Montreal Alouettes Add Collin Klein To Quarterback Competition
By Jared Book
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Montreal Alouettes have reportedly added another NCAA FBS quarterback in former Kansas State Wildcat Collin Klein.
They say that you could never have enough pitching prospects in baseball and that’s the approach the Alouettes are taking in replacing Anthony Calvillo. They already have Tanner Marsh and Troy Smith and by continuing to add talent, they increase the chances that one of them will be capable of winning a Grey Cup.
This isn’t so much a knock on Marsh or Smith, but just a numbers game. Elite quarterbacks are rare and if you don’t have a Ricky Ray or Darian Durant, you need to find the next one and the best way to do that is to sign as many talented guys as you can and see what sticks.
Don’t forget that it takes time to learn the Canadian game. Marsh and Smith are already way ahead of Klein. Any impact expected of Klein shouldn’t be judged on this season. Marsh and Smith starting games in their first years north of the border is an exception and done mostly out of necessity.
The Alouettes know their defence is one of the best in the league. It was the thing that led the team through its offensive troubles. They should be able to count on it again despite some pieces of last year’s team moving on.
They know they have three elite receivers plus a potential fourth option in Chad Johnson. They just need to make sure that they have a quarterback that can get the ball to Jamel Richardson, S.J. Green and Duron Carter. The only way to make sure of that is to have an internal competition until one of the guys separates from the pack.
I personally think Smith is the guy who will eventually do that but just as he will learn the league, the league will adjust to him as well. Having options is never going to be a bad thing when it comes to quarterback and plus, once inevitable injuries hit, it’s good to have options.
The Alouettes needed four different starting quarterbacks last year. That’s an extreme but you still need to be prepared for it.