“We have work ahead of us”

Jones and Adams Jr. to return with the Alouettes in 2022

Miguel bujold
Press

Unless there is a last-minute turnaround, Khari Jones will indeed be back on the sidelines for a third season in 2022. The condition: some things will have to change.

The Alouettes’ indiscipline problem was not limited to what was going on in the game this season. There were many delays to meetings and other team appointments. Before the last game of the regular season against the Ottawa Rouge et Noir, some players at the club were having fun predicting by how many points they would win it. It is therefore not so surprising that it was ultimately the Red and Black who won it.

“We will have to sit down and talk in detail to find solutions,” said chief executive Danny Maciocia, who did not want to guarantee Jones would be back in 2022.

Jones admitted his team lacked discipline this season. An indiscipline that has often been expensive during matches.

“This responsibility is indeed mine. This is something that I am not proud of. I will make sure, from the start of the season and until the very end of it, that we will be disciplined [en 2022]. Even if I have to fine players, bench them or release them. We will do whatever is necessary to resolve the problem. ”

“It hadn’t been a problem in 2019, and I mistakenly assumed it would still be, which didn’t turn out to be. “

But is Jones capable of being tough enough to keep his flock in line? This is a legitimate question.

“Believe me, I have that side you talk about. You often see me with a smile, and I like talking with you [les journalistes], but I can get angry, and our players have occasionally noticed. But the truth is, they probably haven’t seen me angry often enough. ”

The gift of communication

Maciocia highlighted the performance of the special teams and the lack of opportunism in the attack as a reason for the disappointing season for his team, which finished the regular season with a 7-7 record and were eliminated in the semifinals of the East Division on Sunday in Hamilton. Indiscipline comes at the top of the list, however.

“It’s no secret, we want to be much more disciplined [la saison prochaine]. There’s been a lot of talk about special teams, but it’s true for the team as a whole. The discipline does not appear on its own; it starts with the way things are done on a daily basis. People need to arrive on time for meetings or for treatment. If it’s a strength day, all of our players need to be in the training room. ”

The Als GM doesn’t believe Jones’s friendliness has to necessarily keep him from tightening the screws when the need arises.

“I think he can continue to be a good guy, but he can be more firm. Because if he goes to the other end, it won’t be his personality, and the players will see it very quickly. They will think it is wrong [phony]. ”

“Khari has the gift of communication. And when he communicates with people, they really listen to what he is saying. He is a pleasant business and is able to bring people together. He can still be firm and fair. ”

Even though Jones was already in office before his arrival, Maciocia believes their association can work. “If I hadn’t believed in the people who were already there and who I was going to work with, I wouldn’t have accepted this position. ”

“It’s not just the head coach’s responsibility; it is also that of Danny Maciocia, of Mario Cecchini [président de l’équipe] and Gary Stern [propriétaire de l’équipe]. The only way we will improve is by working as a team, ”said Maciocia.

Trust in Adams son

Before speaking to reporters, Jones offered his condolences to Matthew Shiltz and his family, who learned that the quarterback’s mother had perished in a traffic accident in the past few days. The tragedy occurred in Texas.

Shiltz’s contract will expire in February, but the team’s other two main quarterbacks, Vernon Adams Jr. and Trevor Harris, are currently under contract.

“We will have to decide in which direction we will go because, as you know, it will be practically impossible to keep two quarterbacks who will receive a salary like theirs,” Maciocia recalled.

According to our information, the organization prefers to go ahead with Adams Jr.. The Alouettes believe he will continue to improve and mature.

“Before his shoulder injury, I felt Vernon was making progress,” Jones commented.

On the other hand, the Alouettes could choose to reduce the duties of Jones, who is also the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. Jones has indicated that he will agree to do so if the organization feels it is best to do so.

“I probably haven’t spent enough time with special teams and defense this season,” he admitted.

Quebecers, a priority

Maciocia has never hid to say it: he wants to increase the number of Quebeckers with the Alouettes, both among players and coaches and in football operations.

“As long as Mario [Cecchini] and I will be working for the Alouettes, that will be our goal [d’avoir le plus de Québécois possible]. It is very, very, very important. I think that we had 18 Quebec players this season and that, among our 21 Canadian players in uniform during our matches, there were sometimes 13 or 14 Quebecers. ”

Decrease in attendance, increase in sales

Cecchini took stock of the season in business terms. The president took the opportunity to give some details to journalists and the public about the audience.

He said season ticket sales were up 18% from the 2019 season and individual ticket sales jumped 54%. So how do you explain the fact that the average attendance has gone from 17,574 two years ago to 13,063 this year?

“Essentially, we made exactly the same revenue at the box office as in 2019 with three fewer games. It can give you an idea of ​​the progress. ”

According to Cecchini, the Alouettes’ annual deficit has been reduced by 45% from that of 2019, which was approximately 10 million according to team owner Gary Stern.

“We are satisfied with our first year and our first step. It will now serve as a basis. But now we want to improve that, ”said Cecchini.