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MONTREAL -- It has been two years since the Montreal Alouettes have been to the Grey Cup game. That wouldnt be unusual for most Canadian Football League teams, but it hasnt happened to the Alouettes since 2000. And general manager Jim Popp doesnt want three in a row. "We won our division last year, we didnt win our playoff game, but weve been right there," Popp said. "We all felt we should have been in five straight Grey Cups." The Alouettes were first in the East Division at 11-7 last season but were beaten at home in the division final by the eventual Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts. But it wasnt that defeat that sparked a big change in Montreal. Rather, it was coach Marc Trestman finally landing his dream job as an NFL head coach with the Chicago Bears. Trestmans departure after five years brought in former U.S. university coach Dan Hawkins. Like his predecessor, Hawkins enters the CFL with no experience of the 12-man game. The difference is that this time he will be well-supported with a staff of 11 co-ordinators and assistants. Among them is former Winnipeg head coach Doug Berry, who was hired as Hawkins senior adviser and who could likely step into the top job if needed. The main job will be to bring consistency to the defence and special teams. The offence is almost unchanged from a year ago, except for the addition of 35-year-old receiver Arland Bruce III to replace the departed Brian Bratton. It all hinges on the health of quarterback Anthony Calvillo, the leagues all-time passing leader who turns 41 on Aug. 23. Calvillo is hardly slowing down. He wasnt fast to begin with. And last season he topped, 5,000 yards passing for the seventh time, completing 333 for 5,082 yards, 31 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He is coming off surgery to his non-throwing shoulder but looked sharp in the pre-season. The team signed free agent Quinton Porter as insurance, but the veteran pivot asked for his release when it became clear he wouldnt get the back-up role ahead of third-stringer Josh Neiswander and impressive newcomer Tanner Marsh. Calvillo has his offensive line intact and his solid array of tall receivers in S.J. Green, Jamel Richardson and Brandon London. Adding Bruce was a bonus. They will start the season with both incumbent running back Brandon Whitaker and new signing Jerome Messam out with injuries. Chris Jennings, who filled in after Whitaker blew out a knee last season, is to start the campaign but the multi-skilled Whitaker is expected back soon. The offence was not an area of concern for Montreal. Perhaps their biggest problem last season was special teams, where they gave up too many long returns and couldnt get their own return game going. The result was weak field position at both ends. With new special teams co-ordinator Ray Rychelski in place, they hope speedy Noel Devine will break more long returns this season. Last year, special teams was only one of former coach Andy Bischoffs many duties. "I dont know if it was the philosophy or we needed to get better personnel-wise, but for whatever reason, we were getting big field position changes," said Popp. "We didnt seem to get the returns and we seemed to give up big returns. "The coaching was good, but there was something not clicking." "Coach Rays approach is different. Its more like NFL teams. Its very direct. Well see what results we get." There were changes in the defensive backfield with the signing of veteran cornerbacks Byron Parker and Geoff Tisdale. Dwight Anderson and Seth Williams are gone. The biggest change may be moving bruising tackler Kyries Hebert from safety to outside linebacker, his natural position. Canadian Shea Emry remains at middle linebacker with Chip Cox also back, and with the versatile Marc-Olivier Brouillette slotting in wherever hes needed. Rookie Mike Edem, drafted third overall from the University of Calgary, has been impressive at safety, flanked by returning defensive backs Billy Parker and Jerald Brown. The team has also gone back to a four-man line and signed the spirited Ejiro Kuale from Toronto to play rush end along with veteran John Bowman. Scooter Berry and Alan Michael Cash return at tackle, and Moton Hopkins is back after missing a year with a blood clot in a leg. Popp wants stability on defence after going through a succession of defensive co-ordinators in recent years. Each one changed the system so that new players were needed to fit the co-ordinators style. Jeff Reinebold is out, and the new co-ordinator is Noel Thorpe. "With coaches, co-ordinators and philosophies, that there hasnt been the consistency we had on offence," said Popp. "Youre trying to find a coach that maybe fits the personnel better. "That was thought out much better this time around. Reinebold is a very good coach, it just didnt work. We were very good some weeks and others we werent. But thats our league. The best co-ordinators have had 500-yard games against them. But you want consistency, not a roller coaster." "The system is simplified. In the system that had evolved, there were a lot of checks and changes and when there are always new people in, everyones not always on the same page and it becomes difficult. In this system, there are less adjustments. Theres a lot more man coverage. Usually that will spell out less mistakes." Popp hopes better special teams and defence will bring the Alouettes back to the Grey Cup game, where theyve been eight times in 13 years, winning in 2002, 2009 and 2010. It will be the 18th season since the team returned to Montreal in 1996 after a 10-year hiatus and theyve had winning records every year but two -- 9-9 in 2001 and 8-10 in 2007. In that span, theyve never missed the playoffs. "Weve been at a high level, and the question is whether we stay at that level or drop a notch down," said Popp, who has been GM for all that time. "But those are the two areas that, if we can be better, well already be a better team."Brad Lidge Jersey . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. Jeff Kent Astros Jersey . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. "The car balance is decent, but I think we can still improve," Vettel said. https://www.cheapastros.com/2763o-kyle-tucker-jersey-astros.html . Zvonareva, who won the tournament in 2009 and 10, couldnt handle her opponents big groundstrokes in only her third event back after 17 months out with a shoulder injury. Zvonareva made her comeback in January in Shenzhen and played in the Australian Open but lost her first matches at both tournaments. Justin Verlander Astros Jersey . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Jeff Bagwell Astros Jersey . They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display.PHOENIX -- Max Scherzer struck out 11 in eight innings and delivered a two-run single to help his cause in the Washington Nationals 8-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.Washington earned its fourth road series sweep of the season and first since May 30-June 1 at Philadelphia. Arizona lost its fourth straight and sixth in seven games. The Diamondbacks are winless in nine Wednesday games at home this season.Scherzer (12-6) allowed three runs on four hits, giving up two homers, and walked one. He is 3-0 in four starts against his former team, which drafted the four-time All-Star and former Cy Young Award winner No. 11 overall in 2006.Daniel Murphys sixth-inning solo home run broke a 1-1 tie before Scherzer bounced a single up the middle with the bases loaded and two outs, driving in Anthony Rendon and Danny Espinosa.Murphy, the NLs leading hitter with a .358 average, has hit safely in 17 of 19 games and has seven home runs in that span, 20 on the season.Scherzer held the Diamondbacks hitless for four innings, but David Peralta led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to left field. Peralta advanced to third on a wild pitch, and with one out, scored when Bryce Harper dropped a sliding catch of Brandon Drurys shallow fly ball to right.That tied the game at 1, after Trea Turners second career home run and ffirst of 2016 came with one out in the top of the third.ddddddddddddThe Nationals went ahead 4-1 in the sixth before Jake Lambs solo shot in the bottom of the inning. It was Lambs second homer in as many days.Yasmany Tomas cut the Nationals lead to one with a home run in the seventh, the first time in his career hes gone deep in back-to-back games.The Nationals scored four runs in the ninth off Arizonas troubled bullpen, on Espinosas RBI ground-rule double, a walk and Clint Robinsons two-run pinch-hit single.Diamondbacks starter Zack Godley (3-2) allowed four runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts and a walk in six innings.TRAINERS ROOMNationals: Harper returned to the lineup after missing Tuesdays game because of illness. ... IF Ryan Zimmerman remained out with a wrist injury; he hasnt played since July 31 at San Francisco.UP NEXTNationals: The club had yet to name a starting pitcher for Friday at home against San Francisco after Thursdays day off.Diamondbacks: RHP Braden Shipley (1-1) is set for his third major league start Friday against Milwaukee, after making his major league debut July 25 against the Brewers on the road. Hes coming off six scoreless innings at Los Angeles on July 30. ' ' '