The 2014 CFL season was a whirlwind of problems for the Montreal Alouettes in every aspect of their game, from management all the way down to their players. One issue facing last year’s team lingers on into the 2015 season. The players and the team all need an answer to the question: can the number one quarterback job in Montreal belong to Jonathan Crompton?
Crompton and the Alouettes
Crompton wasn’t on the Alouettes roster at the start of last season but was claimed off waivers on July 15, just two weeks into the new season, from Edmonton. Troy Smith was expected to replace the future Hall-of-Famer Anthony Calvillo but quickly fell off the grid with inefficiency and injuries, and he was later released.
Following a brief stint with Alex Brink, the third-string Crompton started on Labour Day weekend against Ottawa. Eight wins followed, catapulting the Alouettes into hosting the cross-over Lions in the East Division Semi-Final. Montreal fell to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats a week later in the East Final.
During the amazing ten-game stretch, in which Crompton started every single game, he was the unequivocal leader on the offence. He charged the young offence into a charismatic attack that the team hasn’t seen since the Calvillo days with Ben Cahoon, Kerry Watkins, S.J. Green, and Jamel Richardson.
Contrary to the QB situation as the season opened in La Belle Province, Crompton has already proved himself at this level, while Smith hadn’t. He had started only a handful of games in 2013 when Calvillo ended his long career with a concussion on August 17. The former Heisman winner had questions looming about his accuracy and he proved the critics right with his poor passing early on in 2014.
Crompton has proved himself with those ten regular season games and two playoff games. The Tennessee Volunteers product showed leadership, character and grit, even when life outside of football was bleak, as he had to mourn the loss of his ex-fiancée, who lost a battle with cancer in September. He was outgoing with the fans and media, a skill Smith did not possess, and he was gaining the admiration of his coaching staff.
His personality doesn’t cover the whole story – his numbers aren’t horrible, either. He completed 179 of 308 passes (58.1%), throwing for 2482 yards and 11 touchdowns, while being intercepted 8 times. This resulted in a modest 85.2 QB-rating. He was fast on his feet as well, displaying his athleticism for the games he participated in. He tucked the ball and ran 28 times for an impressive 154 yards, including a 24-yard scramble against Ottawa.
Four quarterbacks
The signing of John Skelton and Dan LeFevour over the off-season, coupled with the subtraction of Brink, might have surprised a few. The 27-year-old Skelton started 17 games for the Arizona Cardinals between 2010-2012 but had weak numbers and has bounced around between practice rosters down south since. The adaptation to the Canadian game might be a tough one for Skelton, and shouldn’t bring any direct competition to Crompton in the first few weeks of the season.
LeFevour, on the other hand, established himself as a reliable back-up when the regular is out or injured, as he did in 2014 with Hamilton when Zach Collaros was sidelined. He started four games in July and August and finished the season with a 67.8 completion percentage, 1670 yards and five majors.
With the four quarterbacks in place right now, general manager Jim Popp has said that not all of them will make it past training camp. Skelton will be under the microscope to see if he can play Canada’s game while LeFevour will be working as hard as Crompton, trying prove that the number one spot should go to him.
A more stable Alouettes
The 27-year-old Crompton will have better guidance this year than last, with a stable coaching staff in place. Hirings and firings were made on a weekly basis last season, shaking the equilibrium of the team and damaging their chemistry. Offensive coordinator Turk Schonert will double as quarterbacks coach while the man himself, Anthony Calvillo, will be available for advice at any time as he was appointed receivers coach for his first season as part of the coaching staff.
Undoubtedly, Crompton still has a lot to prove in a city that once watched Calvillo toss footballs around. He needs to remain consistent with his performances last year and show Higgins and Schonert that the quarterback job in Montreal is his for a taking.
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