Alouettes’ quarterback carousel shows no signs of slowing down

it seems like the Alouettes’ quarterback situation has been thrown into disarray since Anthony Calvillo’s concussion last month, you’re right. And get prepared for the potential of more change this week.

Nobody’s saying so officially — at least not yet — but all indications are Josh Neiswander will be the Als’ starter this Saturday, when Montreal meets the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a neutral-site game at Moncton, N.B.

Rookie Tanner Marsh, the team’s starter since late in the first quarter of an Aug. 22 game against British Columbia, suffered a sprained right thumb last Sunday against the Lions and isn’t expected to play this week.

Marsh took no practice reps on Tuesday, when the Als conducted a light workout at Stade Hébert. Of more significance, the black Velcro brace he sported, protecting the thumb, spoke volumes about his status. Marsh is expected to visit a doctor on Wednesday to be re-evaluated.

That would leave the Als in the hands of third-year pro Neiswander against Hamilton. He would be backed up by rookie Troy Smith, the former Heisman Trophy winner, who has been limited to three plays — no passes — over the last three games.

While certain members of the Montreal media have been clamouring, repeatedly, to see more of Smith, who saw time in the NFL with Baltimore and San Francisco, Jim Popp intimated he’s simply not ready yet to direct this team for an extended period.

“Situations have occurred to get him in with what he knows of our playbook,” said general manager and head coach Popp. “It never was the plan for him to start this season. He might, the way things have gone. He wasn’t planning on playing. He came up to learn. It has gone further than that. He’s not where the other two are in the playbook. He’s quite a ways away. We’re fast-tracking him, but there’s still things he’s not been a part of.”

In Sunday’s 36-14 loss at Vancouver, Marsh played until early into the third quarter — except for one Smith series — completing nine of 17 passes for only 76 yards. The Als were held to one first down in the opening quarter, Marsh not completing his first pass until well into the second period.

Marsh seemed hesitant to throw and reluctant to run, but Popp explained the Lions did a thorough job of taking that option — so prevalent the first time the teams met — away.

“They created and formed a pocket, and kept Marsh in that pocket. He wasn’t able to escape,” Popp said.

Neiswander was slightly more effective, passing for 153 yards and two touchdowns. But he also threw two interceptions, one of which was critical. With the Als trailing 15-7 in the third quarter, and the game seemingly there for the taking, his pass over the middle went directly to B.C. linebacker Adam Bighill, who returned the ball to the Montreal one-yard line.

The Lions scored a touchdown on the next play.

Five minutes into the fourth quarter, Dante Marsh pilfered Neiswander, eventually resulting in a Travis Lulay touchdown and a 29-7 lead. Lulay suffered a subluxation to his right shoulder on the play and will miss at least two games.

While this three-quarterback system is unusual for all parties concerned, this could be the Als’ scenario until, or if, Calvillo recovers — or one of the three assumes control of the job.

“It’s not easy,” Popp said. “We’ve gone all these years with two quarterbacks that have played a lot. We heard a lot of complaining about not seeing somebody else. Now you’re seeing other people and we’re hearing a lot of complaining that you’re seeing three in a game. We’re never going to make everybody happy.

“We’re doing what we can to give the guys a chance, see what they can do. We’re going to continue doing that and find out what they can do.”

The Als had an experienced backup on their roster last winter, signing free-agent Quinton Porter in January, while electing not to re-sign potential free-agent Adrian McPherson.

Porter spent five seasons with the Ticats and passed for more than 4,000 career yards, along with 21 touchdowns, but was released at the end of training camp. Nobody said so officially, but Porter was having problems reading defences. And he wasn’t devoting the requisite time to his craft. Popp said the Als never had any intention of repatriating Porter following Calvillo’s injury.

“If we wanted to call Quinton Porter back, we could tomorrow. We could have before we brought Troy Smith in,” Popp said. “There’s Joey Elliott, Alex Brink, Steven Jyles. There’s lots of quarterbacks out there with experience.

“To go out today and sign a veteran quarterback who hasn’t been with you, he wouldn’t know what we’re doing. It would take weeks to get caught up. It’s a tricky position to be in.”

Everyone knew this day was coming, eventually, although it had been expected following a retirement announcement by Calvillo, not a sudden injury. Retirement would have given the organization more time to prepare, perhaps charter a course.

“We have to believe in who’s behind centre,” receiver Arland Bruce said. “Every team goes through bumps and bruises. We’re the team where everything’s under the microscope. This franchise, now or 10 years from now, is the team everyone’s going to talk about because of history.

“It’s tough. I wouldn’t want to be a quarterback in this situation. You’re always going to be in the shadow of Calvillo, which is a compliment.”