_Consistent_2! #IsItJuneYet #AlsMTL pic.twitter.com/4WtVRHAjge

— #AlsMTL (@MTLAlouettes) February 20, 2017

[KCargosfan]

Did Marc Olivier-Brouelette have a down year last season? Taking a $30K paycut as a Canadian surprises me.

Also, they overpaid for Earnest Jackson IMO.

[KCargosfan]

Also, paying $100K for a 34-year-old defensive back is not smart.

[jerrym]

In two separate trades, Montreal has picked up older players (29 year old LB Plesius and 31 year old OL Simmons) from the Tiger Cats for two much younger players (24 year old Ethan Davis and 24 LB Nicholas Shortill). Giving up younger cheaper players could the Als more than money.

[jerrym]

Below is an interview with S J Green who is excited to be able to hook with Durant on pass routes.

Green has emerged as one of the CFL’s top receivers throughout his 10-year career with the Alouettes, racking up 6,626 receiving yards and 42 touchdowns. The five-time East Division All-Star helped the Alouettes win back-to-back Grey Cup Championships in 2009 and 2010. Rebounding from last year’s devastating injury has been a challenge for Green, a 6-foot-2, 216-pound receiver — but the process, he says, has been rewarding.
“This has been the most invigorating off-season I’ve had in a long time, just based on the fact that I had to do so much to get back to where I was and more,” said Green. “It’s been fun. It’s been a challenge. But I still have three months left and I’m looking forward to putting the finishing touches on before camp. I’ve been building myself back up from ground zero,” he added. “So there’s been a difference in my training this off-season – learning how to do different things all over again and training my body and my mind to just trust itself.” ...
A healthy S.J. Green would help the Montreal Alouettes in spades. First-year general manager Kavis Reed has been busy re-shaping the new-look Alouette offence, which will be led by long-time Rider Darian Durant and last year’s East Division Most Outstanding Player Ernest Jackson. Green is hoping for more than just a front row seat.
“Darian Durant is a quarterback that I’ve admired ever since we competed in the Grey Cup in 2009 and 2010,” said Green. “If I didn’t have Calvillo on my team at that point, I would have wanted Durant. I’m very excited to have him here in Montreal. The addition of Ernest Jackson too – I’ve watched him grow and mature since he started back in BC. To finally have the opportunity to work with him here in Montreal, to be able to help him learn and him help me learn is a process I’m looking forward to, with the addition of Nik Lewis as well. With him coming back there’s going to be a good mixture of veterans in the room.”

http://www.cfl.ca/2017/03/01/s-j-green-ready-camp/

[jerrym]

Montreal has a new Special Teams Coordinator - Bruce Read.

Read comes to the Alouettes with over 30 years of football coaching experience in the NFL and NCAA. He has dedicated his entire coaching career to special teams, having coached that position exclusively throughout the years.
During the last two seasons, Read was the Special Teams Coordinator for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, where his protégé Sam Foltz was selected the 2015 punter of the year in the Big Ten Conference. That same year, his placekicker Drew Brown made 21 field goals, the second-highest total in Nebraska history. Also, the kickoff coverage team finished among the top 25 in the nation.
“We are thrilled to add a coach as accomplished as Bruce Read to coach our special teams,” said Alouettes Head Coach Jacques Chapdelaine. “His experience, at the professional and college level, his attention to detail and his passion make him a great addition to our strong coaching staff, which is now complete for the next season.”
Before joining the Cornhuskers, the 55-year-old coach was the Special Teams Coordinator for the Oregon State University Beavers from 2009 to 2014. During his third stint there, he saw his returner and former Alouette James Rodgers set a new school record in 2011 with 6,377 all-purpose yards, including 2,385 return yards.
The Santa Rosa, CA native also coached with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and San Diego Chargers in the NFL. He made his coaching debut with the University of Montana Grizzlies.

http://en.montrealalouettes.com/2017...s-coordinator/

[jerrym]

The Als have signed National OT Sean Jamieson and International OT Patrick Colbert and Vincent Brown.

Colbert (6’06”, 305 lbs.) is coming to the Alouettes after spending five years with the Baylor University Bears, where he mostly played as tackle, while also appearing on special teams. The 26-year-old lineman was an important part of the group that propelled the Bears running game in 2014, which ranked second in the Big 12 conference with a 215.5 yards per game average. That same year, he was a member of Baylor’s offensive line which allowed an average of 1.85 quarterback sack per game. During his sophomore year in 2013, he suited up for all 13 games, helping the Bear’s offence become one of the most dominant in the country as it set a NCAA record of 681 points throughout the season, all while gaining an impressive 618.8 yards per game. The Kilgore, TX native was named on the Big 12 conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2014.

Jamieson (6’07”, 316 lbs.) was the Alouettes third round pick (20th overall) in the 2016 CFL Canadian Draft. The Winnipeg, MB native suited up for the club’s two preseason games following that draft selection. The 22-year-old lineman then went back to Western University to complete his collegiate career with the Mustangs. Jamieson experienced a senior year to remember, as he was named the OUA lineman of the year, in addition to receiving a third consecutive nomination on the U Sports’ First Team All-Star. He dressed up for 30 games during his time with the Mustangs. The versatile lineman mostly played at tackle, but also has experience at the guard and centre positions.
Brown (6’05”, 301 lbs.) played three seasons with the Southern Mississippi University Golden Eagles, playing at both tackle positions, before transferring to Pittsburg State University. This marks the 25-year-old’s second stint in Montreal, as he was a member of the Alouettes’ practice squad in 2015.

http://en.montrealalouettes.com/2017...nsive-linemen/