Players vow to move on after coaches axed
Montreal players say they share the blame for Chapdelaine getting chopped
It was not cautious optimism Luc Brodeur-Jourdain expressed in those heady days last May, before the Alouettes reported to training camp.
The veteran centre was convinced that, with the combination of head coach and offensive coordinator Jacques Chapdelaine, along with the arrival of veteran quarterback Darian Durant, the team finally was on the right path.
But somewhere along the way the Als took a wrong turn, and with the team on a four-game losing skid and 3-8 overall, Chapdelaine and defensive co-ordinator Noel Thorpe were fired Wednesday.
“I thought we finally had a good offensive co-ordinator and a coach that had knowledge. And the combination of an experienced quarterback. That didn’t work. Now we have to move on as a team,” Brodeur-Jourdain said after Thursday’s practice, the second under interim head coach Kavis Reed, Montreal’s general manager.
“It has been disappointing to me. I don’t feel we, as players, did the most we could ... ,” he said.
“The coach doesn’t have any power over that. He’s calling the plays and is expecting us to make them. That didn’t happen. Lots of responsibility belongs on the players’ side.”
Now in his ninth season with the Als, Brodeur-Jourdain is one of several veterans remaining who have experienced what has become an annual rite of rotating coaches.
Since 2013, Dan Hawkins, Tom Higgins, Jim Popp and now Chapdelaine have been fired during the season. It’s all starting to sound like a broken record for what once was one of the CFL’s marquee franchises.
“I will never lose my faith in this club,” said Brodeur-Jourdain, 34, who undoubtedly realizes he’s approaching the twilight of his career.
“Obviously, we’re going through tough times since 2013. I understand that. Going from a legendary quarterback with a legendary head coach and offensive co-ordinator at the same time to transition to rookie quarterbacks and co-ordinators, that tells you it’s going to be hard.”
That legendary quarterback of which Brodeur-Jourdain speaks, Anthony Calvillo, has become the Als’ offensive co-ordinator for the third time, although he’s only in his third year of coaching. While Calvillo, who was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame Thursday night, has experienced his share of growing pains, the St-Hyacinthe native believes the third time will be the charm.
“There’s a learning curve there. As a play-caller it’s different than being a player,” Brodeur-Jourdain said.
“I’ve always thought A.C. could make a difference. I have tremendous faith in Anthony. He’s a worker and he’s a smart man who understands the CFL.”
Tailback Tyrell Sutton, now in his fifth season with Montreal, said he was in shock when he arrived Wednesday morning at Olympic Stadium and learned the news. He spent stints in the NFL with Green Bay, Carolina and Seattle before heading north to revive his career. He signed with the Als in June 2013 and has known nothing but turmoil since.
“This is kind of nothing new,” he said. “I’ve been through this four or five times already. It’s a little difficult to have continuity when guys keep getting replaced year in and out. That’s the nature of the business.
“When you win on a consistent basis, you don’t have these kind of changes. For the last four or five years we’ve been consistently inconsistent. Changes have to keep being made. Hopefully, this is one of the last.”
Sutton is no different than many of his teammates, who have put the onus on themselves for letting down Chapdelaine by making too many mistakes and taking too many penalties. The Als have taken 109 penalties for 1,058 yards. Only Edmonton has been penalized more. It’s a dubious distinction.
“We’re making changes to try and win,” Sutton said. “You’ve got to do what you can. They couldn’t fire 60 guys. I guess that was the best plan of action.
“At the end of the day, the guys in the locker room are here for each other. We have to stay together. It’s easy for us to fold under this pressure and just give up.”
Following all but one of the coaching changes, it was the Als’ GM — either Popp or Reed — who took over. The exception was last season, when Chapdelaine replaced Popp with six games remaining.
“People’s jobs are on the line,” Sutton said. “When your job’s on the line, you tend to have a little bit more sense of urgency. With us trying not to repeat not making the playoffs for the third time, guys have a bit more sense of urgency.”
We’ll discover whether that’s truly the case Sunday afternoon, when the Als host Ottawa.
Meanwhile, Chapdelaine’s son Justin, the Als’ receivers coach, missed his second consecutive day of practice, with Reed continuing to deny he has left the team.
“There’s a human side to it. He has a very bright career ahead of him. A lot of that’s going to be with the Alouettes,” Reed vowed.
“He has permission to stand down for a bit and let all this digest. He hasn’t quit. I’m not going to allow that to happen until we talk and sort all through this and let the emotions die down.”
I don’t feel we, as players, did the most we could . ... The coach doesn’t have any power over that. He’s calling the plays and is expecting us to make them. That didn’t happen.