Montreal Alouettes Thread

[Argo]

DB Tommie Campbell, who did not allow a TD to be scored against him while with Calgary in 2017, was not part of the game roster leaving the Als a man short for 'personal reasons', according to HC Sherman. Could this indicate a deeper problem?

As a casual observer, there's nothing obviously good about Sherman's tenure, at least so far.

Of course, being Montreal's HC or starting QB is a tough gig.

[jerrym]

There is more going on than the failure to buckle a chin strap.

While both GM Kavis Reed and head coach Mike Sherman claimed @Tommie_Campbell was scratched tonight for personal reasons, I was told post-game, by a source, it was because he refused to buckle his chinstrap during a practice, buckling only one strap

— Herb Zurkowsky (@HerbZurkowsky1) August 12, 2018

[jerrym]

Another question about the Alouettes was raised today when Johnny Manziel attended team meetings today but did not practice because of an " medical appointment". Considering that Manziel looked very woozy in Ottawa after being hit hard at the goal line and fumbling the ball but then making no effort to recover the ball, it raises the question of whether the Als allowed Johnny to quickly go back into the game despite the appearance of his having suffered a concussion. The ongoing welt on his chin, his comments that he felt like he "had run into a brick wall" and "But like I told these guys, you're not going to take me out like that", strongly suggest that the CFL protocol on concussions was overridden. After his return to play following the concussion, Manziel went two and out five times, raising the question whether the Als risked long-term injury to their star player for nothing in return.

There was a welt on his chin which came from that hit that forced the fumble – when Manziel said he felt like he “ran into a brick wall.” And it appeared that he was woozy after the play, but stayed in the game.
“That defence was fast, that defence was big and aggressive,” Manziel said. “They hit hard, they’re quick. But like I told these guys, you’re not going to take me out like that.”
Manziel did go through concussion protocol. ...

But that hit had nothing to do with Manziel missing the practice session Tuesday.

http://3downnation.com/2018/08/14/al...e-appointment/

[jerrym]

More questions are being raised in the press about whether Manziel suffered a concussion in Ottawa although HC Sherman is denying it.

If Johnny Manziel’s on the field Wednesday and is practising with the starting offence, his one-day absence will be nothing more than a footnote. Otherwise, things are about to get infinitely more serious for the Alouettes — as if that’s possible.
Montreal’s quarterback wasn’t at practice Tuesday, although he was at Olympic Stadium in the morning for meetings, head coach Mike Sherman said. And Sherman was quick to state there was no correlation between Manziel’s absence and the vicious head shot he took in the third quarter of Saturday’s game in Ottawa.

According to Sherman, Manziel had a previously diagnosed medical condition that required blood work. Sherman obviously would have preferred it be done on Monday, when the team didn’t practise.
Sherman said he expects Manziel to practise Wednesday, and sees no reason why he wouldn’t play Saturday, when the Als travel to Edmonton. Sherman said Manziel isn’t feeling any effects from the hit, denying the former Heisman Trophy winner and first-round NFL draft choice suffered a concussion.

https://montrealgazette.com/sports/f...ion-coach-says

[Argo]

Finally some good sense demonstrated. Better late than never - as long as late is before the next game, which it is.

https://twitter.com/DidierRDS/status...054080/photo/1

[jerrym]

The Alouettes added defensive backs Tevaughn Campbell (N) and Armageddon Draughn (I) to the roster. The team also released international linebackers Anthony Sarao and Kyle Knox. pic.twitter.com/b8keGa9NlV

— #AlsMTL (@MTLAlouettes) August 15, 2018

[jerrym]

QB Antonio Pipkin has been taking first team reps with the Als for two days in a row suggesting that Manziel did suffer a concussion and may well miss the next game. Whether or not Manziel was honest about his condition following his hit at the goal-line in Ottawa, the professionals should have been able to detect whether he had a concussion at the time and kept him out of the rest of the game when many were making comments at the same time that it looked like he had a concussion.

From his podcast, it sounds like Manziel may not have been completely honest with #AlsMTL team doctors about how he was feeling #CFL https://t.co/VenvCgSG3T

— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) August 16, 2018

[jerrym]

It is now confirmed that Pipkin will get his first start ever against Edmonton. Less than two weeks ago, he was at home in Indiana. However, with Manziel, Willy, Adams, and Shiltz injured, the Als will be starting their #5 QB. Last year he did not get into a game until the season finale where he failed to impress, which is an understatement, as he only went 2/9 for 14 yards. This year he has carried the ball twice on QB sneaks for three yards, but has not thrown a pass in a game. Lots of luck. He's going to need it.

[OV Argo]

It is now confirmed that Pipkin will get his first start ever against Edmonton. Less than two weeks ago, he was at home in Indiana. However, with Manziel, Willy, Adams, and Shiltz injured, the Als will be starting their #5 QB. Last year he did not get into a game until the season finale where he failed to impress, which is an understatement, as he only went 2/9 for 14 yards. This year he has carried the ball twice on QB sneaks for three yards, but has not thrown a pass in a game. Lots of luck. He's going to need it.

I wonder if this is some kind of CFL record - not even half way point of a season and you've already had 5 different QB starters ???

[Foxhound]

You fellows forgot about Jeff Matthews. Antonio Pipkin will be the Alouettes' sixth starting quarterback this year.

[jerrym]

How could I forget the immortal Jeff Mathews?

[jerrym]

Herb Zurkowsky believes the Als may have solved their QB problem but thinks their defence is in tatters after the loss to the Eskimos.

MIdway through yet another season of futility for the Alouettes, the organization may have solved its quarterback dilemma at long last following the arrival of Johnny Manziel and, now, Antonio Pipkin. ...

Instead, it’s the defence — the unit that was supposed to carry Montreal until it figured out its quarterbacking situation — that completely has fallen apart and is in total disarray. ...

The Eskimos had 536 yards of net offence and controlled the ball for 38 minutes and 43 seconds. A week earlier, the Redblacks produced similar totals. The Als have now relinquished 40-plus points four times this season in nine games — nine times stretching back to 2017. Montreal’s defence six times has been on the field for at least 35 minutes in a game. This defence is on pace to surrender more points than any previous Als team.
Sooner or later something has to give. Either defensive co-ordinator Rich Stubler will be fired or there must be changes in personnel, especially now with NFL teams beginning to reduce their training camp rosters. ...

Pipkin, who started his first professional game for the injured Manziel — placed under the CFL’s concussion protocol — hardly embarrassed himself. The 23-year-old completed 14 of 25 passes for 217 yards while scoring on a short run. His only interception came on an attempted two-point convert. He also carried twice for 23 yards. Pipkin’s totals would have been higher except his receivers let him down. B.J. Cunningham dropped a pass, while T.J. Graham saw a long throw go through his hands. It would have been a difficult over-the-shoulder reception, but pros are paid to make these catches.

https://montrealgazette.com/sports/f...oss-to-eskimos

[jerrym]

With only one full practice left before the Als play the Argos and no Manziel at any practice this week, it seems Pipkin will be Montreal's QB.

[jerrym]

All but certain that Manziel won't be playing against the Argos as he missed practice again today.

Alouettes QB Johnny Manziel again took part in QB meetings Wednesday, and continued workouts, but head coach Mike Sherman mentioned Manziel has been experiencing "light sensitivity", which would be a lingering concussion symptom. The hope is Manziel can take part full-time in Thursday’s practice. John Lu has more.

https://www.tsn.ca/video/manziel-abs...tivity~1467097

#AlsMtl QBs at practice same as yesterday: Pipken, Shiltz, Apodaca. Manziel is absent. #CFL #TSN

— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) August 22, 2018

[jerrym]

The Alouettes announced the following transactions:

Added to the practice roster
Jamari Staples (I), WR, Louisville
Tresor Buama-Mafuta (N), DL, St.Mary's

Players released
T.J. Graham (I), WR, NC State
Michael Hill (I), DL, Ohio State
Joe Rankin (I), DB, Morgan State

— #AlsMTL (@MTLAlouettes) August 21, 2018

[jerrym]

The Als have released National OL Landon Rice whom they acquired in the Johnny Manziel trade. Rice was going to have his salary guaranteed following the Alouettes game against the Argos Friday.

[jerrym]

HC Mike Sherman has remained silent as questions are raised in the media about whether Pipkin should start the next game.

[jerrym]

With the Als playing on Friday, it looks like Pipkin will get his third start in a row as he took the first team reps Monday while Manziel took some second team reps for the first time since his concussion.

[jerrym]

Montreal has released the third string QB for their game against the Argos, Austin Apodaca, indicating Manziel will dress for their Labour Day Weekend game against Ottawa. However, HC Mike Sherman said Manziel will be a backup to Pipkin.

[jerrym]

Antonio Pipkin is already receiving quite a bit of praise is his short time as starting Als QB.

OTTAWA — Three games don’t make a career in professional sports, when things can change so dramatically in a short amount of time. It will take many more weeks and numerous seasons of consistency before Antonio Pipkin can be proclaimed the Alouettes’ saviour. But so far, he’s beginning to look like the best quarterback Montreal has had since the days of Anthony Calvillo. ...

Pipkin managed the game exquisitely, passing for 242 yards and scoring a touchdown on a short run in the third quarter — when the Als historically have struggled — leading Montreal to an improbable 21-11 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks. ...


“He played well. He’s got to keep getting better. I thought he made some good decisions for the most part. That’s what quarterbacks have to do,” Als head coach Mike Sherman said. ...

Pipkin’s hot hand when the team returns from its bye week to host British Columbia on Sept. 14. There’s absolutely no reason to ask Sherman who the starting quarterback will be that night. It’s anticlimactic. ...


Pipkin has provided this team, for the first time since 2014, with optimism. There seems to be something infectious about him, and it’s rubbing off on his teammates.
The symmetry Pipkin has developed with receiver B.J. Cunningham is evident. Cunningham, the Als’ only 1,000-yard receiver in 2017, caught eight passes for 107 yards. Ernest Jackson, virtually invisible before Pipkin’s arrival, caught three for 80 yards, including a critical 50-yard reception in the fourth quarter that led to a crucial field goal — one of four by Boris Bede. The receivers are going above and beyond the call of duty to make plays for Pipkin. This team, quite clearly, wants to play for him and believes in him.
“He’s a football player. He plays football, man, and I haven’t seen that in a while,” Cunningham said. “He’s doing his thing and I’m proud of him. He makes plays for us, on his feet, with his arm. This is exciting. We were locked-in today. We knew this was a must-win situation. Everything he put was on the money for us. We came down with it. That’s our job, to be playmakers. That’s the goal, to make plays for the quarterback. That’s what we did. We see he has the talent and he can play,” Cunningham added. “He’s poised. We have to keep this streak going. This season definitely can still be salvaged.”

https://montrealgazette.com/sports/f...ettes-optimism