The Alouettes don’t get the start to the season they wanted. In fact, head coach Khari Jones and defensive coordinator Barron Miles footed the bill two weeks ago. The players now have to look in the mirror. They are part of the solution when they want to get out of trouble. Your fate is in your hands. Here are five issues they need to address in the coming weeks.
• Also read: Already a sense of urgency for the Alouettes
• Also read: “A crappy ending,” says Patrick Levels
1. Lack of quarterback consistency
Vernon Adams Jr. Where Trevor Harris ? With the shifts we started playing Musical Chairs again. After a season marred by inconsistent play and a collarbone injury, Adams Jr. failed to return to his 2019 level despite preparing well with his receivers during the offseason. After a shaky start, he was replaced by Trevor Harris. The 36-year-old veteran was capable of good and bad. It will be interesting to see how the dynamic develops between him and quarterbacks coach Anthony Calvillo.
2. Losing Stanback hurts
The Sparrows suffered a severe blow from William Stanback’s injury. She messed up Khari Jones’ playbook in the first game of the campaign. You can’t replace the best ball carrier with a snap of your fingers. At the moment, Montreal passes the ball to Walter Fletcher and Jeshrun Antvi, but their production is small. General manager Danny Maciocia will need to find a lasting solution to expect a balanced attack by the end of the season.
3. Trust Canadian recipients
The Alouettes squad is full of talent. Since the start of the season, however, it’s been like the quarterfinals. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. We like the contribution of Canadian recipients Hergy Mayala and Kaion Julien Grant. For the first time in a long while, Maple Leaf players have a chance to show themselves. With Jake Wieneke looking for himself, it would be interesting to see the Alouettes quarterback throwing toward Mayala and Julien-Grant more often.
4. A defense in search of identity
Defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe has been trying to implement a new system since arriving. It will take a few weeks for players to get used to this new playbook. With this new philosophy, the defensive line will have no choice but to improve their game. It will be key to the success of this new defense.
5. Indiscipline
That may have cost head coach Khari Jones his job. It was a problem for the Alouettes in the 2021 season. At the time of this writing, the Montreal team was second in yards allowed from penalties. She gave the opponent far too many gifts. Without these penalties, the “sparrows” would have a better record.