After a season that featured a whirlwind of quarterbacks for the Montreal Alouettes, Jim Popp stabilized his QB situation this week by saying that the Kevin Glenn quarterback job is his to lose heading into training camp. After the acquisition and signing of Vernon Adams Jr. last week, there were many questions surrounding the position, and fuel was added to the fire when reports surrounding a possible release of Rakeem Cato surfaced in the past few days. Many wondered who would be the Alouettes #1 QB heading into camp. Even after head coach/general manager Popp addressed the elephant in the room, there still is doubt to whether the quarterback job is really “Glenn’s to lose”.
Kevin Glenn Quarterback Job: Is It His to Lose?
The 2015 season was a disaster for the Alouettes regarding their quarterbacks. No less than seven pivots played under centre, and there was no stability at the position. Glenn was acquired in a late-season trade from the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and he finished with a 1-2 record and 71/106 passing for 756 yards, to go along with 7 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He did not look very powerful nor accurate and was far from the form he had during his Winnipeg years.
Right now, Popp needs to think of the Alouettes’ objectives as an organization. Is the ultimate goal to make the playoffs? Or is it to rebuild this team from the quarterback out, which means having a veteran pivot teach the young guys how to win in the CFL? Like any credible sports organization, President Mark Weightman needs to let veteran Popp know that they want to make the playoffs in 2016. They will need Glenn at his best in order to accomplish that goal, and even in a weak East Division, it will be hard for Glenn to carry the team on his shoulders.
Jon Crompton carried the team to an 8-2 finish in the 2014 season, leading them to the East Final, but missed most of the 2015 season with a shoulder injury. He played in only three games, winning once, but finished with a completion percentage below 50% and threw 5 interceptions to his 3 touchdowns. After shoulder surgery in the off-season, Crompton may be a shadow of his former self, but he will still be ready to fight his way up the pecking order.
Crompton has a huge advantage in that he has played the most with the team’s receiving corps before. Duron Carter and Kenny Stafford are back in Montreal after playing last season with the Indianapolis Colts and Edmonton Eskimos, respectively. They were two of Crompton’s options during the 2014 season, and will already be used to him behind centre heading into camp.
However, this is no reason for Popp not to give Crompton some starts throughout the season. He has proven himself to be a fragile quarterback; furthermore, many believe his hot play in 2014 was a flash in the pan, and the Alouettes won’t see him play like that again.
The man for the future of the team is without a doubt the Oregon product in Adams. Adams is built for the CFL at 5’11” 200 lb, with a strong arm and good feet. He has a similar playing style to former Alouettes quarterback Troy Smith, but he’s 23 years old and has no prior NFL experience nor a Heisman Trophy; Adams may therefore be a lot more mentally fit for the job than Smith. Adams has an explosive arm, perfect for his explosive receivers in Carter and S.J. Green.
Moving forward, the Alouettes offence needs to rely on their young stars like Stafford, Mikael Davidson, Alex Charette and B.J. Cunningham, and they need a young quarterback like Adams behind centre, not the veteran Glenn.
Adams could put pressure on Glenn for the number one job as soon as the season starts, depending on how each plays in the pre-season. Cato (if he stays), Crompton, and Brandon Bridge will have to really impress to get starts this season, but if the Alouettes start slipping like they did last year, Popp could give multiple quarterbacks as many snaps as possible.
Right now, the Glenn quarterback job is his to keep, but he needs to work hard in order to keep it. Depending on the organization’s goals, Adams may get some starts this year – or it will be Glenn’s role to carry this team to the promised land.
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