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Als tempted by Canadian QB content

Quinlan, Graves are long shots, but Popp gives them a chance

By: Adam Wazny

Posted: 05/10/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 05/10/2012 9:18 AM | Updates

Jonathan Hayward / the canadian press archives QB Kyle Quinlan led McMaster to a Vanier Cup title. Now he�s angling for work with the CFL�s Alouettes. (CP)

The CFL is conducting a series of team preview conference calls over the next two weeks. Today, the Alouettes. Tomorrow, the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Strange, isn't it? All this talk about the Montreal Alouettes' quarterback situation and none of it centred around Anthony Calvillo.

That's doesn't mean the perennial East Division powerhouse won't have the future Hall of Fame pivot leading the huddle when Montreal opens the 2012 regular season in Calgary. Some things never change. Lately, though, with a less than a month before training camps, the Als have created a little buzz past the veteran Calvillo and his considerable career numbers.

Montreal signed free agent Canadian quarterbacks Kyle Quinlan (McMaster) and Kyle Graves (Acadia) this week, and while neither figure to make any real impact on the Alouettes roster soon (both are eligible to return to the CIS), the moves deserve mention.

"They're winners and great athletes and they both deserve an opportunity," Alouettes GM Jim Popp told reporters during a national conference call Wednesday.

That last reason Popp gave bears exploring.

Opportunities for Canadian college quarterbacks to attend CFL camps and work alongside CFL stars has been few and far between. Quinlan did attend the Hamilton Tiger-Cats camp last season and the league has encouraged clubs to bring in non-import QBs. However, the request hasn't been nationally received and success has been minimal.

There has been a recent exception, though. Last season, Calgary drafted Brad Sinopoli (Ottawa) in the fourth round and gave him an extended look in camp, watching him develop quickly into the Stamps third-string quarterback. Popp doesn't expect Quinlan or Graves to produce a similar impact (though it's believed Quinlan could have a chance to beat out third-stringer Ricky Santos if he has a strong camp), but that's not the point of this exercise.

Quinlan and Graves have a chance to watch Calvillo, the master of the CFL domain for years, up close and personal.

"That's what they're going to learn, how difficult it is," Als coach Marc Trestman said. "It's the most difficult position in all of sports to play, there's nothing like it. It's the most dynamic and complex position to play, and I think they'll get a real sense of it by staying focused and keeping their eyes on Anthony."

Credit the Alouettes for keeping the door open for Canadian quarterbacks and understanding how the potential payoff easily trumps the minimal gamble on the team's end. League rules allow Canadian college QBs to come in as non-counters against the training camp roster, so what's the harm in taking a look at a guy?

"How many reps they'll get in camp is a whole other story -- we'll find that out, it's a short camp -- but from an education process and spending some quality time with them, before and after practice to take a good look at them, we'll do everything we can to help in the developmental process," said Popp.

While Montreal pans the CIS quarterback waters for a rare gold nugget, the news is just as encouraging for the current offence heading into the 2012 campaign. Calvillo, who will turn a spry 40 years old this summer, is back and is coming off another impressive season in which he threw for league-high 5,251 yards, 32 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.

The most prolific passer in pro football history will be surrounded again by running back Brandon Whitaker (1,381 yards, tops in the CFL) and receiver Jamal Richardson (league-best 1,777 yards, 11 touchdowns), giving Montreal more than enough gunpowder to compete in what's expected to be a highly competitive East Division this year.

And forget about Calvillo's workload being reduced. According to Trestman, he'll play for as long as he figures he can be effective.

"Other than him coming to me with any changes as we move along, we don't expect to operate any differently this year than we have in the past," he said.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca

GETTING DEFENSIVE

As the Montreal Alouettes offence continued to burn hot in 2011, the

effort put forth by the defence was a smoldering mess. Injuries crippled the unit all year and eventually caught up to the club at the

end of the season. Not surprisingly, addressing the defence was a

point of emphasis this winter:

-- 1. Welcome back, Jeff Reinebold. The former Bombers coach is the new defensive co-ordinator in Montreal, and he promises to play an aggressive style -- one that will see a determined push towards the quarterback. The club made a boatload of changes on defence, so a grace period may be required to get things in orde. Make no mistake: The players will play their hearts out for JR.

-- 2. Yeah, about those changes. The club signed Rod Davis and Mark Restelli in free agency, and brought in former B.C. Lion Aaron Hunt.

The club released Eric Wilson and Ramon Guzman, and hopes to get Shea Emry back. Emry battled concussion issues in 2011. Derek Anderson, who butted heads with management last season, has patched things up with the team, as well. This list only scratches the surface on the changes

within the Als defence.

-- 3. One of the names brought in was Kyries Hebert, who the club feels still has something left in the tank. The former Blue Bomber (2006-07) is expected to find a place in the secondary and the 31-year-old is a versatile player, which is something Reinebold's defence will command.

On that note, it's been reported that the Als are considering moving linebacker Chip Cox into the safety spot.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 10, 2012 C8

History

Updated on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 9:18 AM CDT: Takes out line about Ron Lacaster

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