Priming for the 2010 CFL Season

As the Montreal Canadiens distracted the city until yesterday, the Montreal Alouettes brass have been busy preparing for the opening of training camp on June 6th in Sherbrooke.

You can get excited about all the signings like O.J. Santiago and NFL releases like S.J. Green, but if CFL training camps that I have attended are any indication, there are alot of no shows and quick departures.

The fact is the Montreal Alouettes of 2010 will look alot like the Montreal Alouettes of 2009 at least on the offensive side of the ball. The questions about Brian Chiu and Anthony Calvillo were quickly answered and Ben Cahoon's return was always assumed.

Barring any major injuries, the Alouettes offense will be pretty much the same it has always been under Marc Trestman. But training camp could always yield a couple of surprises.

The questions for the Als are mostly off-field.
-Can they sell out a 25,000 seat stadium consistently?
-Can Rob Wetenhall and Larry Smith re-sign GM Jim Popp?
-Will the CFL and CFLPA agree to their CBA in time for Training Camp?

Those will be the topics leading up to June 6th but once that first ball is thrown, caught, kicked, dropped, muffed, tipped or fumbled all the focus will be on The Als quest to repeat as Grey Cup Champs

Cousin Confrontation

Everyone knows #81 of the B.C.Lions, Geroy Simon. But not many people know his cousin, the Alouettes receiver/returner #0, Andrew Hawkins. The eleven year younger Hawkins is just finding his own niche in the CFL, whereas Simon is an all-time top ten receiver.

Simon's numbers say it all; career CFL top ten in receptions (773), receiving yards (12, 547) and TDs (84). Five-time CFL All-Star, six-time western division All-star and the 2006 Most Outstanding Player in the CFL. How do you think Hawkins knew all about the CFL.

Hawkins, on the other hand, has 13 career receptions, 131 receiving yards and 3 TDs in his 7 career games played. Those are numbers that Simon could put up in one game alone. But Hawkins did play in four straight games prior to the teams final contest in Toronto. He missed that one because of injury (ribs) but has been given the green light for Sunday. If he does play it could be an interesting role, as Marc Trestman has certain crossing routes designed specifically for someone with his incredible speed.

I know everyone knows that Simon could be the one making the game-breaking play at any moment as he'll be on the field for the majority of B.C.'s offensive snaps. But don't be shocked if you see #0 out there for the Als in five-receiver sets.

Either way the Simon-Hawkins family members have already booked their tickets to Calgary.

Should Als A-Team Play Saturday?

Saturday afternoon will be a tough day of decisions for head coach Marc Trestman. How much does he play his A-Team? How Much does he play his most valued possessions: the veterans. The names that stick out when you think veterans and Montreal Alouettes are Anthony Calvillo, Ben Cahoon, Anwar Stewart, Davis Sanchez, Brian Chiu, Scott Flory and Paul Lambert. However you can't forget Avon Cobourne, Chip Cox, John Bowman, all leaders at their positions.

There are four games this weekend and only one has no bearing on any playoff positioning in the CFL, Montreal in Toronto. A game between a team with nothing to lose and another that has nothing to gain. There is nothing for the Alouettes to gain by playing any of their A-Team for more than a quarter. Does Calvillo really need to work on timing with Cahoon? Do Lambert, Flory and Chiu really need to work on their communication between the tackles? Does Bowman really need the sack title? the Answer is no to all questions.

-Calvillo has been in the league long enough that two weeks off can only help not hinder his play, Calvillo showed last week that he's hitting his stride heading into the playoffs, Give him a quarter to give the team a 2 score lead.

-Cahoon went two weeks with only 2 receptions in 2 games against BC in September and still is leading the league in receptions, keep his reception streak going and get him out.

-Watkins and Richardson have both reached their 1000yard marks. Let them play the half, but no crossing routes, keep them away form big hit potential.

-Cobourne is the one I would play, full game. After the bye week and after he was injured and missed the October 12th game against Calgary he struggled for two weeks to get his groove, only running for over fifty yards right after the bye with 93, but 43 of those yards came on one run, which was his longest of the season. Cobourne is a guy that needs his touches he feeds off of them. The goal of the game in Toronto should be to have him touch the ball at least 20 times.

-Offensive line, Rotate in some of the younger guys, but never to the extent that the QB, Calvillo or McPherson is ever in danger.

-Anwar Stewart, Give him the day off, he's earned it.

-John Bowman, Keron Williams, have them start and then start sending the young guys and see what they can do one on one.

-Davis Sanchez, dress him and play him for a half, he missed two weeks ago and could use a little game action, however it's not like Toronto has any threats at the WR position.

-Chip Cox, Rest him, just like Stewart, it's earned by the teams leading tackler.

As far as anyone else, that's up to Trestman and his coaching staff to decide, but the only question to ask after Saturday's game win or lose is: Who's banged up? That'll be your post game press conference. The problem Trestman faces is that he has 42 roster spots not nearly enough for a meaningless game this weekend. The Als are hoping to get shutout on the injury list, that's the only victory to be had.

Flu for Chiu

Brian Chiu missed Thursday's Practice because of flu- like Symptoms. Normally not big news in the world of sport as everyone gets sick, even Athletes at some point. However in the world of the H1N1 Virus aka the Swine Flu it affects teams preparations and rosters.

In the past a player would would be isolated, within the locker room, on the bus but would still practice minimally and play. The Player would still be part of the game-time planning. But you see it more and more that players will be asked to stay at home for up to 3 or 4 days. You're seeing alot of this in the NHL as we speak.

Football is a sport where preparation is everything. You can almost guarantee if Chiu misses Friday's practice and Saturday's walk through that he wouldn't play. Even for a seasoned veteran like Brian Chiu it's not worth the risk after missing the week of game planning.

However with only 2 regular season games remaining, this is probably a very smart move on Coach Trestman's part. Especially if you consider how close Chiu and Anthony Calvillo work together. We'll see where he is tomorrow.

Great read on Trestman

CBSsports.com's Clark Judge writes a great piece on Alouette's Head Coach Marc Trestman not getting a fair shake in the NFL.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/12399910

The Santos Factor

When Ricky Santos was traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, I had to think about it for a second or two. Why would the Blue Bombers trade two roster players for one of the Alouettes non-Roster Practice players? Yes I do understand, The Bombers QB situation at the time was a tad uneasy however it did make me think there was a little more to this trade than just the players involved.

The Alouettes acquired Riall Johnson and Shawn Mayne on September 21st for Santos. Both those players have dressed for the Als since and Santos never got that chance other than exhibition games. I think Blue Bombers head coach Mike Kelly saw an extra edge he could gain by adding Santos to his roster.

Ricky Santos practiced with the Als for the last year and a half under Marc Trestman. Santos has had first hand knowledge on how Coach Trestman wants his quarterbacks to play. Did it seem odd that The Winnipeg Blue Bombers seemed to read Adrian McPherson on most plays, I think so. I'm sure Mr Santos and Mr. Kelly have had a few conversations over the past few weeks in preparation for the home and home that the two teams are in the midst of.

I'm not saying that there's ill will but surely no one could have missed the extra sauce on the touchdown spike Santos had on his 1 yard plunge. He ran with something to prove for a 3rd string QB accumulating 20 yards on 5 carries all on sneaks.

Talking to Anothony Calvillo about it, he said that the play names have stayed the same, even though Santops is on the other side. Well a 41-24 loss to a division rival could easily change that.