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Moffat: Troy Smith biding his time in Als system
Whoever said “you only get one chance to make a first impression”sure doesn’t know the 2013 Montreal Alouettes.When the Alouettes – who lead the league in second-and-long situations - face off against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at NAPA Touchdown Atlantic this Saturday, they’ll be led by two quarterbacks whose careers are in some ways facing second-and-long as well: Josh Neiswander and Troy Smith.Neiswander threw two touchdown passes last week against BC, but also threw two interceptions in relief of pivot Tanner Marsh.The Als haven’t had QB-yoyos on a sting like this since the 1970’s, but those Alouette quarterback controversies revolved around 3-time Grey Cup MVP Sonny Wade and rivals for the starting job Jimmy Jones and Joe Barnes.Still EvaluatingFor the Montreal Alouettes, it has been quarterback by committee since longtime starter Anthony Calvillo was sidelined by a concussion five games ago. Which is why head coach and GM Jim Popp is taking his time when evaluating his quarterback situation.» Read MoreIn 2013, the absence of Anthony Calvillo has spun a roulette wheel at QB with only a fleeting “Marsh Madness” jackpot to show for it.At its worst against the Tiger-Cats this Saturday, the Als’ attack could come off looking like Moncton’s biggest natural attraction - a tidal bore.If that happens, head coach Jim Popp may not want to wait any longer to flash forward to the great QB hope for 2014, Smith, the Heisman hero who was on the team’s “negotiation-list” from 2005 until just about a month ago.“He has tenacity and he’s a very cerebral individual,” says fellow former NFLer turned CFL newcomer Tyrell Sutton. “He’s tenacious and he’s a great leader.” With a comic delivery Monty Python’s Eric Idle would appreciate, Sutton answers for teasing Troy about the “H-word” - Heisman.“No, no, no...maybe behind closed doors...we do! We do. Anything we can rag on anybody...it’s fair game!”The former Ohio State star admits patience is a virtue he had to learn as a pro, not in college.“I really didn’t know what ‘being a professional’ meant,” said Smith.“I learned less is more. You think that you need to be outspoken and boisterous when you really don’t have to. Do your job, shut up and come to work every day. That’s the approach I’m taking here in Montreal and it’s starting to pay off.”Smith “came here to learn this year”, but is being “fast-tracked” in the words of Popp, if one handoff in his first CFL appearance (“I worked up one pellet of sweat” Smith joked with me a few weeks ago) and two reverse tosses to Arland Bruce in his 2nd appearance can be considered fast-tracked.“I’m not thinking about 2014, this is 2013,” says Smith. “Not too long ago as a team we set goals. The key number is 1. Literally one day at a time, one win at a time, to get our first Grey Cup together.”Troy has now had prolonged exposure to the CFL for what amounts to a training camp and pre-season period, but not enough mind-meld opportunity with his mentor Anthony Calvillo, who may have clearance to resume treadmill workouts by the end of the week.“I know what it means and what it takes to play the position. As a man and as a friend Anthony’s been very good to me, very dear to me so far...but we have to be able to fill his void even though those are huge shoes.” Fan Poll Did the Alouettes wait too long to find Anthony Calvillo's heir? 1) Yes2) No View Results > While a Heisman hardly guarantees pro success, 2 previous winners have known Grey Cup victory: Johnny Rodgers with the ‘74 Als and Doug Flutie with the Argos of ‘96-97, the only club other than the ‘09-10 Als to repeat since Montreal was welcomed back into the CFL.Bear in mind Calvillo’s mentoring under Tracy Ham took two years. His first season in Montreal (’98), AC threw more picks than TDs. His passing efficiency dipped even below what he posted in the Steeltown meltdown year of 2-16 in ‘97.Smith is sensitive to AC’s post-concussion concerns.“Over the years I’m pretty sure playing football from age 7 to 29 I went through a concussion-type situation. We need to train extremely hard to help prevent some of those things. Your head and your heart is all you have,” he said.“I definitely have tremendous and dear friends in the NFL. Joe Flacco is just like one of my brothers. We came in kinda together, one year earlier than him,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, but he was there throughout my tenure, my four years and was tremendous helping me out.“Another one of my brothers in the NFL is Ed Reed now with the Houston Texans. Another one is Edgar Jones - he plays for the Dallas Cowboys.“Those are 3 of the guys that at any drop of a dime, any notice I can call them and they’ll have my back and I’ll have theirs.”Neiswander does not have that impressive a “phone-a-friend list” coming out of Angelo State, a small D-2 school in West Central Texas that has produced Super Bowl winners and Grey Cup combatants (Chris Brazzell caught several passes for the Esks against Montreal in the 2002 Cup win - Calvillo’s first.)At his East Texas high school, Neiswander established marks for career passing yards and touchdowns — the same records he shattered while at Angelo State, along with 14 other passing records. His off-season workout partner is another former Texas high school star named Marsh. Confidence? Neiswander insists that comes from making the right reads. Troy says “the sky’s the limit.”One of them had better be right.