|
The Als couldnt have found more polar opposites when hiring their new “coaching consultants.”? Don Matthews was, for a time, the winningest coach in CFL history, while Turk Schonert, the longtime NFL QB and assistant coach who went to two Super Bowls with the Bengals, had no idea so much motion was allowed pre-snap after attending Alouettes practice for the first time. “Just soaking it in, its strange for me to come in and watch football and be quiet and just observe,” admitted the 57-year old former 1980 NFL Draft pick, now head coach Tom Higgins designated “fly on the wall.” Matthews, a former Grey Cup Champion head coach with the Als in 2002, who spent time with the club last season and took great satisfaction in watching his prodigy Noel Thorpe contact high-risk high-reward blitzes worthy of “The Don.” Schonert was in the mix to join the Alouettes a year ago, having interviewed with GM Jim Popp and owner Robert Wetenhall for the teams head coaching position before the ill-fated hire of Dan Hawkins. His number one task at the moment is finding ways to help the struggling offense.? “Its not just the quarterback...hes talented,” Schonert pointed out.? “He (Troy Smith) was in the UFL when I was coaching at Sacramento he was with Omaha. ?I know Bart Andrus (the former Argos head coach) and he said a lot of great things about Troy. “You know hes talented -- he won the Heisman Trophy, and you know about his athleticism, so Troy has to keep working and improving, but everybody around him has to keep working and believing.” Smith welcomes the new set of eyes, even if the first impression was coloured by the “fly on the wall” approach. “I was around him all day and he didnt say one word so it gives you an eerie feeling,” admitted the former Ohio State hero under fire in Montreal now that his passing efficiency rating has dropped to ninth in the league. Still, Higgins admitted Schonert didnt know about the 20-second play-clock pace the Als practice with in order to replicate game speed.? So how can a man with no CFL experience help a struggling starting QB? “Sounds like me,” Smith chuckled with an infectious laugh.? “Theres different things he brings to the table and hopefully hell help us out.” If Schonert isnt able to get Smith and the offence on track, former Als recently-retired greats Anthony Calvillo and Ben Cahoon are waiting in the wings for the opportunity. . Inter Milan ended its five-match winless streak in all competitions by beating 10-man Bologna 3-1 on new manager Claudio Ranieris debut, while injury-plagued AC Milan edged Cesena 1-0 with an early goal from Clarence Seedorf. .com) - Nicklas Backstrom scored a pair of goals and Alex Ovechkin notched a highlight-reel tally, leading the Washington Capitals to a 4-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday at the Prudential Center. . Pistorius denied the allegation that he said to the close friend of the girlfriend he killed: "How can you sleep at night?" The accusation by Kim Myers provided a bizarre twist during the trial of the world-famous double-amputee Olympian, who is facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted of premeditated murder for shooting dead Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, at his home last year. . With the Canadiens leading by one to start the third period, Price turned away 16 shots by the Panthers in the final frame to give Montreal a 2-1 victory over Florida on Monday night. The Panthers (16-21-6) outshot Montreal 16-10 in the final frame, but were repeatedly frustrated by Price, who made 26 saves on the night. . Leaning forward with both hands on his knees, Buffon appeared to be resting or somehow trying to withstand the rain. Or perhaps the 36-year-old goalkeeper and Italy captain was reflecting on this: He is only the third player in history to be part of five World Cup squads, along with Germany great Lothar Matthaus and former Mexico goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal. MINNEAPOLIS -- Oswaldo Arcia -- and about everyone else at Target Field -- had time to admire his three-run home run in the fourth inning that hit close to the top of the pole in right field. The young slugger made a stronger impression and an even bigger impact two at-bats later. Arcia had four RBIs, including the go-ahead single in the seventh, to push the Minnesota Twins past Milwaukee 6-4 on Wednesday night for their seventh win in the last eight meetings with the Brewers. Arcia went deep for the third time in 10 games since his recall from Triple-A to give the Twins a 3-1 lead. Through translator and teammate Eduardo Nunez, Arcia said he waited at the plate for several seconds to watch the ball soar because he knew it was close to hooking foul. "He thinks it was a home run, right away," Nunez said. Said manager Ron Gardenhire: "Pretty impressive. Hes a strong young man." After Aramis Ramirez tied the game with a three-run homer in the seventh inning against Ricky Nolasco (4-5), the Brewers brought in lights-out left-hander Will Smith to face Arcia after Josh Willingham had doubled with two outs against Rob Wooten (1-3). Arcia hung in there long enough to stroke a 2-2 slider into right field to drive in Willingham, who forced in an earlier run against starter Marco Estrada with a bases-loaded walk. Arcia, who swung and missed at the same slider one pitch earlier, took second on the throw home to get in position to score on a single by Trevor Plouffe. That was just the second earned run against Smith all season and the first in 15 games. "Against Will Smith, not many left-handers are going to hit his breaking ball," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. But Arcia did, picking up Nolasco and the Twins. Nolasco, who retired 13 straight batters until consecutive singles by Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Gomez to start the seventh, recovered after Ramirezs wallop to finish the inning. Nolasco struck out seven without a walk while allowing six hits, another step forward from an awful first month with the Twins after signing the richest free agent contract in club history. "They made me pay. Thats what this lineup can do, quick,," Nolasco said, adding: "Im not going to take one pitch and ruin my night.dddddddddddd" Glen Perkins pitched a perfect ninth for his 16th save in 18 chances. Ramirez started the season strong but was slumping badly when he strained his left hamstring 22 games ago, and the first-place Brewers havent missed a beat without him, with Mark Reynolds and his 13 home runs at third base. "Thats what Im here for, to drive in runs and help the team," Ramirez said. The Brewers started this string of 15 of 18 games on the road with the lead after consecutive two-out doubles by Rickie Weeks and Reynolds in the second, but for the second straight game the Twins had success against part of what has been a sturdy rotation for the Brewers. The return of Willingham and Arcia to the heart of the order after missing a combined 74 games with wrist injuries and rehab assignments was a big boost for the Twins last week, and they gave Estrada trouble. Home plate umpire Andy Fletcher gave Estrada some trouble, too, with several close calls going against the right-hander. "They just werent going our way," Estrada said. NOTES: The four-game burst between the border-state rivals finishes Thursday, with Wily Peralta (4-5, 2.73 ERA) pitching for the Brewers and Kevin Correia (2-6, 5.87 ERA) taking the mound for the Twins. Peralta is 0-4 in his last five starts, but with a 3.64 ERA. Correia lost to Mashiro Tanaka and the Yankees in New York last week while giving up just one run in six innings. Both teams will wear throwback uniforms from the 1980s, with the Twins in their powder-blue road jerseys from that era. ... Twins RHP Mike Pelfrey, put on the DL more than a month ago due to a strained groin, will have his elbow examined next week Dr. James Andrews, who performed the Tommy John ligament replacement procedure on his arm in 2012. Pelfrey has been bothered by inflammation in the joint. ... Gomezs success in the No. 4 spot, where he batted for the 12th straight game, allowed Roenicke to ease Ramirez back in at No. 5. But Roenicke said his ideal order is Gomez leading off. The Brewers have used at least four different players in each of the nine spots this season. ' ' '
|
