Montreal Alouettes Thread

[OV Argo]

Montreal has signed Western University Canadian QB Chris Merchant. Good to see such a qualified QB get a shot. Hopefully it's a real one. They have also released International WR Ernest Jackson who never came close with the Als to his numbers in Ottawa.

So, the team with arguably the least need for QB competition at TC (4 guys with CFL playing time experience, plus a Canadian QB (Richard)) adds another Canadian QB to have 6 QBs in camp ??? Are they trying to keep pace with the Argos for Canajun QBs ?

Meanwhile, a bunch of CFL teams with pretty well zip-O for QB depth wanted nothing to do with Merchant ? - not even worth a last round draft pick ?

[KCargosfan]

So, the team with arguably the least need for QB competition at TC (4 guys with CFL playing time experience, plus a Canadian QB (Richard)) adds another Canadian QB to have 6 QBs in camp ??? Are they trying to keep pace with the Argos for Canajun QBs ?

Meanwhile, a bunch of CFL teams with pretty well zip-O for QB depth wanted nothing to do with Merchant ? - not even worth a last round draft pick ?

Montreal bringing in 19 QBs for training camp is further proof the Als are one of the worst-run franchises in sport. (note hyperbole for effect)

[OV Argo]

Montreal bringing in 19 QBs for training camp is further proof the Als are one of the worst-run franchises in sport. (note hyperbole for effect)

Yet - in older CFL days, a lot of teams would have 6 or more QBs in TC; lots of competition in a big area of need at the most important position, makes sense to me.

Be nice to see both Merchant & Hugo Richard get real, honest serious looks there - but i highly doubt it; I like what i saw out of Pipkin and I've always liked the potential of Vernon Adams; but Matthews & Shiltz are stiffs IMO. Be interesting to hear TC reports on the battle there, and ex; game playing time will tell a big story IMO - we'll see if Richard or Merchant get more than a series or two. Richard winning the starting job (LOL - zero chance) and I'd be willing to bet the Als would have a full stadium/SRO, for the first game or three anyways. Funny - with all the hype over Manzier when he went to the Als, they musta figured Montreal football fans would flock to see this all-american hero superstar; I'd basically guarantee a lot more fans would turn out to see a Quebec football superstar get a shot to play QB for the Als.

[CFLfan]

Yet - in older CFL days, a lot of teams would have 6 or more QBs in TC; lots of competition in a big area of need at the most important position, makes sense to me.

Be nice to see both Merchant & Hugo Richard get real, honest serious looks there - but i highly doubt it; I like what i saw out of Pipkin and I've always liked the potential of Vernon Adams; but Matthews & Shiltz are stiffs IMO. Be interesting to hear TC reports on the battle there, and ex; game playing time will tell a big story IMO - we'll see if Richard or Merchant get more than a series or two. Richard winning the starting job (LOL - zero chance) and I'd be willing to bet the Als would have a full stadium/SRO, for the first game or three anyways. Funny - with all the hype over Manzier when he went to the Als, they musta figured Montreal football fans would flock to see this all-american hero superstar; I'd basically guarantee a lot more fans would turn out to see a Quebec football superstar get a shot to play QB for the Als.

Of course Richard or Merchant would not win a starting job right out of the CIS, even Flutie didn't start in his first year in the CFL and he was an ex-Heisman and had NFL experience. I don't think having a Quebec starting QB would make much difference at all to attendance. The Als have a load of Quebec players and that hasn't made any difference to attendance, they might get a big cheer when they make a play but they don't sell tickets.

Montreal fans will fill the Olympic stadium with 60,000 fans to watch the Blue Jays in a pre-season game and fill the Olympic stadium to watch the Impact play a playoff game.
Just like in Toronto, having Canadians on your team doesn't make one bit of difference to the fans. Ask the Raptors, TFC and Jays fans.
It's about being "major" league and about winning.

[AngeloV]

Of course Richard or Merchant would not win a starting job right out of the CIS, even Flutie didn't start in his first year in the CFL and he was an ex-Heisman and had NFL experience.

As I explained to you when you mentioned this in another thread, yes, Flutie did start immediately with the Lions in 1990. He was periodically replaced in game by Joe Paopao, but make no mistake, he was the starter.

207 of 392 for 2960 yards. 16 TD's and 19 INT's.

You don't have those stats if you are not starting. He struggled early and often in his first year. Take a look for yourself if you still don't believe me.


https://www.cflapedia.com/Players/f/flutie_doug.htm

[OV Argo]

As I explained to you when you mentioned this in another thread, yes, Flutie did start immediately with the Lions in 1990. He was periodically replaced in game by Joe Paopao, but make no mistake, he was the starter.

207 of 392 for 2960 yards. 16 TD's and 19 INT's.

You don't have those stats if you are not starting. He struggled early and often in his first year. Take a look for yourself if you still don't believe me.


https://www.cflapedia.com/Players/f/flutie_doug.htm

Greg Vavra started for the Stamps as a rookie out of CIS ball back in the day; and it was a $hitty Stamps team and Vavra did not fare that well (expected for a rookie starting QB usually), but the point is - he was given a shot and won that Stamps starting job over American QBs they had in camp.

Spammer has no clue about how big minor/college ball is in Quebec now; Laval out-draw the Argos for big games, and Richard has been a star starting QB from rookie on in for Laval - and won 2 Vanier Championships while putting up some all-time CIS passing stats (plus some very good rushing stats). Again - I would basically guarantee the Als would be SRO for awhile if Richard emerged as the starting QB there.

[jerrym]

The Als have signed former Calgary DB Ciante Evans, who was an All-Star in 2017. Most recently he played for Salt Lake in the AAF before the league collapsed.

[argolio]

Yet - in older CFL days, a lot of teams would have 6 or more QBs in TC; lots of competition in a big area of need at the most important position, makes sense to me.

They also had longer camps, four pre-season games, two-a-days every day, and no limits on roster size or wearing pads. They needed more QBs for that. Under today's conditions, there's not enough time to give six QBs meaningful reps.

[OV Argo]

They also had longer camps, four pre-season games, two-a-days every day, and no limits on roster size or wearing pads. They needed more QBs for that. Under today's conditions, there's not enough time to give six QBs meaningful reps.

Don't really agree; if QB - starter or depth - are big issues for a team - then bring in lots of guys to compete. A real strong QB talent should be able to open some eyes in next to no time.

Funny - the Argo have 6 QBs in camp; but like the Als, probably a couple of them are just token invites with no real shot to compete.

[argolio]

Don't agree all you want, but it's impossible to give proper looks to 6 QBs with the time constraints of today's rules.

[OV Argo]

Don't agree all you want, but it's impossible to give proper looks to 6 QBs with the time constraints of today's rules.

"Impossible" ? - oh really, is that a fact ?

You should contact Popp & Mavis and tell them they're wasting their time.

[argolio]

"Impossible" ? - oh really, is that a fact ?

You should contact Popp & Mavis and tell them they're wasting their time.

Short camp makes it a fact. Franklin, MBT, Bridge and Prukop are getting almost the reps.

[jerrym]

The Als lost $12.5 million last year as the team continued to spiral downward on and off the field. The Wettenhalls have lost $50 million since buying the team according to a Radio Canada report.

[KCargosfan]

Don't agree all you want, but it's impossible to give proper looks to 6 QBs with the time constraints of today's rules.

This. Bringing in 6 QBs nowadays is dumb as there aren't enough snaps to go around.

[KCargosfan]

The Als lost $12.5 million last year as the team continued to spiral downward on and off the field. The Wettenhalls have lost $50 million since buying the team according to a Radio Canada report.

People are going to be jumping at the opportunity to buy them!

The Wettenhalls were morons for not having any kind of contingency plan when Calvillo retired. Blowing millions of dollars on staff like Dan Hawkins -- who anybody who watched Big 12 football could have told you was an awful coach -- is the main reason for the Als' downfall.

Btw, Hawkins blew a four-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter at "powerhouse" Kansas one year by continuing to throw the ball because he was trying to get his son the conference passing record. He was fired two days later.

[OV Argo]

The Als lost $12.5 million last year as the team continued to spiral downward on and off the field. The Wettenhalls have lost $50 million since buying the team according to a Radio Canada report.

Maybe; I wouldn't buy those figures without seeing a forensic audit by somebody who understands the CFL / football business.

[OV Argo]

This. Bringing in 6 QBs nowadays is dumb as there aren't enough snaps to go around.

The Argos played 6 QBs in their ex, game today, Just FYI; and maybe they are dumb.

[Will]

Alouettes played 5 QB's today for the record, none of whom were anything to write home about. But, if you want to get a proper evaluation of these guys then why are you throwing them in there with the #2s and #3s at receiver and o-line?

[doubleblue]

Alouettes played 5 QB's today for the record, none of whom were anything to write home about. But, if you want to get a proper evaluation of these guys then why are you throwing them in there with the #2s and #3s at receiver and o-line?

The Alouettes have to hope Pipkin can pick up where he left off last year and continue to grow into a legit CFL starter. Otherwise...….the other guys have been tried and found wanting for several years. Maybe they were holding back Hugo "the Rocket" Richard until next week in Montreal to let him loose on the RedBlacks. But things do look a little bleak for them at QB IMO. They have a good RB in Stanback and a WR in Posey. I thought they picked up a couple of good future National stars in Osei-Kusi and Julien-Grant in the draft this year. Their defense should be solid but have they any depth. Hope somebody can step in and turn things around in Montreal. The CFL needs them.

[paulwoods13]

The Als lost $12.5 million last year as the team continued to spiral downward on and off the field. The Wettenhalls have lost $50 million since buying the team according to a Radio Canada report.

That report made no sense. Said Als lost $12m based on $6m less revenue and $6m more expense. Which if true would mean they broke even the previous year. Find that rather hard to believe.