Montreal Alouettes Thread

[ArgoRavi]

All kidding aside, this is certainly true: young kicker + big leg + great rookie season = second chance. Historically, most (virtually all?) kickers in any football league seem to hit a psychological roadblock at one time or another. AFAIK, Bede isn't otherwise injured.

I completely agree. When you think of any of the great kickers in this league, it seems like they hit a slump at some point early in their career - usually after an excellent rookie season - before getting back on track. Dave Ridgway is one such kicker who comes to mind. Bede has a great leg and will eventually return to form if given the chance.

One of the things working against keeping Bede in the lineup to do only some of the kicking duties is that he is considered to be an import or international. Under the old rules, Bede would have non-import status as he never played organized football in the U.S. The same holds true for the Dutch player that the Lions have - Boldewijn (sp?). I believe that Josh Bartel, because he came into the league under the old rules, is still considered to be a non-import (i.e. grandfathered).

[Fumblitis]

You don't cut a young kicker with such a big leg coming off a great rookie season because he's slumping. He will at some point regain his confidence and be a great kicker for many years in this league. Osbaldiston, McCallum and our own Lirim H are all good examples of patience needed for a young kicker.

Personally, I would have just brought in someone to place kick and kept him for kickoffs and punting. Let him concentrate on those for now, and next year give him the opportunity to do everything again.

We all know what happened with Chtis Milo when he was jettisoned...he's been absolute money for the REDBLACKS (his chip shot miss last Saturday notwithstanding).

[AngeloV]

One of the things working against keeping Bede in the lineup to do only some of the kicking duties is that he is considered to be an import or international. Under the old rules, Bede would have non-import status as he never played organized football in the U.S.

I was actually not aware of that, Ravi. I thought he was a National. Even still, they can still keep him in the line-up and bring in a National to do the place kicking (Where is Hugh O'Neil these days?), and it would do nothing to hurt the ratio, seeing as how they brought in an international kicker to replace him.

[ArgoGabe22]

Jim Popp sure upset a lot of players by saying something to them. Seems like the locker room is getting a bit toxic. I can't see the team going up anytime soon and I think Popp really needs to stay away from coaching.

Unrelated but did Josh Bartel lose his national status. His situation is similar to Bede's.

[R.J]

Popp not happy.
http://montrealgazette.com/sports/fo...r-loss-sources

[ArgoRavi]

I was actually not aware of that, Ravi. I thought he was a National. Even still, they can still keep him in the line-up and bring in a National to do the place kicking (Where is Hugh O'Neil these days?), and it would do nothing to hurt the ratio, seeing as how they brought in an international kicker to replace him.

O'Neill was brought in by the Als for a workout recently but I guess that they preferred Fera.

Jim Popp sure upset a lot of players by saying something to them. Seems like the locker room is getting a bit toxic. I can't see the team going up anytime soon and I think Popp really needs to stay away from coaching.

Unrelated but did Josh Bartel lose his national status. His situation is similar to Bede's.

Bartel, I believe, has been grandfathered in as a National since he joined the league under the old rules.

[ArgoGabe22]

Vaughn Martin expected to be released. Popp is rumoured to be using that extra cap space to go after Swayze Waters.

[R.J]

Alouettes set to release Canadian DT Vaughn Martin
http://3downnation.com/2016/08/17/al...vaughn-martin/


Not surprised at all - Looks good on Popp though.

[AngeloV]

Vaughn Martin expected to be released. Popp is rumoured to be using that extra cap space to go after Swayze Waters.

10 year contract baby!!

[Argo]

Vaughn Martin expected to be released. Popp is rumoured to be using that extra cap space to go after Swayze Waters.

Although Waters might turn out to be a good signing, that is currently not a given. Waters would be relatively expensive and he carries question marks, IMO.
So signing him doesn't seem to represent the best allocation of resources, because the Als need to upgrade their offence and score more points.
The current new kicker, Fera, seems like he can kick FGs (and his punting average was ~ 44, IIRC, in his first and only game).

[R.J]

After agreeing on a pay cut three weeks ago, the Alouettes asked Vaughn Martin to reduce his salary to the minimum of 52K this week. @CFL

— Didier Orméjuste (@DidierRDS) August 17, 2016

I know it'd never happen, but I'd love to hear Jim Popp to just admit he's having major issues with the cap. It'd help him to just stop giving out ridiculous contracts lol.

[R.J]

http://www.tsn.ca/arbitrator-upholds...nsion-1.557276

This took way too long.

[AngeloV]

http://www.tsn.ca/arbitrator-upholds...nsion-1.557276

This took way too long.

Agreed. Somehow I think they purposely delayed the outcome in order to take him out against the RedBlacks, and avoid any late game shenanigans should the game be lopsided, this being their last game against each other.

[OV Argo]

Als former draft pick - Olineman David Foucault - cut by the Panthers; hung around their roster a couple of years and even had one NFL start for them; might be a nice addition to the Als all NI O-line - not sure he would displace Ruby right away at OT, but maybe. Poop probably could only offer CFL minimum wage though with his $M$ cluelessness, and Foucault might tell him to F-off there; ex-NFLer Vaughn Martin did not work out well for Poop

[AngeloV]

Als former draft pick - Olineman David Foucault - cut by the Panthers; hung around their roster a couple of years and even had one NFL start for them; might be a nice addition to the Als all NI O-line - not sure he would displace Ruby right away at OT, but maybe. Poop probably could only offer CFL minimum wage though with his $M$ cluelessness, and Foucault might tell him to F-off there; ex-NFLer Vaughn Martin did not work out well for Poop

Martin was a bad signing, plain and simple. He is not in good enough shape to play in the CFL. Why would anyone spend big bucks on a run stuffer in this league?

Foucault would be a great get.

[OV Argo]

Martin was a bad signing, plain and simple. He is not in good enough shape to play in the CFL. Why would anyone spend big bucks on a run stuffer in this league?

Foucault would be a great get.

Maybe on Martin; not so sure there though; guy is maybe more a big NFL DT run stuffer type, but he is also a strong and quick athletic specimen in terms of athletic testing #s - i'd bet his Combine testing #s were quite a bit better than Ted Laurent's were, and Laurent is a league best CFL DT type and not just a run stuffer. Maritn might find a CFL home somewhere still, but not for big buck$ that his NFL resume might have him think he could get (like out of Poop at first?)

Foucault would be a great get? - maybe, but you are basing this on what? Martin arguably did way more in the NFL based on playing time alone. But he might give the Als great depth on their all "national" O-line (former starter at C Luc Brodeur-Jourdain is apparently healthy again but cannot displace current starter Kristan Matte; and this year's draft pick Phil Gagnon seems to be doing pretty well as a rookie starter at guard).

Poop might be able to continue to start an all- NI O-line for some time - he's drafted to that purpose and it is working - and is CFL top notch there - Foucault or not, but yep, he might be a great get. They lost perennial league best type OT Bourke to the Argos, but are still doing quite good on the O-line seems to me - trying to protect the great Kevin Glenn at QB - LOL

[AngeloV]

Maybe on Martin; not so sure there though; guy is maybe more a big NFL DT run stuffer type, but he is also a strong and quick athletic specimen in terms of athletic testing #s - i'd bet his Combine testing #s were quite a bit better than Ted Laurent's were, and Laurent is a league best CFL DT type and not just a run stuffer.

How many years ago were his combine testings? At this point they are irrelevant. He did nothing in his time with the Als. He has either let himself go, or he was just a run stuffer type as you mention.

[R.J]

Was bound to happen

I'm told Kevin Glenn is no longer the starting QB. He's replaced by Rakeem Cato. Corbin Louks has been released. #Alouettes @CFL

— Didier Orméjuste (@DidierRDS) September 5, 2016

[PullTogether73]

Was bound to happen

I'm told Kevin Glenn is no longer the starting QB. He's replaced by Rakeem Cato. Corbin Louks has been released. #Alouettes @CFL

— Didier Orméjuste (@DidierRDS) September 5, 2016

Yup.
I said in the Ottawa game thread that several of his passes were just brutal.
Still, slightly surprised by this.

[Argo]

Was bound to happen

I'm told Kevin Glenn is no longer the starting QB. He's replaced by Rakeem Cato. Corbin Louks has been released. #Alouettes @CFL
— Didier Orméjuste (@DidierRDS) September 5, 2016

Before next season Als fans can look forward to seeing Popp finally be cut loose.