When he made the decision to fire his defensive coordinator, general manager Danny Maciocia didn't have to do a lot of research to find his next candidate. He turned to his good friend Noel Thorpe.
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A decision that surprised no one. Maciocia wanted to have a coordinator with a defensive philosophy identical to his.
"It's a defense that has to dominate the line of scrimmage and that has to put pressure on the opposing quarterback," said the Alouettes' general manager. She must force the opponent to work on second down and several yards to go.
“She has to dress up her covers as well.”
These criteria are part of the Thorpe philosophy. Whether he is in Montreal, Edmonton or Ottawa, his system has not changed. Only the players on the field are different.
In his playbook, his proteges must be intense and physical in each sequence. This is the mentality he wants to implant within the Montreal defensive unit.
“We have active and physical players, analyzed Thorpe. They are able to disrupt the work of the protective sleeve.
“When I watch our game against Edmonton last week, we were able to disturb the opposing quarterback. Now we have to find a way to bring him down behind the line of scrimmage. I like the items we have on hand.”
Even before setting foot on the field for his first practice, Thorpe already knew several players with the Alouettes. He has led some of them in Ottawa and Edmonton in recent years.
Never two without three
This is Thorpe's third stint with the Alouettes. We remember that he was cavalierly dismissed by Kavis Reed in 2017 after four years of loyal service.
At that time, he was expected to become a head coach. However, his dream had come to an abrupt end. However, when he received the call from his longtime friend for a job with the Alouettes, the reflection did not take too long.
"For me, it was a no brainer," Thorpe said. The timing was perfect for this opportunity. I couldn't refuse her.
“I have a lot of admiration and respect for Danny. Our relationship goes beyond the football field.”
From his first days on the job at the Olympic Stadium, Thorpe felt comfortable.
“It was like coming back to a familiar place. My wife and I raised our family in this town. This organization means a lot to me and my family.”
A big loss
In the first game of the season, the Alouettes lost two stalwarts for several weeks. The first is William Stanback. The second ? Greg Reid.
The defensive back would be a dud in the Thorpe system. His punitive style would fit perfectly with this new philosophy.
“He is a veteran and he was a leader within the team, mentioned Marc-Antoine Dequoy. He was a unifier in the locker room and he kept the group tight.
The Alouettes must cross their fingers so that Reid can return to play before the end of the season. Injured in a knee, he is on the injured list for six games.
