Montreal Alouettes' Brandon Whitaker (2) runs in for a touchdown against the Calgary Stampeders during first half CFL football action in Montreal, Sunday, October 30, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
When the Toronto Argonauts take the field for Monday’s game against the Montreal Alouettes, they’ll be doing so with a team that is comprised of a number of former Als players and coaches.
Due to the nature of the CFL as a league with a lot of roster turnover, each game usually reunites a few players with their former teams; however, the experience of these Alouettes-turned-Argos significantly exceeds the norm.
In total, the Boatmen have two coaches on their present staff with 144 games of experience in Montreal, as well as five players with 311 regular season games played in the Burgundy and Blue.
COACHES
Head Coach Scott Milanovich
Milanovich spent five years coaching in Montreal, first as the team’s quarterbacks coach (2007) and then the offensive coordinator (2008), before finally assuming assistant head coaching duties while maintaining his previous two roles during his final three seasons (2009-11). During his time in Montreal, he coached nine different players to 12 CFL All-Star nominations, and 11 players to 27 East Division All-Star nominations, including current Alouettes offensive coordinator Anthony Calvillo, who passed pro football’s all-time passing mark under Milanovich. Since leaving Montreal to take a head coaching position with the Boatmen, Milanovich has posted a 5-7-0 record against his former team. Players coached by Milanovich on the Als’ current roster include S.J. Green, Jeff Perrett, and Luc Brodeur-Jourdain.
Offensive Coordinator Marcus Brady
Brady spent three seasons playing quarterback for the Alouettes (2006-08), the last two of which were spent under the guidance of Scott Milanovich. All three of his seasons in Montreal were spent as the backup to his counterpart in Monday’s game, current Alouettes offensive coordinator Anthony Calvillo. After his playing career, Brady transitioned to the coaching ranks immediately, spending 2009-11 as the receivers coach in Montreal before assuming the offensive coordinator position in 2012. Following the 2012 campaign, Brady joined Milanovich in Toronto as the team’s offensive coordinator, the position in which he remains to this date.
PLAYERS
OT Josh Bourke
Bourke recorded 142 regular season, seven playoff, and three Grey Cup appearances across nine seasons (2007-15) in Montreal after being selected by the team in the third round (21st overall) of the 2004 CFL Draft. The CFL’s Most Outstanding Lineman in 2009 was a seven-time CFL East All-Star and earned two nominations as a CFL All-Star (2011-12) as an Alouette. Bourke, who played an important role on Montreal’s back-to-back Grey Cup-winning teams in 2009 and 2010, signed with Argonauts on the first day of CFL free agency this past off-season.
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LB Kyler Elsworth
Elsworth played in 10 games for the Alouettes during his rookie CFL season in 2015. The Goodrich, Michigan native contributed 50 total tackles, one tackle for a loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in his first season in the league. After being released on June 14, 2016, by Montreal, Elsworth signed in Toronto just 11 days later and has since appeared in three games for the team.
QB Adrian McPherson
McPherson appeared in 70 games for the Alouettes in five seasons (2008-12) of work, also dressing for five playoff games and three Grey Cups with the club. The Florida State product passed for 1,505 yards and 11 touchdowns as the team’s backup quarterback, adding 1,080 yards and 22 touchdowns on 242 rushing attempts during his time in Montreal. McPherson originally signed with the Argonauts on June 13, 2015. He spent the 2015 season and 2016 training camp with the team before being released on June 15, 2016; he was re-signed on July 20.
RET Larry Taylor
Taylor began his CFL career with the Alouettes, playing in 38 games across two stints with the club. Between 2008 and 2010, he collected 3,030 total return yards and three touchdowns on 134 punt returns and 80 kickoff returns. After three seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, Taylor returned to Montreal, where he played in six games during the 2014 season. The 2009 CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player still holds the Alouettes’ single-season record for most punt returns (89, 2009) and the single-game mark for most kickoff returns (9, 10/24/09). After spending last season away from football, Taylor signed in Toronto on June 20, 2016.
RB Brandon Whitaker
Whitaker played 51 games across six seasons with the Alouettes (2009-14), collecting 630 carries for 3,376 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, as well as 194 receptions for 1,659 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns during his time in Montreal. The three-time CFL East All-Star won two Grey Cups (2009, 2010) as a member of the Als. Whitaker signed with the Argonauts as a free agent last off-season and racked up 169 rushing yards and a touchdown on 31 carries in two games against his former team in 2015.