Montreal Alouettes Thread

[jerrym]

Montreal has extended eight year veteran National OL Kristian Matte through 2019. He has been selected the Als Most Outstanding OL for the third year in a row and was the team's Most Outstanding Canadian in 2017.

[jerrym]

The following article reviews the Als GM, coaches, players and free agents heading into the off-season.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/12/04/off-se...eal-alouettes/

[jerrym]

Thursday the Als released four coaches and two scouts because of the cap on non-player football operations costs: DB coach Billy Parker; receivers coach Jason Tucker; assistant OL coach Chris Mosley; defensive assistant coach Cris Dishman; and scouts Eric Deslauriers and Russ Lande.

[jerrym]

The Als have signed six players on their PR for next year: National LS Maxime Latour, and Internationals OL Andrew Erbes,DB Marcellus Pippins, LB Jason Hall, WR Damond Powell and WR Zac Parker.

Latour (6’4”, 250 lbs.) played for Sherbrooke University Vert et Or in U Sports League where he spent four seasons. The long snapper from Valleyfield, Qc. made a good impression at Kohl’s Camp last January in Jacksonville. One month later, the 25-year-old receive an invitation to participate in a professional camp in Phoenix.

Pippins (5’10”, 178 lbs.) played 42 games with the Washington State University Cougars, while being a starter for 31 of them. The 23-year-old cornerback recorded 104 tackles, 6.5 for losses, one sack, five interceptions, 19 knockdowns, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. The Richmond, CA native also returned a blocked field goal over 72 yards for a touchdown. Last January, he took part in the Tropical Bowl.

Erbes (6’2”, 310 lbs.) wore a few different uniforms at the collegiate level. The 23-year-old Alamogordo, NM native started off with the Arizona State University Sun Devils, before playing for the Colorado Mesa University Mavericks and the UNLV Rebels. At Colorado Mesa University, he was part of an offensive line that enabled Mesa to average 28 points and 424.2 yards of total offence per game. He earned all-Western States Football League honours and was an all-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference choice as well.

Hall (6’3”, 218 lbs.) was a productive defender during his time with the Texas University Longhorns. After entering the starting lineup as a true freshman, the 22-year-old linebacker started 32 of the 48 games he played in for the Longhorns, finishing his career with 174 tackles, seven tackles for loss, five sacks, three interceptions and 13 knockdowns. The native of South Grand Prairie, TX took part in the Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons‘ training camps.

Parker (5’9”, 190 lbs.) started his collegiate career with Liberty University Flames. In 35 games he collected 79 receptions, adding 740 yards and one touchdown. He returned 21 punts, registering 144 yards and one touchdown. On eight kickoff returns, he gained 111 yards. The 24-year-old helped his team to an undefeated season and claiming the CIAA Championship title. The receiver from Reston, VA was named to the 2017 All-CIAA Honorable Mention team. In 11 games, he made 34 catches, registering 676 yards and four touchdowns.

Powell (5”11′, 180 lbs.) played two seasons for the Iowa University Hawkeyes. In 20 games, he caught 31 balls for 608 yards and five touchdowns. The 26-year-old receiver signed a contract with the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, but didn’t take part in their training camp due to an injury. The Toledo, OH native played two years in the All-Indoor Football League and was named to their First Team All-IFL while he was with the Cedar Rapids Titans. He also played for the Sioux Falls Storm.

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

[jerrym]

Montreal has extended former Argo OL Tony Washington through 2020. GM Kavis Reed says that he is one of the CFL's best OTs and that he stabilized the Als OL after being part of the trade for Johnny Manzeil in late July.

[jerrym]

The Als have extended WR Eugene Lewis, who led the team with 827 receiving yards and four TDs from receptions, through 2019.

[jerrym]

Nation FB Spencer has been traded to the Als in exchange for a conditional 2020 eighth round pick.

Moore (6’4”, 230 lbs.) has been a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders since 2013. In 2019, he will be playing in his seventh season in the CFL. Drafted in the fifth round of the CFL (34th overall) by the Roughriders in 2013, the 28-year-old played 81 career games in the CFL, amassing 41 special teams tackles, while making 27 catches good for 227 yards.

In 2018, the former McMaster University Marauder caught eight balls for 63 yards. The Hamilton, ON native also added seven special teams tackles. ...

“Spencer is a savvy player who will help both our offence and our special teams,” said Alouettes’ General Manager Kavis Reed. ‘His size and ability to get open will help our offence better protect our quarterback, while being a viable option for the latter.”

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/201...spencer-moore/

[jerrym]

Jack Todd argues that Manziel brought some hope to the Als despite the fact that he spent most of his 2018 season trying to avoid being sacked.

https://montrealgazette.com/sports/f...reason-to-hope

[jerrym]

Montreal has released former Argo QB Drew Willy, who was going to become a free agent anyway. Hardly a surprise.

[jerrym]

The Als have released National DB Tevaughn Campbell, who had 21 DTs, 1 ST tackle, 2 interceptions and 2 TDs in 10 games for Montreal in 2018, so he seek a NFL job.

[OV Argo]

Als sign Laval QB Hugo Richard (undrafted last year); = interestin'

The Als have, IMO, 3 good, young, lots of CFL potential QBs in Manzier, Pipkin & Vernon Adams = hard to see how Richard would fit in there, so maybe just TC fodder if all 3 of those guys stay Als for TC; but if the Als were to move one of those 3, Richard might be a good fit to stick. This might also be a jump the shark type move if the CFL moves to include QBs in the ratio (maybe why the Argos re-signed Picton?) - CFL teams thinking of carrying a 3rd string Canadian QB to get to use an import elsewhere?

Too bad Richard did not go to a CFL team with real QB need for at least the #2 job - like Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary, the Riders, BC, the Ticats and the Argos. In that way - the Als seemed way down the list in need; might be more a PR stunt by Mavis.

This guy is a real deal QB talent IMO - big, strong, very good arm, poised and can scramble; I'll be surprised if he gets a real shot to show what he can do though.

[jerrym]

GM Kavis Reed has indicated they are satisfied with the QBs they have on the Als' roster, Johnny Manziel, Antonio Pipkin, Vernon Adams Jr., Matthew Shiltz, Jeff Mathews and Hugo Richard, so the team is not expected to pursue any free agent QBs.

[jerrym]

The Als have released International RB Lawrence Pittman, who had a good game against the Argos gaining 60 yards on six carries in one game but only had 15 yards on four carries in his other Argo game, however he otherwise had no rushes. Last year the 6' 225 RB led the South Atlantic Conference in rushing with 1,262 yards. (https://montrealgazette.com/sports/f...from-backfield). He might be worth the Argos bringing to TC.

[jerrym]

Montreal has signed three 2018 draft picks and announced the signing of several other players.

Receiver Richmond Nketiah as well as defensive back Lekab Idowu also signed new deals. All three were present at the Alouettes training camp last spring, but Moisan was a spectator as he was nurturing a lingering injury.

Etienne Moisan (6’0″, 195 lbs.)was drafted in the sixth round (51st overall) by the Alouettes. He returned to Université Laval to play one final season last fall and helped the Rouge et Or win its 10th Vanier Cup in school history. In five games last season, he caught four passes good for 57 yards, maintaining a 14.2-yard average per catch. The 24-year-old Saint-Eustache, QC native completed his collegiate career with 50 catches for 699 yards and three majors, while making nine tackles.

Nketiah (6’0″, 188 lbs.), who was drafted in the seventh round (56th overall), caught 23 passes for 278 yards and two majors last season with the Waterloo University Warriors. During his time with the Warriors, the 23-year-old amassed 996 receiving yards on 83 catches, while carrying the ball 36 times for 141 yards and a touchdown. He also returned 17 kickoffs for 397 yards.
Idowu (5’8″, 188 lbs.)was selected in the eighth round (61st overall). The defensive back did not play in 2018, after registering 24 tackles in 2017 with the Windsor University Lancers.

The Alouettes also announced that the following players were added to the roster:
Andrew Bennett (N) WR, Regina
Josh Cleveland (I) RB, Bowling Green State
Jordan Harris (I) LB, Iowa State
Deaundre Jones-Williams (I) WR, Glenville State College
Jamarcus King (I) DB, South Carolina
Damian Love (I) OL, Texas A&M
Lonte Morton (I) DL, Virginia Union
Elijah Norris (I) DL, Shepherd College
Andrew Opoku (I) WR, Delaware
DeQuinton Osborne (I) DL, Oklahoma State
Jake Wieneke (I) WR, South Dakota State

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/01/10/alouet...8-draft-picks/

[jerrym]

Dave Naylor interviews GM Kavis Reed about Johnny Manziel's development as a QB last year and how the team needs to improve next year.

https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/mountai...s-reed~1582536

[ArgoRavi]

The Als have released International RB Lawrence Pittman, who had a good game against the Argos gaining 60 yards on six carries in one game but only had 15 yards on four carries in his other Argo game, however he otherwise had no rushes. Last year the 6' 225 RB led the South Atlantic Conference in rushing with 1,262 yards. (https://montrealgazette.com/sports/f...from-backfield). He might be worth the Argos bringing to TC.

I thought that I saw on Twitter that Pittman was released to pursue NFL opportunities.

[gilthethrill]

Montreal fans are none too pleased that R Ernest Jackson was resigned after 2 mediocre seasons. He came at a discount I would think.

[OV Argo]

Montreal fans are none too pleased that R Ernest Jackson was resigned after 2 mediocre seasons. He came at a discount I would think.

Jackson has some serious receiver skills IMO - i doubt he totally lost them when he got to Montreal - more like has played in a dumb, $hite offence there.

[jerrym]

Montreal fans are none too pleased that R Ernest Jackson was resigned after 2 mediocre seasons. He came at a discount I would think.

Jackson has some serious receiver skills IMO - i doubt he totally lost them when he got to Montreal - more like has played in a dumb, $hite offence there.

The state of Montreal QBing had a fair amount to do with it IMO, although it also seemed at times he wasn't as into the game mentally as much as in Ottawa. That could be the poor passing game leaving him out of the action and/or the fact some players do not put out as much as others when things are not going well. If Manziel and/or Pipkin further develop their games things might also change for Jackson.

[jerrym]

Former Alouette and Redblack Tim Maypray died at the young age of 30 this month. The cause of death was not given.

Virginia Military Institute, a school where Maypray played and later served as an assistant coach, announced Thursday that Maypray had died Tuesday.
VMI said Maypray spent last season as a running backs coach at Davidson College. The native of Madisonville, Ky., held the same position at his alma mater for three years. ...

He also captured second team All-Big South honours as a receiver in 2007 and quarterback in '08. Maypray was named the Big South's top freshman in 2006 and pre-season offensive player of the year in 2009. In 2010, Maypray was named VMI's outstanding athlete.
The five-foot-nine, 185-pound Maypray spent two seasons with the Alouettes, 2010 and 2011, before playing with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2014. In his CFL debut, Maypray returned a missed field goal 125 yards — an Alouettes record — for a touchdown against Saskatchewan. In Montreal's next meeting with the Riders, Maypray took another errant field-goal attempt back 118 yards for a TD.

​https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montr...dies-1.4982585

2010

Maypray missed Game 17 due to a quad injury. On July 1st against Saskatchewan he tied the Alouettes record, which was previously set by Ezra Landry, for most yards on a missed field goal return with 125. He finished tied for 1st in the CFL for most touchdowns on missed field goal returns, 2nd for most kickoff return yardage, 3rd for most missed field goal return yardage and a 6th for most combined yards, and punt return average. Also won the Grey Cup with the Alouettes'.

https://cflpa.com/players/tim-maypray/