The Don's last year in Montreal.

[The Gum Guy]

Seeing that Don Matthews' stay in Montreal has been one of his longest on any team as head coach, and Montreal sucks this year, do you think this is his last year in Montreal?


I say he's gone, and I hope he never comes back.

[Diesel]

Re: The Don's last year in Montreal.

He'll leave when he's ready. I don't see him going just yet. Jim Popp needs to get the Als some help in the secondary.

[TurfToe]

Re: The Don's last year in Montreal.

nah... The Don will be in Mtl for at least a year or two more.

You're so right about the Als secondary Diez... considering they got burnt by a converted DB playing receiver last night! What I can't understand is why the Als can't seem to make any headway on that front... it's a problem they've had for a couple of years now.

[couchspud]

Re: The Don's last year in Montreal.

Right you are Diez.
Crutchfield was a flag out there; waving at the ball, waving at the ball-carriers, his best hit was on himself. Just sad.
The Don must stay; who'd replace him? Although I've never seen him looking more tired/ dejected. Did he skip out on the 1/2 time interview during the game?

[gizmo fan 2]

Re: The Don's last year in Montreal.

nah... The Don will be in Mtl for at least a year or two more.

You're so right about the Als secondary Diez... considering they got burnt by a converted DB playing receiver last night! What I can't understand is why the Als can't seem to make any headway on that front... it's a problem they've had for a couple of years now.

Agreed.

I think they've never really paid much attention to their secondary because it hasn't hurt them before - their blitz was good enough to get them a lot of wins during the past few seasons. Now, teams are figuring it out, and they're left scrambling.

[bceskiesfan]

Re: The Don's last year in Montreal.

I really don't think it's any surprise how their secondary is playing. Losing Sanchez and Miles in the offseason will have a big impact on any secondary.

[steve o'brien]

Re: The Don's last year in Montreal.

I don't think it wise to underestimate the Don.

Popp brought in the players --- it's up ro Matthews tho to use them. It's well-known that when player gets on his bad side, that player is essentially done.

Funny how everyone complained about overly aggressive blitz defence which was getting burned this year. So they adopted a three-man rush and dropped back and still got burned.

I think Matthews will do what is necessary to get players out of his funk.

But he and he alone will decide when to leave. That's his MO.

[Inquiring Mind]

Re: The Don's last year in Montreal.

I don't think it wise to underestimate the Don.

Popp brought in the players --- it's up ro Matthews tho to use them. It's well-known that when player gets on his bad side, that player is essentially done.

Funny how everyone complained about overly aggressive blitz defence which was getting burned this year. So they adopted a three-man rush and dropped back and still got burned.

I think Matthews will do what is necessary to get players out of his funk.

But he and he alone will decide when to leave. That's his MO.

Unless a higher up has a different M.O.... like say... Higgins did

[steve o'brien]

Re: The Don's last year in Montreal.

Brain cramp. Tho I thought that was orchestrated by his goof friend, HC.

Come to think of it, didn'tr Joe Galat can him in BC too? Or was that a "mutual" departure as well.

[Inquiring Mind]

Re: The Don's last year in Montreal.

Brain cramp. Tho I thought that was orchestrated by his goof friend, HC.

Come to think of it, didn'tr Joe Galat can him in BC too? Or was that a "mutual" departure as well.

I'm sure the mutiny had HC's stamp of approval... I'm sure you pretty much need that much to take a breath within the Eskimo org... he rules with an iron fist

re: "Mutual"...

Gotta give Matthews credit for that one, unlike Higgins, he called a spade a spade when the Esks were calling it other than a firing.

[GREYx14]

Re: The Don's last year in Montreal.

I don't think it wise to underestimate the Don.

I think Matthews will do what is necessary to get players out of his funk.

But he and he alone will decide when to leave. That's his MO.

The Don's crappy 1999-2000 seasons here (16W19L1T reg.season and 0W2L playoffs) will forever cause me to both underestimate and never forgive him.

[TurfToe]

Re: The Don's last year in Montreal.

...I think they've never really paid much attention to their secondary because it hasn't hurt them before...

er... except in the GC a couple of years ago! Actually, that's exactly when their secondary probs seemed to take root... in the '03 GC!

[gizmo fan 2]

Re: The Don's last year in Montreal.

er... except in the GC a couple of years ago! Actually, that's exactly when their secondary probs seemed to take root... in the '03 GC!

Good point ......actually, now that you mention it...

2004: MTL - wait a sec

2004: MTL - defensively, 1st in: lowest avg gain per pass, fewest net passing yds, avg passing yds per game, fewest completed passes, lowest comp %, most interceptions.

They sure didn't seem to have secondary problems last year ...or maybe that was all due to the blitz.

[Esk Reporter]

Re: The Don's last year in Montreal.

er... except in the GC a couple of years ago! Actually, that's exactly when their secondary probs seemed to take root... in the '03 GC!

Actually, I think the problems started in the 2002 Grey Cup. Ray had little difficulty with the Al's secondary that year as he passed for 324 yards but the team came up a little short.