SOMETHING ODD ABOUT CARTER’S RESIGNATION
We can speculate all we want and jump to conclusions. The truth eventually will come out — it always does — about Kahlil Carter. Nothing the Alouettes do between now and June 16, when they launch the 2018 regular-season in Vancouver, really matters for the time being.
But something just doesn’t smell right about Carter’s sudden resignation Thursday morning as the Als’ defensive co-ordinator — for family and personal reasons, according to the organization — especially since the announcement comes barely more than a week before the team opens training camp on May 20. Carter, who lives in Iowa, will remain with the team as a regional scout.
Former players go into coaching because they have aspirations and want to teach. They become assistant coaches with the hope of becoming co-ordinators. The best co-ordinators eventually become head coaches, and the smartest of those, a select few with a business acumen and an eye for talent, move on to become general managers.
Carter, who coached Calgary’s defensive backs for three seasons and wasn’t going to return to the Stampeders, was given a glorious opportunity by Montreal — one a coach doesn’t walk away from days before the start of camp, unless something transpired.
But the Als seemingly put the hiring of Carter into question months ago, with the appointment of the more experienced Rich Stubler to be his adviser. The organization had its next DC in place should Carter fail. With Stubler’s arrival, the organization sent an immediate signal it didn’t believe in Carter.
“I vehemently deny that,” head coach Mike Sherman told the Montreal Gazette, also denying there might have been friction between himself and Carter or between Stubler and the departed DC.
“Rich was hired because he’s a good coach, he’s familiar with the defence. He’s a great sounding board,” Sherman said.
“He’s been in the league. He’s been a head coach and he can be a good adviser to me. I don’t worry about the optics. We’re fine.”
The playbooks have been completed on defence, offence and special teams. GM Kavis Reed overhauled the defence this winter, signing free agents Tommie Campbell, Joe Burnett, Mitchell White and Dominique Ellis in the secondary, middle linebacker Henoc Muamba and rush end Jamaal Westerman. And just this week, defensive tackle Alan-Michael Cash was repatriated after his release from Toronto.
Did Campbell and Burnett in particular, who came over from Calgary, sign with Montreal to play for Carter? If so, this opens a potential Pandora’s box.
Although Stubler is 68 and has nearly 40 years of coaching experience, neither he nor Sherman believe age will be a factor, either for his energy level or the arduous daily regimen football coaches endure. Stubler undoubtedly is qualified for the job, having now worked for six of the nine Canadian Football League teams.
Stubler will be assisted by Bert Hill (defensive line), Todd Howard (linebackers) and Billy Parker (defensive backs).
Carter, for his part, refused to speak to Postmedia. But, in an interview granted to 3Down Nation, he maintained personal reasons, and nothing more, were behind the decision.
Carter also maintained his twoyear contract will be honoured, claiming he’ll receive the same salary as a scout he was to be paid as a co-ordinator. If this is correct, somebody needs their head examined.