Nik Lewis's description of the team toxic environment tells you what at least part of the problem in Montreal is, although he may have his own bias because, from his perspective, Reed supported him but Chapdelaine did not.
http://montrealgazette.com/sports/fo...ed-on-our-teamNik Lewis said the Alouettes’ new head coach must build a trust factor with the players he inherits. From the releases of Bear Woods, Jovon Johnson, Donald Unamba, Ryan Phillips and, even dating back to 2016, Duron Carter, the players’ trust in management was lost following a series of personnel moves.
“It almost felt like certain people didn’t want us to win,” Lewis told the Montreal Gazette on Monday, as frank and outspoken as ever. “When attitudes and egos change, it changes the culture.When you have people in place and coaches not wanting certain players …”
Lewis didn’t name names. Then again, that wasn’t required. It was clear from his comments he was referring to former head coach and offensive coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine along with defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe. Both were fired in mid-September, with the Als at 3-8. They completed the season with a 3-15 record, losing a record 11 consecutive games.
While many have been quick to blame general manager Kavis Reed for the Als’ plight, Lewis said more players would have been released — himself included — had Reed not fought for them.
“I was told in Week 3 that I wasn’t really wanted,” Lewis said. “My job isn’t to throw people under the bus, say things or demean people. What I was told and was known — and I was told by that person, it wasn’t hearsay — there were a handful of guys who weren’t wanted on our team.”
Chapdelaine was right in this case. I've mentioned many times that Lewis became a totally useless piece that was only still in the league because of his past history. I watched him closely run (walk?) 3 yards and turn around over and over again. He would make the occasional spectacular looking high hurdle, but overall did nothing to help the other receivers get open, essentially having extra players cover the remaining receivers because nobody worries about him. His under 9 yard average is as bad as it gets for a SB.
It's us vs the rest of the country
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montre...2017-1.4395663
I hope this leads to Montreal hosting a Grey Cup soon, I think they could use one.
I wouldn't call a guy who still catches pretty well everything thrown his way (plus makes some very tough catches) and who can still run over small defenders, "useless"; you could argue that Lewis being replaced by a much faster young receiver as an everydown slotback might make sense, but they would still have to find one of those and they can't seem to find any real good receivers for their offence (Earnest Jackson bombing there is a head scratcher; and they still deploy the mediocre Giguere). Declan Cross doesn't scare any defenders with his speed and route running, but he can still be a force or good factor on the Argo offence when they get him the ball some out of H-back, plus he can flatten LBs or DBs with his blocking - diversity is huge & under-rated in football/offence IMO. I'll take one big body, bruising, strong hands slotback in my CFL offence, rather than 3 smaller, faster guys who have iffy hands or are afraid of traffic.
I respectfully disagree. Cross is not a good comparison IMO, as they play completely different positions. And as a FB, he averaged more yards per catch than Lewis. Has underated speed too. Actually turned short passes into big gains. When was the last time Lewis did that. In my eyes, it's plain and simple, Lewis hung around well past a time where he was an effective player just to get the record for receptions. Had Chapedelaine been allowed to chose his talent and cut Lewis, I am fairly certain nobody would have signed him.
It's us vs the rest of the country
You may be right. I still don't comprehend how Kavis not only got the job, but it looks as though he'll get another season there.
I for one really wish the Molsons or Saputo's would buy the Als, because I think the Wetenhall's (Andrew more specifically now) are going to destroy that Organization.
I really don't think that Kavis had nothing to do with the acquisition of Durant, and yes the Wettenhalls may very well be the cause of much of the pain.
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While there is nothing wrong with individual components in Kavis Reed's 10 point plan to improve the Als, overall it looks like a list of worn-out cliches.
https://en.montrealalouettes.com/201...-10-step-plan/
Province of Quebec oks $250 million for new Olympic Stadium roof. Man, that's a lot of money for a roof not located in Vancouver, B.C!
http://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4395663
“it's not the strongest who survive nor the most intelligent but the ones most adaptable to change.’ Charles Darwin
At the end of 1976 I went across Canada by train and ended up sitting beside a girl whose boyfriend had worked on the Olympic Stadium. She described how cement trucks would enter the construction area from one side and leave through the other without dropping their load and be counted three times, before finally dropping their cement on the fourth pass. Workers were paid double to keep their mouths shut. Other costs were similarly inflated. Now you know why it cost $1.5 billion and 30 years to pay the bill off for such a cold concrete fishbowl.
With Lapo signing an extension to stay in Winnipeg (signed early in 2017, why are we only hearing about this now ?), you can scratch one name off of Kavis' list for Head Coaching candidates.
Als are a mess, I didn't see Lapo going there, nor Benevides, Claybrooks, etc. So really, unless the team gets rid of Kavis, I suspect an outside the box type of hire.
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