By Canadian Press

New Alouettes general manager Kavis Reed facing very stiff challenge

Dec 15, 2016 | 12:45 PM

Kavis Reed’s first off-season as a CFL general manager will be a challenging one.

The 43-year-old native of Georgetown, S.C., was named as the Montreal Alouettes’ new GM on Wednesday, replacing Jim Popp, who was fired Nov. 7 following 21 years on the job.

Reed inherits a team that’s missed the CFL playoffs the last two years, has an expensive and aging roster with 17 players 30 or over and potentially 25 free agents but no proven franchise quarterback.

While hardly ideal, Reed knew what he was getting into nearly two weeks ago when he formally accepted the job after two years as an assistant coach with the franchise.

“A part of problem-solving is knowing the question,” Reed said. “Having been an active part of this football team the last two years I’m pretty familiar with where the questions are.

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“Our roster, as it currently stands, has gone through a through vetting and we’ll continue that process . . . we’ve got to look at every avenue at getting better and that’s roster changes.”

But Reed’s mandate doesn’t stop there.

“We need a culture that’s about winning,” he said. “I’ll use the example of the Calgary Stampeders and Ottawa Redblacks (who played in this year’s Grey Cup).

“Those teams, when you play against them you have the feeling they have that winning attitude, that winning culture. In many respects talent isn’t enough, it’s having the right attitude, the right approach and having the right environment that’s going to nurture that kind of approach.”

A key element to CFL success is having a franchise quarterback. Montreal hasn’t had one since Anthony Calvillo — the most prolific passer in league history and now the team’s offensive co-ordinator — suffered a career-ending concussion in 2013.

Popp led Montreal to three Grey Cup titles over his tenure but couldn’t find Calvillo’s successor. Veterans Jonathan Crompton, 29, and Rakeem Cato, 24, both currently on the roster, have each had opportunities to start but youngster Vernon Adams Jr., acquired from B.C. for a 2017 first-round pick, showed tremendous late-season promise.

The 23-year-old completed 42-of-75 passes for 575 yards with four TDs and an interception while rushing for 112 yards and a touchdown.

“Vernon showed in the last few games he has the potential of being a successful quarterback in this league,” Reed said. “It’s our responsibility to continue to explore him and help develop him.

“But I strongly believe, and I believe (head coach Jacques Chapdelaine) feels the same way, that it’s always important to have a veteran presence when you have younger quarterbacks . . . to help them expedite their growth. That (finding marquee quarterback) is the No. 1 objective to make certain we address the question that’s been one lingering for a very long time with this franchise.”

Reed will need to surround his starter with playmakers as Montreal’s offence allowed a league-high 64 sacks last year and was ranked last in net yards (302.5 per game) and passing (253.4) and second-last in scoring (21.3 points per game). Veteran Nik Lewis (102 catches, 1,136 yards, three TDs) was its receiving leader but the 34-year-old is scheduled to become a free agent in February.

Proven receiver S.J. Green, 31, missed most of last year with a knee injury but is also slated to become a free agent. Duron Carter registered 61 catches for 938 yards and five touchdowns before being released in October and remains a free agent.

Since Calvillo’s departure, a stout defence has been Montreal’s calling card. Linebacker Bear Woods was the East Division’s top defensive player with 126 tackles but defensive lineman John Bowman (29 sacks last two years), linebackers Chip Cox (81 tackles, two sacks, four fumble recoveries) and Kyries Hebert (78 tackles, two sacks) along with defensive backs Marc-Olivier Brouillette Jovon Johnson and Billy Parker are 30 or older.

What’s more, Johnson, Parker, Hebert, fellow linebacker Winston Venable (88 tackles, seven sacks) and defensive lineman Gabriel Knapton (nine sacks) are all pending free agents.

Stefan Logan, who led the CFL in punt-return yards and was third in kickoff-return yards, remains under contract but is 35. Kickers Anthony Fera (16-of-20 field goals, 46.5-yard punting average) and Boris Bede (11-of-21 field goals, 42.8-yard punting average) can both become free agents.

“We have some needs,” Reed said. “We’ll look at every opportunity we have to improve positions.

“We may make some unpopular decisions that will serve to benefit us in the future but that’s the nature of building a successful football team. The universal language of football is winning.”

But in Montreal, so too is speaking French, something Reed plans to learn this off-season.

“I’m fairly proficient in reading and writing French,” he said. “But it’s very important to me to sincerely try my hardest to learn the language to be able to function in this environment.”

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press