With the CFL Free Agency market opening on February 10, LWOS will break down teams’ needs prior to the big day. We will look at what they need to improve on – offence, defence and special teams – to win the Grey Cup in Winnipeg. You can look at the complete list of free agents here as well as the most recent signings and re-signings. Today, we will look at the Montreal Alouettes’ off-season needs.
Montreal Alouettes’ Off-season Needs
After a less-than-spectacular 1-7 start, the Alouettes stormed back after Labour Day weekend and finished the rest of the season 8-2. That answered the questions about their quarterback situation with Jonathan Crompton safely at the helm.
Their incredible finish to the season couldn’t have happened without their two star receivers S.J. Green and Duron Carter. And, unfortunately for the Alouettes, Carter will be leaving the team in 2015, reportedly for the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. With Green getting an extension earlier this week, the Alouettes will have only half of last season’s dynamic duo.
18 players on the roster finished the 2014 season with a terminating contract, but general manager Jim Popp has since signed eleven of those players, including their heart of the defence in Bear Woods and Winston Venable and youngsters like Aaron Lavarias and Scott Paxson. Running back Tyrell Sutton also has his signature on a new contract, as well as depth national receiver Eric Deslaurier and the aforementioned Green.
Offence
The Alouettes will lose their top receiver next season. Carter is undoubtedly going to the NFL as the son of Hall of Famer Cris held a pro try-out following Montreal’s elimination, for over 15 pro scouts in the States. The Indianapolis representative liked what he saw, and it seems the Colts are the frontrunners to land the CFL East All-Star.
For the longest time, contract talks between Green and Popp were stagnate and it seemed as if the former 31 receiver to Anthony Calvillo would be leaving the city come the 10th of February. Money was the biggest issue, but Popp was the first one to bend and gave him a three-year contract reportedly worth $250000 per season, making him the highest paid non-quarterback in the CFL.
Deslauriers and Brandon London are two left from last season with starting experience and veterans Chad Johnson and Dave Stala are also in the mix. Popp made a smart move by acquiring seasoned slotback Fred Stamps for a young gun in Kenny Stafford but still needs to add some depth.
Samuel Giguere, who is originally from Sherbrooke, Quebec seems to be a favourite to get a contract offer from Popp on the 10th. He would be a fan favourite and would add support with London behind Stamps if there are injuries during the season. Bakari Grant, Maurice Mann, John Chiles, Spencer Watt, and Wallace Miles are other players that the Alouettes could target.
With one of the best offensive lines in the league, featuring Luc Brodeur-Jourdain, Ryan Bomben, Jeff Perrett, and Josh Bourke, Popp doesn’t need to improve on his big Canadian boys. His biggest hole to fill on offence is at receiver and slotback.
Defence
The Alouettes defence will likely be continuous from last season with few changes to their powerful squad. Woods, Venable, Paxson, and Lavarias were all set to head into the free agent market before Popp signed them to contracts at the turn of the calendar year, inking all four on January 2nd. Without a doubt, Eastern All-Star Woods, with his 89 tackles in 2014, is the central part of the Alouettes defence right now, along with leader and veteran defensive end John Bowman.
Lavarias and Paxson are fairly young players, the former having just completed his sophomore season in the league and the latter just finished getting his feet wet in the CFL’s waters. Venable, also in his second season, recorded 52 tackles while forcing four fumbles and finding the endzone once this season off a fumble recovery in September against Hamilton.
Currently without contract are two veteran defensive backs, Geoff Tisdale and Jerald Brown. At 34 years old, Brown has used his time in Montreal to the fullest and will gracefully leave the team after being a key player in two Montreal Grey Cup wins. The absence of Tisdale’s signature on a contract is questionable as the 28-year-old has been putting up the same numbers he had all of his career, finishing with 39 tackles and 5 interceptions this season. He does seem to have slowed down, however, missing key interceptions in the red zone this season.
Dominique Ellis and Mitchell White are ready to fill in Brown and Tisdale’s shoes come the start of the season if management doesn’t sign any other cornerback or DB.
Other than that, their defence really has no contractual kinks to work out by the 10th. Continuity is always good for a team, especially a younger one.
Special Teams
With special kick returners Larry Taylor ad Bo Bowling injured for most of last season, the returning job was fumbled – along with the ball – week to week. James Rodgers handled the duties most of the season but often dropped the pigskin at key times. Mardy Gilyard stepped in his place come playoff time and did a decent job, neither spectacular nor awful. He was a reliable returner with a respectable 74 yards on 6 returns against Hamilton in the East Final.
Brandon Banks is the only kick returner set to hit free agency. He will likely end up in the NFL, but Popp and the Alouettes would love to sign him to solve their returning trouble – as would every other team in the league. He did run the ball back to the end zone three times against the Alouettes in the Grey Cup semi-final, although one of those was called back.
After looking at all the aspects of their roster, it is fairly safe to conclude that the Alouettes are in serious need of a top-to-mid level wide receiver. Once they have him signed, they might just be set to go come training camp in the spring.
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