How to rebuild the Als

It's about that time of year. Thankgiving weekend weekend is upon us. Spending time with your family, outside and getting stuffed with turkey, stuffing, gravey, and such. It's also that time of year where the Trade deadline appears where certain teams may start looking at next year, except in the East division, you aren't mathematically elimated yest so that presents an issue. With the upcoming schedule lets assume the inevitible that the Alouettes will not make the post season in 2017.

So I present to you, my guide to rebuilding the Montreal Alouettes

The first thing that I would do is if I was the owner (and I'm looking at you Andrew Wettenhall) is start fresh and hire someone with GM experience in the CFL, and I'm talking about someone with moderate success at that position as well, so that eliminates a promotion for one Joe Mack. Get someone in place and let him do his job. be hands free and stop medeling. A very good owner/president/CEO is someone who delegates and places people in the proper possition and let them do their job. If they don't do their job after a year, then review and see if there is an opportunity to replace.

So that's the office expectation, lets focus on the on field product.

Being the oldest and worst club, it's clear that a full rebuild is required.

As the trade deadline nears, it's time to figure out what assets you have that you don't plan on bringing back next year that can get something in return. Thos assetts are on the definsive side. John Bowman and Kyries Hebert. Yes they're getting up there in age, but they would at the very least get you a late round pick and possibly a neg list player which can be used at a later date. These 2 have shown that under the right system can still give a team that extra push going into the post season.

Who should the Als keep you ask? Well that's a loaded question, because it's easy to say 'Let them all go' but for continuity at certain posisions, I'd be willing to at the very least keep the existing secondary and offensive line for next year. Those groups require chemistry and trust as a whole so messing with that is not ideal in a rebuild, and hey, those groups weren't that bad, and still aren't.

From there, there are some vets that should be let go outright. Darian Durant and Chip Cox are 2 names that come to the top. Neither has provided any progress or hope that they would get back to their former selves.

With little wiggle room, I'd ask Ernest Jackson to take a pay cut and somehow lure Collaros as a Free Agent (No way he stays with Hamilton at this point) There is a threat at running back with Rutley and Sutton so with a creative play caller, your weapons should be used quite well.

This is a rebuild, so I would suggest to not get trapped in the Free Agent Frenzy next year, so with the glaring holes that you may have next year, should be covered snf filled with Free agents in 2019.

Next year with a decent play caller and with (potentially) Collaros, you'll have Jackson, Cunningham, Johnson, and other scouted players, there is potential for a decent and consistent offence that can stay afloat until the defence figures itself out.