Don’t be fooled by the stats, Als QB Crompton is a winner
The numbers never seem to be flattering or overwhelming when Jonathan Crompton plays quarterback for the Alouettes.
All he seems to do is win — even when he hasn’t played for three months, or when the team’s breaking-in a pair of new offensive coordinators.
So let’s put all this into perspective. Defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, especially at home, doesn’t exactly mean this team has turned the corner. On the other hand, the Als actually scored an offensive touchdown for a change — two in fact. And, in cruising to a 35-14 victory Sunday afternoon, Montreal surpassed the 30-point plateau for the first time this season.
The Als did so despite being limited to 11 first downs. Montreal’s offence had the ball for 23 minutes and 43 seconds — the visitors controlling virtually every statistical aspect except the most important one.
Crompton? He barely completed 50 per cent of his passes and threw for 181 yards. Along with his two touchdowns, he was intercepted twice.
But all he does is win. Just like a year ago, when the Als went 8-2 down the stretch with him as the quarterback of record.
“He’s a very smart guy. He doesn’t try to do what’s out of his limits. He played with poise. He was calm and cool and ran the show, the offence,” tailback Tyrell Sutton said of Crompton.
Added slotback S.J. Green: “He managed the game well, made plays and helped lead us to a victory.”
And now, moving forward, the Als have a dilemma on their hands; a full-blown quarterback controversy is playing out before our eyes as the team prepares for a game at Saskatchewan on Sunday afternoon.
Rakeem Cato probably has the most natural talent among the team’s pivots, but he’s a rookie and missed considerable time in South Florida tending to a family emergency. Does management return to him, knowing he didn’t do anything on the field to lose his job? Or do they stick with Crompton, knowing he won?
Minutes following a satisfying victory isn’t the time to decide, acknowledged general manager Jim Popp, now 2-1 as the team’s head coach since replacing Tom Higgins.
“We’re going to go with who’s prepared to lead us each week,” he said. “Who knows what they’re doing? We’re still not there yet.”
Indeed, not. Cato was the starting quarterback against Hamilton on Aug. 27, before leaving in the second quarter with a hip pointer. Tanner Marsh started against British Columbia a week later. And now it was Crompton.
“If it’s a dilemma, it’s a good one to have. It’s much better to have multiple guys you know can start and win than wondering who your quarterback is from week to week,” Popp said. “The guy’s who’s the most prepared, who will give us the best shot to win next week, will start.
“Crompton led us to a win. That’s all that matters.”
Crompton relied on quick releases and short passes for what success he had. Other than a 41-yard touchdown reception by Samuel Giguère, who did a marvellous job of extending in the end zone, and a late 43-yard catch by newcomer B.J. Cunningham, no pass was longer than 20 yards.
And let’s be realistic: Crompton and the offence had plenty of short fields on which to work, thanks to the magnificent effort of return specialist Stefan Logan.
For the second consecutive game, the smallest guy on the field — and one of the oldest players on the team — was sensational. Logan returned five punts for 135 yards, including one for a touchdown covering 78 yards. He also returned three kickoffs for 138 yards. His 95-yard return to open the second half immediately put the Als into scoring position. Two plays later, Crompton passed seven yards to Green for a touchdown.
“I like to showcase my talent all the time and I try not to leave plays out there on the field, try to get positive field position,” said Logan, 34. “I might be the smallest guy on the team, but just know (number) zero has your back.
“I might be one of the older guys. At the end of the day, age is nothing but a number — as you can see. I’m excited for this team.”
The Als still are a game below .500, last in the East Division, with a 5-6 record. But they already hold a crossover playoff berth, having won more games than the third-place team in the West Division. And they’re only a game behind Toronto with two games remaining against the Argonauts. And now that Hamilton quarterback Zach Collaros has suffered a serious knee injury, the division’s landscape potentially has been altered.
But it’s more than that. The mood and the vibe of this team has changed now that Anthony Calvillo’s calling the plays, assisted in the game plan by fellow offensive coordinator Ryan Dinwiddie. There seems to be confidence and belief. Lose to the Roughriders next week, of course, and forget about all this.
“Everybody has bought into A.C. and Dinwiddie because they know what they’re doing,” veteran receiver Nik Lewis claimed. “They’ve been quarterbacks in this league and had success. It’s about having an open communication line.
“It’s nice to come to the sideline, talk to (receivers coach André) Bolduc and A.C., and they can accept what I’m saying — not just say okay.”
Lewis, incidentally, caught two passes for 11 yards. Fred Stamps was limited to a seven-yard reception. So let’s continue to keep things in perspective for the time being.