The Montreal Alouettes receivers group received a positive shake-up with the addition of Duron Carter and the release of Fred Stamps. After missing the playoffs for the first time in franchise history last season, the return of Carter may bring the Alouettes back to the post-season dance.
After spending two seasons in Montreal, Carter signed with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts but was limited to their practice squad during the 2015 season. The son of Hall of Famer Cris Carter was released by the Colts after the team failed to retain him. Although Carter was highly sought after by other NFL clubs, the Florida native quickly decided to return to the CFL.
He displayed his happiness with the one-year deal by taking to Twitter with a photo of him and S.J. Green.
Happiness is ?pic.twitter.com/P6n5XRKQEt
— Duron Carter (@DC_CHILLIN_8) January 25, 2016
Changes for the Good for Alouettes Receivers
The two made a fantastic duo for the Alouettes in 2014, combining for 128 catches, 1,865 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Alouettes made a trip to the East Division Final that season, thanks to them, despite having quarterback troubles that has haunted them since.
The Alouetters receivers are not the ones to blame for their 6-12 season, in which nearly ten quarterbacks played for the team. Green had a monster 1036-yard season and Nik Lewis rumbled for 743 yards; while rookies Alex Charette and B.J. Cunningham each were pleasant surprises with the team. Stamps did not have the season general manager Jim Popp expected him to have when he traded for the veteran last January, as he failed to reach 500 yards.
It comes to no surprise after the signing of Carter, and of Lewis, that Stamps was shown the door. The Alouettes are looking to rebuild with younger receivers, such as Charette, Cunningham, Mikhail Davidson and Cody Hoffman. They could all be excellent players for the team one day. Stamps, at 34-years-old, does clearly not fit the job description that Montreal desperately needs and although the legendary receiver did have a bumpy ride to the finish, his career will never be tarnished by this past season.
After experimenting with multiple younger quarterbacks throughout the past two seasons, the Alouettes acquired CFL veteran Kevin Glenn late last season and have kept him on for 2016. After trial-and-error with the inexperienced pivots, Glenn can lead a charge with other veteran Alouettes receivers, while at the same time showing his understudies and young receivers the way to success.
Rookie Rakeem Cato, at times, did not click with Green, Lewis or Stamps and this greatly affected the team’s results on the field. Even if it was Jon Crompton, Anthony Boone and Tanner Marsh behind center, the Alouettes receivers and quarterbacks were not on the same wavelength. With Glenn and his trusted steed of veterans, Montreal will have just a bit more stability with their attack.
Although Carter’s attitude has been questioned during his previous tenure in Montreal, the 24-year-old was undoubtedly a flamboyant leader on the field and a fan-favourite in Montreal. The fans missed a player like that last season, at least on the offence. The quiet Green loves to showcase his skills with his mouth closed but fans will always want that trash-talking, exuberant, yet producing, player. Jamel Richardson won two Grey Cups with Green while backing up his own words and Carter is a player exactly like that. A talker compliments the timid Green well.
The Alouettes still have a long way to go before they can do any damage in the East against the powerful Tiger-Cats and Redblacks but with Carter and a revamped Alouettes receivers core, the team is in the right direction. 2016 may just be a stepping stone to greater possibilities, but at least Montreal will be doing it with Duron Carter and S.J. Green reunited once again.
Main Photo.
