Montreal Alouettes Thread

[jerrym]

The Als have re-signed WR Fabian Guerra who had signed with the team in December 2019 but was cut in April of this year. He had played in the Arena Football League where he had 70 catches for 818 yards in 2017, as well as in the AAF where he was cut early in the season.

[jerrym]

The Als are still facing a challenging situation with regards to their attendance, despite their much improved performance on the field over the last couple of seasons. While Covid plays a part in this, there are other problems as they attempt to increase attendance in the future.

Although the Alouettes are headed toward their worst attendance figure in a decade, president Mario Cecchini said he’s not concerned. That doesn’t mean Cecchini’s pleased, while admitting one of his major mandates this winter will revolve around enhanced marketing strategies and improving the organization’s community presence — aspects that were virtually non-existent last winter due to COVID-19 and the uncertainty whether the CFL would be permitted to play after cancelling its 2020 season. ...


“I think it has a lot to do with consumer behaviour that’s changing and we don’t completely understand yet,” Cecchini told the Montreal Gazette on Monday — coincidentally after attending a meeting during which the team’s attendance problems were discussed.

With one regular-season home game remaining, Friday night against Ottawa — and although a playoff berth has been secured for a second consecutive season — the Als’ average attendance at Molson Stadium is 13,357. In 2019, when the Als had a 10-8 record and made the playoffs for the first time since 2014, the average attendance was 17,574. A decade ago, in 2011, when the Als were coming off consecutive Grey Cup victories, they were averaging slightly more than 24,000 at the McGill University facility. Montreal hasn’t returned to the championship game since.

Robert Wetenhall , the Als’ late owner, lost millions on the team over two decades, largely due to operating costs that weren’t monitored closely enough combined with too many administrative employees at the business office. It’s also believed far fewer complimentary tickets are distributed under Cecchini, perhaps as high as 90 per cent less.

Cecchini, who was hired in January 2020, reduced personnel while getting a handle on expenditures. Nonetheless, new owner Gary Stern’s deficit will be prohibitive this season although, on average, less than the approximate $9-million Wetenhall generally lost annually. ...


Attendance throughout much of the CFL this season has decreased as fans, undoubtedly weary of the pandemic, have grown accustomed to watching sporting events from the comfort of home. Many families simply don’t have as much disposable income to spend on entertainment. Also, it has become apparent more people are working from home and not venturing to Montreal downtown offices. ...


The league’s averaging 19,583 spectators. Not only has CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie largely ignored the problem publicly, he generally has been inconspicuous this season and didn’t make it to Montreal until last Saturday’s game against Winnipeg, when rain limited attendance to 12,605.


The team averaged 14,526 for its first three home games, played between late August and late September. The average in the three subsequent home games has dropped to 12,188.

https://montrealgazette.com/sports/f...molson-stadium

[jerrym]

Here's a look at the Als who made the All-Star team:

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/202...the-spotlight/

[jerrym]

HC Khari Jones promises to rule with an iron fist next year after the Als led the league in penalty yardage that hurt them repeatedly this year.

That work, or heavy-lifting as Maciocia called it, must take place in the coming days. While Jones vowed he’ll become more demanding next season, holding players accountable and responsible, talk is cheap. Before he returns to his winter home in Surrey, B.C., Jones must have a plan in place — presumably in writing — elaborating how this will occur and how he’ll take this team to the next level. If not, all bets are off the table.

“We do know there’s some stuff that needs to be addressed,” Maciocia said. “I’m going to make sure it gets addressed. We have to find solutions moving forward so we have a clear plan of what lays ahead. We have to be more disciplined as a group. You don’t just wake up and (turn on) a switch. It kicks in at training camp. How you handle training camp, day-to-day operations and meetings. Making sure everybody’s on time. When they have treatment, they all show up. If there’s a lift, everybody’s in the weight room. It comes with structure. Coming down with a plan and executing it to the letter.”


In the coaching fraternity, there are good cops and bad cops. Make no mistake. Jones, a former CFL quarterback who enjoyed his greatest success with Winnipeg, is a players’ coach. He’s a strong communicator, effervescent and always smiling, even pleasant to a fault with the media. But some things must change.

The Als were undisciplined on the field and, it’s imagined, off it as well. They took 129 penalties — exceeded only by Saskatchewan’s 148 — for a league-high 1,263 yards.


Jones justifiably fell on his sword, taking responsibility for the repeated transgressions. “It falls with me,” he admitted. “I’ll make sure (it doesn’t recur) from the start of the season. We will fine, bench, release, do anything necessary to curb those penalties. We have to do our part. If it’s more drill work, technique work, changing schemes. We have to do what’s necessary. We didn’t have a penalty problem in 2019. Maybe that was something I assumed, and assumed wrongly. It didn’t happen and I didn’t nip it in the bud when I needed to. That falls directly on me, and I guarantee that won’t happen again.”

https://montrealgazette.com/sports/f...st-next-season

[jerrym]

The Als have terminated ST coordinator Mickey Dononvan.

[jerrym]

Montreal has re-signed QB Vernon Adams through 2023.

[jerrym]

The Als have released former Argo QB Trevor Harris and four year veteran Canadian OL David Foucault.

[jerrym]

Former Elk American DL Mike Moore has signed with the Als in a trade for former Argos OL Tony Washington and RB Martese Jackson.

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/202...ore-joins-als/

[jerrym]

Former Argo WR Mario Alford has resigned with the Als.

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/202...rd-stays-nest/

[jerrym]

The Als signed seven players including American WR Craig Rucker who attended Argos TC in 2021.

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/202...uel-thomassin/

[jerrym]

fMontreal has recently resigned several veterans: Americans WR Nick Usher and DL Dante Absher, as well as Canadians, FB Alexandre Gagne, and RB Jeshrun Antwi.

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/202...ains-alouette/

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/202...-remains-nest/

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/202...exandre-gagne/

https://en.montrealalouettes.com/202...ins-alouettes/

[Will]

The Alouettes signed Dominique Davis to be the backup to Vernon Adams Jr.

All I will say is that I hope Adams remains healthy for Montreal's sake.

[argolio]

The Alouettes signed Dominique Davis to be the backup to Vernon Adams Jr.

All I will say is that I hope Adams remains healthy for Montreal's sake.

DD could have been a productive starter if his confidence matched his physical talent. But he's had a nice career with ten years as a pro in the NFL and CFL

[jerrym]

When you consider the short cups of coffee many QBs have had in the CFL, I can't understand how a mediocrity like Davis, who is entering his seventh season, has lasted so long.

[AngeloV]

When you consider the short cups of coffee many QBs have had in the CFL, I can't understand how a mediocrity like Davis, who is entering his seventh season, has lasted so long.

IMO, he’s a good back-up. Some guys can’t handle the pressure of being “the guy” but I think for a 2 or 3 game stretch he can do quite well.

[Will]

IMO, he’s a good back-up. Some guys can’t handle the pressure of being “the guy” but I think for a 2 or 3 game stretch he can do quite well.

I still stand by my notion that the Alouettes better hope that Adams remains healthy.

[OV Argo]

When you consider the short cups of coffee many QBs have had in the CFL, I can't understand how a mediocrity like Davis, who is entering his seventh season, has lasted so long.

Ultra limited thinkers running CFL offences, with big need for "experienced veterans" / their guys, and not much good at evaluating QBs or not much willingness to try new talent, would be a contributing factor IMO. David Watford with the Ticats. Kevin Glenn made a long career out of it.

[paulwoods13]

Kevin Glenn made a long career out of it.

All the way to the Hall of Fame, in some folks' minds.

[OV Argo]

All the way to the Hall of Fame, in some folks' minds.

LOL - there's a new HOF category ? - the, Played on most teams in the league and were ultra Mediocre, wing ? (to be fair though, Glenn was IMO about the best QB in the league for the 1st half of one season way back with the Bombers); why he kept getting recycled / more CFL shots ? - huge need for a "veteran", "experienced" QB by some teams, instead of trying to find a Collaros or Harris or Fajardo like the Argos did.

[jerrym]

All-Star WR Jake Wieneke has agreed to re-sign with the Als, after winning the East's Most Outstanding Rookie nomination in 2019 and finishing fifth in receiving yardage with 898 yards in 2021.