Maccioci would want the power to hire the HC and he would hire Thorpe as HC.
In the meanwhile, under Chap they went 4-2, won three games in a row, and many players want Chap back.
Perrett, Montreal's right tackle Perrett, who has been with the Als since 2008, says Chap has an incredible football mind. Samuel Giguère liked the way Chap directed the Als as HC
As a tough Chap critic from 2005-2010, I became a supporter of Chap from 2011-2013. He really changed his offence in those seasons - from a predictable, bland spread offensive scheme to a multi-formational, multi-dimensional hybrid offence. I didn't want us to let Chap go at the end of 2013 (and I was in the minority). We went back to the bland spread scheme in 2014 and 2015 (and for most of this season too but Jennings made it work with his incredible throws).
Over the past few games, Khari Jones is running a very similar offence to what Chap ran here in his last few seasons - more two back sets, more motion, more misdirection, a mixture of crossing and vertical patterns. etc. Great to see.
I was not surprised that Chap was successful in turning things around in Montreal at the end of the season.
Chapdelaine changed the mindset of the team, telling the players he wouldn’t take any nonsense while advising them they had to assume control and responsibility. Chapdelaine established a standard — a winning one, eventually — providing the structure and discipline that was lacking.
Anyone who didn’t buy the party-line — receivers Duron Carter and Kenny Stafford — were, eventually, released.
“I think he’s done a great job. I don’t think he’s a bad choice,” Perrett said. “He has an incredible football mind. He speaks well and knows how to get his point across. I think guys really bought into what he was saying.”
Receiver Samuel Giguère scored two touchdowns in Saturday’s victory at Hamilton despite suffering from bursitis in his right knee. He had the knee drained of fluid, was put on antibiotics and took a late flight to Hamilton on Friday night, not arriving at the team hotel until 1 a.m.
“It’s unfortunate again to miss the playoffs, but I think we’re slowly creating a new identity,” he said. “Now we’re starting to win because that’s what we do.
“The guys responded well when Jacques stepped in. The engagement and preparation of the guys was great. The guys responded well. He provided a sense of ownership, engagement and good structure. I appreciated the way he directed the team.
“I’d like to see him return.”
While the Als certainly have offensive issues that must be overcome, Chapdelaine for one believes the team has found its quarterback moving forward — Vernon Adams. But Chapdelaine admitted Adams didn’t have the pressure of getting the team into the playoffs, which was facing Rakeem Cato following the trade of veteran Kevin Glenn.
“Vernon’s only pressure was to do well for himself and the team,” Chapdelaine said. “Right now, knowing what we know, Vernon might have a leg up on Rakeem. The way he finished. What he demonstrated and what we may not have seen from anyone this year — including the veteran quarterback. When things didn’t go well he found a way to make them right. He wasn’t alone in that.”
"When I went to Catholic high school in Philadelphia, we just had one coach for football and basketball. He took all of us who turned out and had us run through a forest. The ones who ran into the trees were on the football team". (George Raveling)