Montreal Alouettes Thread

[jerrym]

LB Henoc Muamba has signed with the Als through 2020, giving them a major upgrade in their National talent.

The Montreal Alouettes announced on Thursday that the club has signed 29-year-old national linebacker Hénoc Muamba to a three-year deal. #AlsMTL

📄 ➡️ https://t.co/SKPR9BWOvf pic.twitter.com/uCOpK4lPEt

— #AlsMTL (@MTLAlouettes) April 12, 2018

[jerrym]

Despite the fact that I am far from being a Kavis Reed fan, he has started to increase his National depth. However, major questions remain. None of these is more important than at QB where it remains to be seen whether Freeman can get the job done and whether Willy is a spent force. After overspending to attract free agents to sign with moribund Montreal, it seems highly likely Reed will have to cut some player(s) to get within the salary cap.

In his two off-seasons as general manager, Kavis Reed has signed three ratio-breakers in Muamba, Jabar Westerman and his brother Jamaal Westerman. He’s also drafted an athletic safety in Dondre Wright and re-signed Tevaugn Campbell and Philip Blake, three more potential starters, each with a Canadian passport.
In short, signing Muamba means that Reed and his new head coach Mike Sherman will have a plethora of options when camp breaks next month. ...


Who fits where will be determined in training camp based on schematics, performance and the ability to stay healthy. What we know is that the Als are sure to start Muamba, the two Westermans and a Canadian safety on defence. You can also lock in O-linemen Kristian Matte and Philip Blake on offence. ...


That also carries over to the defensive side of the ball, where Tevaughn Campbell has proven he can handle the field side corner, and former fourth overall pick Chris Ackie has the ability to play both WILL linebacker and safety if needed. ...


Canadian receiver George Johnson also started games last season at field wideout, and the veteran Luc Brodeur-Jourdain along with third-year player Philippe Gagnon are capable offensive linemen. Meanwhile, fullback Patrick Lavoie was re-acquired this off-season from the REDBLACKS.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/04/12/muamba...ettes-options/

[OV Argo]

[QUOTE=jerrym;124929]Despite the fact that I am far from being a Kavis Reed fan, he has started to increase his National depth. However, major questions remain. None of these is more important than at QB where it remains to be seen whether Freeman can get the job done and whether Willy is a spent force. After overspending to attract free agents to sign with moribund Montreal, it seems highly likely Reed will have to cut some player(s) to get within the salary cap.


Nik Lewis is an all-time great CFL receiver, but all he's good for now is a 5 or 6 yard hook pattern; and he's not making anywhere near league minimum - he could be put out to pasture to save some $M$ room. Chip Cox is probably making pretty big CFL coin (?) too, but i think he still has some game with a lost step and could be a leader on their D - or maybe he could be cut to save $M$ room, and let some of the newer guys (Muamba, Westerman, Tommie Campbell) take over as vet leaders. I'd also get rid of Drew Willy and roll with a cheap young QB who might have way more potential than Willy (the Als won more games with rookie Rakeem Cato at QB a couple of seasons back than they did with veteran Durant last season) - and they have signed a few for TC = good idea to look at a bunch of them when you have serious need. Plenty of $MS savings to be had there.

[jerrym]

Despite the fact that I am far from being a Kavis Reed fan, he has started to increase his National depth. However, major questions remain. None of these is more important than at QB where it remains to be seen whether Freeman can get the job done and whether Willy is a spent force. After overspending to attract free agents to sign with moribund Montreal, it seems highly likely Reed will have to cut some player(s) to get within the salary cap.

Nik Lewis is an all-time great CFL receiver, but all he's good for now is a 5 or 6 yard hook pattern; and he's not making anywhere near league minimum - he could be put out to pasture to save some $M$ room. Nik Lewis is an all-time great CFL receiver, but all he's good for now is a 5 or 6 yard hook pattern; and he's not making anywhere near league minimum - he could be put out to pasture to save some $M$ room. Chip Cox is probably making pretty big CFL coin (?) too, but i think he still has some game with a lost step and could be a leader on their D - or maybe he could be cut to save $M$ room

You're right about Nik. After he announced his retirement at the end of last year, I thought that was it for a player who could well end up in the Hall of Fame. Having read your post, I checked on Lewis and was shocked to find the Reed had signed him to a two year contract in January. This after Reed said last year that the Als needed to get younger as they had 21 players who were 30 or older, when every other team had 12 or fewer. I just checked, despite all the changes that Reed made in the roster, there are still 21 players 30 or older, a situation that was disastrous last year as the wear and tear of the season took its toll on the older bodies of the team and injuries piled up and players no longer performed anywhere near the levels they had when younger. I've always loved Cox's play, but at 34 he's reached an age where the decline in performance is often extremely rapid.

[argolio]

Are you sure he re-signed? Couldn't find anything online.

Waste of a roster spot if it's true.

[OV Argo]

Are you sure he re-signed? Couldn't find anything online.

Waste of a roster spot if it's true.

I believe you will find Nik's name on the Als roster on their site.

[jerrym]

Are you sure he re-signed? Couldn't find anything online.

Waste of a roster spot if it's true.

It's true.

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/roster/

[OV Argo]

Stefan Logan and John Bowman are a couple of other vets who probably make decent CFL coin there; always really liked both of those players; and Bowman had a good season last year - looked like he still had it; Logan was not as dangerous in the past, but is still a capable player who is versatile (returns punts, KOs and can play RB). Another year older though and getting closer to pro ball expiry dates.

Maybe Kavis was able to re-negotiate with some of these older players and got them to take a decent pay-cut to fit with the $M$ ? - be nice to keep vets who are leaders and can still play. Anyhow - cuts can still be made at TC with maybe some new, younger and cheaper guys stepping up ?

Anyhow - coaching: strategies, play-book & calling, game plans, adjustments, schemes - is still the HUGE issue there with a raw rookie (to Canadian ball) HC; and the big question mark at QB is right up there for concern too. These are wayyy bigger factors than overall "talent" on the roster (where they should be OK) or a few aging players being kept around, IMO.

[AngeloV]

It's true.

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/roster/

Lewis has not re-signed. They just haven't taken him off the roster yet. If you click on his profile the last transaction listed was his signing in January of last season (a 2 year pact). I'm guessing he hasn't filed retirement papers yet, but he announced he was done in October.

https://www.cfl.ca/2017/10/28/nik-le...4-year-career/

[jerrym]

Below Chris O'Leary discusses the QB situation; Chris Williams, who was obtained in a trade with BC in December after a poor season there; and the new Defensive Coordinator, as well as former Argo, Khalil Carter's first look at some of the players he will be working with in the mini-camp starting today in Vero Beach, Florida.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/04/15/footba...ady-mini-camp/

[jerrym]

O'Leary gives his impressions of the first day of Als mini-camp:

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/04/17/oleary...ni-camp-opens/

[jerrym]

Montreal has added WR Alton Howard and released four Canadians: former Argo RB Dillon Campbell, OL Matt Vonk, WR Seydou Junior Haidara, and DB Mikael Charland.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Vonk, a native of Burlington, Ont., spent three seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2014-16) before being acquired by the Alouettes last June.
Junior Haidara, 29, of Quebec City, was entering his second full season with Montreal. The former Laval star also spent time with the B.C. Lions (2013-14), Saskatchewan Roughriders (2015) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2016) before joining the Alouettes during the ’16 campaign.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Junior Haidara has appeared in 70 career CFL games, registering 20 catches for 163 yards.
Campbell, 26, of Whitby, Ont., played in one game with Montreal last year. He was selected in the fifth round, No. 39 overall, by the Toronto Argonauts in the 2015 CFL draft.
Charland, 26, of Gatineau, appeared in 12 games with Montreal last season after playing in three contests in 2016 with Ottawa. The Redblacks selected Charland in the second round, No. 16 overall, in the 2016 draft out of Concordia.

http://montrealgazette.com/sports/fo...iver-to-roster

[jerrym]

The Als have signed 13 International players, two of whom have previous regular season CFL experience, DB Jermaine Robinson and WR Thomas Mayo, while several others have attended NFL TCs. Nine of the thirteen are DBs reflecting the fact that the Als want to shore up their defensive backfield, among many other things in 2018. Their profiles can be found below.

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/201...layers-roster/

[jerrym]

In the following video Kavis Reed discusses the strengths of the Als' offence, players who stood out (veteran KR/RB Stefan Logan and rookie WR Cameron Posey), and skill sets he is looking for in the team's mini-camp.

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/201...th-kavis-reed/

[jerrym]

GM Kavis Reed says the Als have narrowed the #1 overall draft choice down to four players, two of whom are believed to be WR Marc Chapman (another National by Canadian parent) and Dakota Shepley. He is looking for a player who will have an immediate impact on the field. Reed has said that he is willing to trade the draft choice but has not yet received an offer worth considering.

[jerrym]

After bouncing around the NFL with four teams in five years as a journeyman, TJ Graham hopes he has found a home in Montreal.

https://en.montrealalouettes.com

[jerrym]

Director of College Scouting Russell Lande discusses the preparation that goes into getting ready for Draft Day:

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/201...e-year-scouts/

[jerrym]

According to GM Kavis Reed, neither Nik Lewis nor Chip Cox have decided whether or not to retire and he remains in "constant communication with those two".

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/04/30/lewis-...cision-future/

[argolio]

Cox might have something left, but they'd be insane to bring back Lewis.

[AngeloV]

Cox might have something left, but they'd be insane to bring back Lewis.

Herb Zurkowski's article today suggests it's likely Lewis will sign a 1 day contract to retire as a Stamp. I'd love to see what the buffet table for that presser has available.