Alouettes go with Cato as starting QB
Hope switching starting quarterback will reignite struggling offence
Those who have been clamouring for a change at quarterback finally have received their wish. Rakeem Cato has been given the keys to an Alouettes offence that seems to have severe transmission problems.
And Cato, the second-year pro, did his best at practice on Monday to display there’s a new sheriff in town — that there will be a price to pay in what, at times, has been perceived as a lawless society where the inmates run the asylum.
During the Labour Day workout at Stade Hébert, Cato lost his cool with receiver Duron Carter while the offence was on the sideline and Carter was seated on a bench. While the two never came close to fisticuffs, both offensive co-ordinator Anthony Calvillo and Kevin Glenn — the man Cato will replace at quarterback Friday at British Columbia — did their best to calm him down.
“I’m tired of all this talking,” Cato was heard shouting. “You guys always let it slide.”
Cato then walked toward the north-side end zone for several minutes while practice continued. When offensive drills were run, rookie Vernon Adams practised with the starters. Cato eventually made his way back, initially escorted by special teams co-ordinator Kavis Reed. Glenn consoled him, again, before offensive-tackle Jeff Perrett put his arms around him.
“There were words said. It’s a man’s game. There’s a lot of testosterone flowing out there, especially when you’re (losing), tempers are short. When you’re not playing so hot, stuff happens,” said Perrett, who also addressed the offence when the team arrived, imploring them to work harder.
“The bottom line is guys are out here and they want to win. Sometimes things happen,” Perrett continued. “We have (Cato’s) back and we’re in this thing together. We have confidence in him.”
Both Cato and Carter were reluctant to address the situation. Cato said it was two competitive athletes, each voicing their opinions. What prompted the disagreement would remain private, he said, although he admitted to being upset.
“This isn’t just about (Carter). It’s about this organization, going out and having pride, playing for the next man, for the bird on the side of the helmet,” Cato said. “He’s going to act how he acts. When it gets like that, I’m not going to hush my mouth. I’m going to let it be known. Today, I didn’t hush my mouth.”
Carter, who returned to the Als this season after a year with the Indianapolis Colts, has always been a free-spirit and unique individual. He dances to the music being played during warmup and can be seen joking, gesticulating loudly, between drills. And he’s also Montreal’s leading receiver — the Canadian Football League’s highest-paid player at that position.
He referred to Cato as his little brother, claiming they’re frequently talking trash to each other. The only difference on Monday was it became public.
“There’s a lot of pressure on him, getting thrown into this situation. He doesn’t know who’s against him or with him,” Carter claimed. “He’s always heated. That’s the energy he plays with. He’s ready for his opportunity. I’m always going to rock with him. I’m going to catch a touchdown for him on Friday.”
As recently as Aug. 19, at Ottawa, Glenn passed for 382 yards and five TDs against the Redblacks. But he has been intercepted six times over the last two games as the Als have returned to their losing ways. Montreal, 3-7, has the league’s second-worst record and has scored 205 points in 10 games. But remove the 41 points against Saskatchewan, and the 43 at Ottawa, and the Als are averaging 15.1 points per game — 12 below the CFL average, according to general manager and head coach Jim Popp. Something had to give. “We made a decision, an organizational decision. It’s not just a quarterback change. We need to see for the future what we have at that position,” Popp said. “We’re not doing well enough. We have to find other ways to see if it sparks anything.
“We need to do better, coaches and players, and see if there’s some chemistry. We need to give other people opportunities to see what they can do.”
Popp and the organization are hoping the team can catch lightning in a bottle, as did Winnipeg earlier this season when Drew Willy was benched for Matt Nichols. The Blue Bombers are on a five-game winning streak, improving to 6-4.
While Cato’s considerably
younger and more athletic than the 37-year-old Glenn, we’ll find out fairly quickly whether it was the player or the system the quarterbacks are operating under — including an offensive line that has been inconsistent at times.
“Like any competitor, you don’t want it to happen. You’re not happy about the situation but you understand it’s a team. The team comes first,” Glenn said. “I can’t comment on decisions I don’t have control over. When you’re winning it’s the quarterback’s fault and when you’re losing it’s the quarterback’s fault. That’s the nature of the position.”
Cato, 24, passed for 2,167 yards and nine touchdowns in 12 games — 10 starts — last season. He was also intercepted nine times. The highlight of his year came in his first start, against Calgary, when he completed 20 of 25 passes for 241 yards and three TDs. He had two 300-yard passing games, both losses.
Cato started July 15, against Hamilton, while Glenn recovered from an eye injury. He completed 18 of 25 for 203 yards in a 31-7 loss and was eventually replaced by Adams. The two were sacked eight times in the game.
In other news, underachieving receiver Corbin Louks has been released. Canadian receiver Mikhail Davidson, who was on the practice roster, has returned to school.
We need to do better, coaches and players, and see if there’s some chemistry. We need to give other people opportunities.