CFL.ca staff
Montréal – After all Jonathan Crompton did was win in 2014, it’s only fitting that the Montreal Alouettes find themselves still answering questions about their starting quarterback entering the start of a new season.
On Thursday in their home opener against the Ottawa REDBLACKS, game number one on the 2015 CFL calendar, they’ll get to do the talking on the football field. Crompton gets the call for the Alouettes just months after leading his team to an 8-2 finish at the end of last regular season, yet the pressure will be on him to hold down his position on a team facing lofty expectations this season.
The Alouettes have deployed a championship-calibre roster by many counts entering this season, although one position, some suggest, remains a question mark. Tom Higgins isn’t so fast to judge based only on two mediocre pre-season performances, but you can bet he’ll be watching his signal-caller very closely on Thursday night.
“This is now the true test, Week 1 against the Ottawa REDBLACKS,” Higgins told MontrealAlouettes.com. “We’ll have obviously a lot more definitive answers than the bad answer that comes out of camp.”
Evidently Higgins won’t be so quick to forget all of the good Crompton did a year ago at the helm of the Als’ offence. While he wasn’t always impressive statistically, his biggest influence always came in the win column. That’s the QB Higgins hopes to see as the live bullets start to fly.
“One of the things in pre-season, and again we’re not allowing them off the hook, is the fact that we weren’t game planning,” said Higgins of his quarterbacks’ pre-season play. “Some of those passes were errant and they weren’t where they needed to be and it wasn’t as good as we need them to be or want them to be – but we’re patient, and I think most people know I’m a very patient person.”
Higgins added that talented but unproven backup Dan LeFevour may get playing time in special situations, ones that allow him to focus more on using his legs as a weapon in the Als’ offence.
But whoever it is playing QB will get plenty of help after the Alouettes spent the off-season tweaking their offence and coaching staff in hopes of taking the next step in their pursuit of a CFL Grey Cup Championship.
Fred Stamps and Nik Lewis are two future Hall of Famers added to the offence along with speedy pass-catcher Samuel Giguere, while elusive running back Tyrell Sutton takes over the backfield after the release of six-year veteran and two-time Grey Cup winner Brandon Whitaker. Duron Carter is the Als’ notable subtraction on offence, but his production is replaced by wily long-time CFL veterans.
The Als’ defence, meanwhile, one of the stingiest and most aggressive in the CFL in 2014, returns almost entirely intact this season. Geoff Tisdale is out at corner replaced by veteran Jonathan Hefney, while linebacker Kyries Hebert will start the season on the six-game injured list.
No matter which way you slice it, the Als’ success this season will come down to quarterback play, which is exactly what makes Thursday night’s home opener vs. Ottawa so intriguing. Keep an eye on all of Montreal’s exciting new weapons but also watch closely who’s getting them the football.
Similar excitement follows the Ottawa REDBLACKS to Montreal for their season opener, as the team sheds its expansion label and looks to emerge in 2015 as a legitimate playoff and Grey Cup contender.
The biggest statement the team made in its early existence came from the front office this off-season with the signing of Chris Williams along with four other big-name receivers, creating an Ottawa offence that’s barely recognizable compared to the one that ranked eighth in the CFL in net yards a year ago.
Will the moves translate to on-field success for a team still so young in its development?
Veteran pivot Henry Burris has the most to gain from Ottawa’s off-season additions following the worst statistical season of his career, and so far he finds promise in what he’s seen.
“Just seeing the playmaking ability we have out here, right now it seems like we’re in Week 3 or 4 as far as how the offensive practices have been going,” Burris told OttawaREDBLACKS.com. “Now it’s all about guys making plays.”
Second-year GM Marcel Desjardins entered the off-season looking to address arguably the league’s worst receiving corps. He did so by adding Greg Ellingson, Brad Sinopoli and Ernest Jackson as free agents and Maurice Price via trade.
Williams, the biggest piece, came in last after joining the REDBLACKS late in the off-season following two seasons in the NFL. The 27-year-old is in the prime of his professional career and broke punt return records while also contributing substantially on offence the last time he was in the CFL, and his signing in Ottawa could be a total game-changer on the REDBLACKS’ offence.
The REDBLACKS also added Offensive Coordinator Jason Maas, a former CFL quarterback and coaching understudy to Toronto’s Scott Milanovich, to help turn around an offence that last season simply wasn’t good enough.
With new receivers and a revamped line that includes the addition of left tackle SirVincent Rogers, the REDBLACKS improved substantially on paper. On Thursday, however, they’ll put that to the test for the first time, as plans written on paper tend to sometimes not work out.
It’s the season opener between the REDBLACKS and the Alouettes, an East Division rivalry and an ideal early-season measuring stick for two teams hoping to rise to the top of the division.
“We’ve really had a great week of practice, we’ve been working our butts off all week to get ready,” said Burris. “There’s been great intensity out here and the guys are excited to get things going.”
“We’re looking forward to getting this first step started,” he added. “We’re playing against a very good team, a team that was in the Eastern Final last year and a team that people will be gunning for this year.”
Game Notes:
– Matt Carter and Marcus Henry are among those on the Ottawa REDBLACKS’ injured list, while off-season acquisition Brad Sinopoli is expected to play.
– All five of the starting receivers on Ottawa’s depth chart were off-season additions and did not play for Ottawa in 2014.
– Henry Burris is looking for a bounceback 2015 after the worst statistical season of his career in 2014, throwing more interceptions (11) than touchdowns (14) for the first time as a starter).
– Andrew Lue, Eric Deslauriers, Kyries Hebert and Aaron Lavarias are among key notables out of the lineup for Montreal due to injury.
– The last five Grey Cups have been won by five different teams: Montreal, BC, Toronto, Saskatchewan and Calgary. The REDBLACKS are one of four teams that’ll hope to continue the trend along with Hamilton, Edmonton and Winnipeg.
Milestones:
⇒Chip Cox needs 72 tackles this season to reach #6 in all-time defensive tackles leaders.
⇒Nik Lewis needs 376 receiving yards to reach #10 in all-time receiving yards leaders.
⇒Fred Stamps needs 68 yards to reach 8000 receiving yards.
Tailgate:
The party starts at 5pm! On site, there will be barbecues provided for free by the organization, picnic tables, a DJ and inflatables games! New this year: food trucks and the possibility to organize your own private tailgate! To reserve your private tailgate, click here!
Do not forget to bring beer cans because beer bottles aren’t permitted.
Red Zone Store:
EXCLUSIVE: The Alouettes merchandise is now available at Tricolore Sports store at the Bell Centre and on their website.
