FORMER ALOUETTES QB SHILTZ REJUVENATED IN HAMILTON
There has been a revolving door of Alouettes quarterbacks in the last decade — some more successful than others — since the retirement of the legendary Anthony Calvillo.
Take the case of Matthew Shiltz. He came off the bench last Oct. 11 against Ottawa, replacing the injured Vernon Adams Jr., and rallied Montreal to a late victory. Shiltz won his next two games, but when he struggled against Saskatchewan in his third start, he was replaced by Trevor Harris late in the third quarter.
Shiltz, nursing significant lower- and upper-body injuries at the time, was put on the injured list and never played — let alone dressed — again. Not even for the playoff defeat at Hamilton, although he practised all week. Instead, former head coach Khari Jones elected to dress rookie Shea Patterson as Harris’s backup.
“I’m appreciative of the opportunities Montreal gave me from 2017 to that (Saskatchewan) game,” Shiltz told the Montreal Gazette this week. “I respect what (Jones) was doing. He was trying to give us the best opportunity to win at that moment and went with that decision. At the end of the day, you’ve got to perform or you’re not going to be out on the field.
“As a competitor, you want to finish (a game) and try to play it out. Any player’s going to say they’re good enough to finish if they’re a competitor. But coaches have to make quick decisions and there’s no hard feelings.”
Shiltz was released in February, days before becoming eligible for free agency, and signed with the Tiger-cats. It’s believed Winnipeg, B.C. and especially Toronto were interested in his services. But Shiltz figured he might receive more playing time with Hamilton, which moved on from Jeremiah Masoli, making Dane Evans the starter.
The Ticats have, on occasion, utilized a two-quarterback system this season. Evans is recovering from a shoulder injury and Shiltz last week rallied Hamilton to a come-from-behind victory against the Argonauts, returning from an injury sustained during the game. Shiltz completed 14 of 19 passes for 176 yards, along with a touchdown and interception, and is expected to start Saturday’s game against the Als at Molson Stadium.
After suggesting it was merely the next game on the schedule and he wouldn’t make it personal, Shiltz became more expansive, calling the homecoming special.
“I spent a lot of time in Montreal, loved the city, interacting with the fans and being part of the locker room,” he said. “At the same time, it’s a business and you’ve got business to handle.”
Not only did Shiltz, 29, join an organization that has reached the Grey Cup the last two seasons, he went to a team that has enjoyed continuity in the coaching ranks, practises and plays at the same venue, and has first-class facilities at Tim Hortons Field.
“Any time you get a change of scenery or new opportunity, a new perspective’s refreshing,” Shiltz said. “You meet new people and get new ideas, see how things are done a bit differently. It’s been a great change of scenery. It’s been rejuvenating.
“I have respect for the Als organization and how they made (operating out of two facilities) work. But I can’t say enough good things about the Ticats organization. There’s a great culture here along with a conducive working environment that puts people first.”
That last comment speaks volumes, and while Shiltz — who always handled himself with class and professionalism — still remains in contact with many of his former teammates, including Harris and Adams, he speaks little of his relationship with general manager Danny Maciocia, now the Als’ interim head coach after Jones was fired July 6. Jones subsequently was hired less than two weeks later by the Ticats as a football operations consultant, adding yet another plot to the story.
Maciocia and Shiltz couldn’t agree on a new contract. But there have been whispers from numerous sources suggesting the Als’ offer was ridiculously low.
“I respect (Maciocia),” Shiltz said. “It’s a business. He made a decision and I made a decision. I try not to carry any bad blood in my heart. I’m looking forward — not back — and glad to be where I’m at. I don’t really have any hard feelings. I’m excited to keep playing and be a part of this team. It’s hard to move forward when you’re holding on to how people treated you in the past.”
It’s unlikely the six-foot-two, 205-pound Shiltz will ever become a superstar in the CFL. At this stage of his career, he might not even develop into a franchise quarterback either. But he has proven more than capable of managing games, is a decent runner and generally doesn’t make impulsive decisions that cost his team. He passed for a season-high 281 yards against Ottawa in 2021, then threw for 212 and two touchdowns against Toronto.
“I still feel like I’ve got a lot of football left in me,” he said. “I can be a guy in this league who can win games — given the opportunity. It would have been special spending my entire career with one team. Sometimes that’s just not the case.
“I’m looking out the windshield, not the rear-view mirror.”