Montreal Alouettes Thread

[jerrym]

Not only did the players seem overwhelmed against Ottawa, so did the HC, which even for CFL rookie HC is not a good sign.

“The number of special teams plays that become offensive plays, that’s a huge component of what you do. That was my awakening to the CFL — how many times the special teams are out there, trying to make plays,” the Alouettes’ head coach said following Thursday night’s 27-7 exhibition game loss at Ottawa. We were a little behind on the clock,” said Sherman, whose team was assessed a delay of game penalty to begin the second half, obviously too late in its departure from the dressing room. “That’s something we’ve got to clean up. We’re getting the play in, but we’re not getting to the line of scrimmage fast enough. We need to fix that.” ...


People on social media are already beginning to panic over the Als’ failure to score a touchdown against the Redblacks. Drew Willy, who is expected to be Montreal’s starting quarterback, drove the visitors downfield on his only two series, although both ended in Boris Bede field goals.

http://montrealgazette.com/sports/fo...-training-camp

[Flutie]

We get to see the Als again this week. TSN has decided to televise the Johnny Football show

[AngeloV]

We get to see the Als again this week. TSN has decided to televise the Johnny Football show

Excellent. The more football the better.

[R.J]

We get to see the Als again this week. TSN has decided to televise the Johnny Football show

I expect Rod Black to call this game, and any game involving Manziel. I fell bad for Forde though, you could tell he was getting tired of having to talk about Johnny Football, and yet Black wouldn't take the hint.

[R.J]

Cox back with Alouettes for 2018 season
https://www.tsn.ca/cox-back-with-alo...ason-1.1103871

I don't get it. Does Montreal really think he still has it after the last couple of seasons ?

[Will]

Cox back with Alouettes for 2018 season
https://www.tsn.ca/cox-back-with-alo...ason-1.1103871

I don't get it. Does Montreal really think he still has it after the last couple of seasons ?

It's Kavis. Don't try to rationalize it.

[jerrym]

I thought the Als were not wearing logos out of shame of the quality of the team compared to the great teams of Montreal's past.

Etienne Boulay, Co-president of the Alouettes Alumni Association, explains that the Als are going logo-less during the pre-season because each player has to “earn their wings” and when they do so, the winged logo will be added to their helmet. ...

“All players are currently wearing the all-white helmet,” said Boulay. “As soon as they earn their wings, they’re going to start the season on June 16th with the 1946 edition.”
Over the first four months of the season, Montreal will wear four different logos on their helmets as they pay tribute to the team’s history.
“The month of June (will be) our very first Montreal Alouettes logo from 1946, the wings,” said Boulay. “July is the french horn from 1970. August is the delta logo from 1974. And finally, in September, is the logo we’ve had since 1996, the A.”

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/04/als-he...ss-pre-season/

[jerrym]

Reading this review of the Alouettes day 18 TC it's hard to believe this is the same team that were beaten badly last week. We'll see if the review has any relationship to reality on Saturday against Hamilton.

The intensity level was high towards the end of practice when both units were facing off. Quarteback Drew Willy completed back-to-back bombs to Eugene Lewis and Ernest Jackson. The defence looked ready to put up a fight when Chip Cox forced a fumble of receiver Marcel Caver, but that was before a heads up play by offensive lineman Sean Jamieson, who forced a fumble himself and ran forty yards with the ball, while teammate Luc Brodeur-Jourdain was running at his side.

During the last period of practice, the team simulated overtime and on both possessions, the offence scored a touchdown and made the two-point convert. On the first drive, Tyrell Sutton scored a major on a one-yard run, before Drew Willy connected with Eugene Lewis in the end zone for the convert. On the following possession, young quarterback Matt Shiltz sprinted 39 yards untouched all the way to the end zone. He then completed a pass to Richmond Nketiah in the end zone, adding two points to the board.

“You don’t want to see one side dominate all the time, so after the defence dominated yesterday, it was good to see the offence pick it up,” said Alouettes Head Coach Mike Sherman.
Defensive back Jermaine Robinson had his theory to explain why Khari Jones‘ unit had a great day on the field. “Our offence is very talented. We have guys like B.J. Cunningham, Eugene Lewis and Ernest Jackson who are amongst the best in the league. At running back, Tyrell Sutton showed all of his talent last season. They had the upper hand today and hats off to them. You can feel that the quarterbacks understand the plays and that chemistry is starting to develop in their group.”

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/201...report-day-18/

[jerrym]

While Drew Willy has hardly stood out in the preseason, HC Mike Sherman has him as the number #1 QB as nobody else stood out either in the early going.

[Will]

So T Xavier Fulton was 'accidentally' listed as one of the Alouettes cuts this morning. There is only one problem with that and that is that he wasn't actually cut.

[R.J]

So T Xavier Fulton was 'accidentally' listed as one of the Alouettes cuts this morning. There is only one problem with that and that is that he wasn't actually cut.

That must have been awkward lol.

#AlsMTL release 9 #CFL #LCF via @MTLAlouettes pic.twitter.com/JYvzocUunf

— CFL News (@CFL_News) June 10, 2018

[R.J]

Anyone else think of Ricky Vaughan thinking he was cut in Major League ? lol

[jerrym]

Andrew Wettenhall, co-owner with his father of the Als, says he is not ready to give up on the team although it will take an immense effort to turn the team around, possibly even five years. He gives GM Kavis Reed a full vote of confidence, which we all know means so much and he thinks Drew Willy can be the answer to Montreal's problems. IMO, all three are part of the problem.

[R.J]

http://montrealgazette.com/sports/fo...fs-this-season

[jerrym]

The Alouettes have signed former Argo and Tiger Cat International QB Jeff Mathews, who the Argos cut just before TC. He may be an improvement in their backup QB depth chart, but that's not saying much.

[jerrym]

Adding Nationals Henoc Muamba and Jamaal Westerman will help improve the weak defence somewhat, but with the popgun offence failure to stay on the field will wear down the defence and opposition scores will pile up as games go on.

[jerrym]

A sad commentary on the talent level of the Als: only one Alouette (Tommie Campbell) made the TSN CFL top 50.

[R.J]

Alouettes sign Faith Ekakitie
https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/14/als-si...pick-ekakitie/

[jerrym]

Chris Williams hopes to get back to his 2016 form before an ACL injury ended his season early. But even if he can regain that level of performance, he is limited by an anemic offence and its QBs.

At his best, receiver Chris Williams has been one of the Canadian Football League’s most dynamic players — producing four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and exceeding 1,200 yards three times.
He was on an incredible pace in 2016, one that would have put him near 2,000 yards had he remained healthy. But late in the season, Williams sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and, arguably, hasn’t been the same since.
But the 30-year-old is getting a fresh start with the Alouettes, following last December’s trade from British Columbia. He’s determined to prove he’s the Williams of old — and not just an old Williams.
At the NFL combine, many years ago, he was timed in 4.28 seconds over 40 yards — and said he could duplicate that time today.
“I finally had an off-season to train. I’m in good shape. I feel explosive and I’m running at a good clip,” he said after Wednesday’s practice. ...


Williams signed a two-year contract with the Lions as a free agent in February 2017, but was limited to nine games last season, catching only 38 passes for 415 yards. He scored once.
“You feel personally like they gave up on you a little too early, but that’s the nature of pro football. I’ve been on eight teams in nine years,” he said, laughing. “It happens. There’s no ill will, but you best believe I’m going to go out there and do my job, try to kill them any way I can.

http://montrealgazette.com/sports/fo...aim-glory-days

[jerrym]

Montreal's popgun offence which was on display in the preseason continued into the first game of the season, in which it could only generate only 15 points after scoring 14 and 7 previously. Former Argo Drew Willy certainly does not look like the answer at QB. This could well be another wretched season.