Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
New Montreal Alouettes general manager Kavis Reed has only been on the job for a few weeks, but he’s already made one of this most important decisions. By signing veteran slotback Nik Lewis for another two years on Wednesday, Reed ensured the return of one of the most important players on the team, both on and off the field.
Still going strong
I won’t lie; when Lewis’s time with the Calgary Stampeders came to an end following the 2014 season, I wasn’t sure how many more productive seasons he had left in him. After all, his final two seasons with the Stamps were not ones to write home about, whether it be for injury, ratio, or usage reasons. After two seasons in Montreal, though, I realize my uncertainty was unfounded.
The re-signing of Lewis is huge for stability reasons both on the field and in the locker room. Lewis is a veteran, stabilizing force in both areas and has the potential to be a key figure in the first year of a new Alouettes era. In the end, I don’t think Reed had to think about this decision much at all.
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Nik Lewis goes for a one-handed grab during a late-season win vs. Toronto (MontrealAlouettes.com)
On the field, Lewis has been money in two seasons with Montreal. 2015 saw him catch 70 passes for 743 yards in a resurgent campaign that seemed to really breathe new life into the veteran receiver. I say that because his 2016, at the age of 34, was one of the best of his outstanding career.
Lewis was one of the league’s most reliable and consistent receivers this past season and could very well have been Montreal’s nominee for Most Outstanding Player. For my money, he was the most important Als player on offence in 2016.
Lewis’s raw numbers were stellar last season. For just the second time in his career, Lewis finished with more than 100 receptions and, with 102, finished third in the league in that category. On top of that, his 1,136 yards put him eighth overall. But it’s when you dig a little deeper that you truly understand how valuable Lewis was in Montreal.
More than half of Lewis’s yards came after the catch in 2016, which should surprise absolutely no one. If there’s one thing Lewis will be remembered for when his career comes to an end, it’ll be what he did after initial contact with a defender. As such, his 621 YAC total last season fits right in with that narrative.
On top of that, Lewis remained one of the most reliable possession threats in the league. 40 of his 102 total receptions saw him move the chains on second down, tying him for first in the league. Much like his proficiency stretching plays after a catch, Lewis has long been one of the most dangerous second down threats in the league.
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As the Alouettes look to solidify their quarterback situation in 2017, having an on-field presence like Lewis will be crucial. Whether it’s Vernon Adams Jr. or someone else tasked to be Montreal’s starter come June, you can bet they’ll mix in steady dose of Lewis targets because the guy still gets the job done.
Finally, let’s not forget how big Lewis is inside that locker room. Montreal is going through transition with Jim Popp departed and Reed now in the director’s chair as GM. While Jacques Chapdelaine is coming back as head coach, having even more continuity with Lewis back, too, is never a bad thing.
I got to know Nik pretty well during his 11-year stint in Calgary and I got the opportunity to watch the guy develop into a true leader. Yep, he was brash and cocky when he entered the league in 2004, but by the time he left he had established himself as one of the most respected and trusted leaders in that room.
That remains the same in Montreal and, heading into a new era in 2017, that type of veteran is exactly what this team needs
Double trouble
The past week was a mixed bag for the Edmonton Eskimos. On the one hand, they can be proud of receiver Derel Walker and linebacker Deon Lacey for landing NFL opportunities. On the other, though, losing players of their caliber is going to leave a hole extremely difficult to fill.
The last two offseasons have been trying in Edmonton. A year ago it was the mass exodus east, as Chris Jones took a huge chunk of his coaching staff and a number of key players with him to Saskatchewan after winning the Grey Cup. Apparently the big threat to the Esks this year is departures to the south.
The loss of Derel Walker to the NFL leaves a hole in the Eskimos’ receiving corps (David Chidley/CFL.ca)
Losing Walker is huge and he won’t be replaced by any one person in 2017. In just two seasons, Walker established himself as one of the league’s most dominant receivers and played a huge part in helping Edmonton to 2015’s aforementioned Grey Cup title.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting a heck of a player in Walker. Both years he spent with the Eskimos saw Walker go over 1,000 yards receiving; his 1,589 yards this past season saw him finish second in the league behind only teammate Adarius Bowman. Speaking of which, those two set a new CFL record last season for combined yardage by a pair of receivers, so losing Walker is going to be tough to swallow.
The loss of Lacey is a tough one, too. Now a member of the Miami Dolphins, Lacey led the Eskimos with 87 defensive tackles in 2017 and finished sixth in the league overall. He added 16 more special teams tackles, a sack and three interceptions to complete his impressive resume. Plain and simple, he was one of Edmonton’s most important defensive players last season.
The good news is the Eskimos still have some pretty decent options at the position, even with Lacey leaving. JC Sherritt remains a solid option in the middle and I think he’ll be able to pick up a chunk of the tackles lost with Lacey moving on. And don’t forget about Alex Hoffman-Ellis because I still think he factors into Edmonton’s linebacker mix, too. Hoffman-Ellis missed a ton of time with injury in 2016 but he contributed nicely in ten starts with BC the year before.
What’s next?
I’m not sure what the future holds for Kevin Glenn, but I’d still take him on my team any day of the week. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers granted Glenn his release to pursue other opportunities on Friday and now the veteran quarterback enters the free agent pool.
Turning 38 in June, Glenn is no longer a viable starting option in my eyes, but I’d still jump to have him on the sidelines if I was a team with an opening under centre. Glenn brings with him a lot of value as a veteran set of eyes and as a backup option in the event of an injury to a starter.
» Bombers release veteran Kevin Glenn
Kevin Glenn will get an early look at free agency following his release this week (CFL.ca)
Glenn still played some decent football in 2016 prior to being traded to Winnipeg from Montreal. In nine starts with the Alouettes, Glenn completed 70.4% of his passes, which was good for fourth in the CFL. While he’s not going to win many games singlehandedly at this point, Glenn is still a very capable game manager.
To have someone as reliable and experienced as Glenn as a contingency plan is a nice luxury to have. He’s also proven to be a really good teammate in recent years and provides an invaluable set of eyes to whoever his team’s number one is at the time.
Glenn is a veteran of 16 CFL seasons and knows the league as well or better as any other quarterback. I’d absolutely want that in my locker room, especially for a team looking for some established winners to take a step forward. A coach should have no hesitation putting Glenn in if the situation were to arise, so I don’t think he’ll be out of work for very long.
