Als’ QBs could all see action in pre-season opener
Head coach Mike Sherman will use all four of his import quarterbacks in the Alouettes’ first exhibition game Thursday against the Argonauts in Toronto.
While Antonio Pipkin is regarded as the favourite to start the season in the No. 1 spot after a strong finish to the 2018 season, Sherman said he has seen some good things in camp from Jeff Matthews, Matt Shiltz and Vernon Adams Jr.
“The big question is going to be the quarterback position,” said Sherman. “All four are competing, all four make plays. It’s going to be a difficult decision, but it’s a good decision because we have talented guys there that are good leaders and have the capacity to be a CFL quarterback. They’re all very young and they’re still learning.”
Sherman said he wants a chance to see each of his quarterbacks in action, but his plan might prove complicated.
“I want them all to get a fair share of the snaps,” Sherman said after practice this week. “We may go by quarter or maybe half a quarter and then switch back. I’m a little reluctant to start one guy and put another guy in and then go back to the other guy, but I may have to do that because I want to make sure we get equal reps for everyone to get a good evaluation.”
While exhibition games can be problematic in terms of execution, Sherman expects to see maximum effort.
“Our plan from Day 1 has been attention to detail and to play with passion,” said Sherman. “I think you see our defence running to the ball on every single play, which we have to do. It’s such a big field and you have to cover every single inch of the field. If you let up for one second, that inch becomes a foot and then it’s a yard and you don’t make the play.”
The Alouettes had a mini-test during the weekend when they held a live scrimmage with referees. Sherman said the offence was ahead of the defence at the beginning, but “the defence rose to the occasion and played pretty well. I was pleased.”
There will be a sterner test Thursday when Montreal faces a Toronto team that has vowed to open up on offence. Argos running-back Chris (Rain Man) Rainey, a former Alouette who moved back east after several seasons in B.C., said he envisions Toronto averaging 35 points a game this season.
The Alouettes will be missing two veteran tackles on the offensive line — imports Tony Washington and Tyler Johnstone. Sherman said neither player is seriously injured and he hopes they’ll be available next Thursday when the Als play the Ottawa Redblacks in their final exhibition game at Molson Stadium.
Sherman was asked whether the absence of the veterans might allow someone else to shine and steal a job.
“There’s always that opportunity,” said Sherman. “If you don’t show up for work, someone else shows up for you. We want to get the injured back and healthy on the field because obviously we have better depth in that situation. But there are always opportunities out here. If a player has a good a day, it makes us look at that person a little more closely.”
Thursday’s game will be unusual for two reasons.
The game will start at 11 a.m. and the Argos are hoping to attract a large number of students. And the attendance-challenged Argos have a better chance of a full house because the game will be played at 5,000-seat Varsity Stadium on the University of Toronto campus rather than their usual home, the 25,000-seat BMO Field. phickey@postmedia.com Twitter.com/zababes1
I’m a little reluctant to start one guy and put another guy in and then go back to the other guy, but I may have to do that.