MontrealAlouettes.com
Noel Thorpe fires the phrase as quickly and concisely as a blitzing linebacker shoots a gap, when asked who has been his biggest coaching influence.
“Don Mathews, without question.”
If defence wins championships, then the Als’ new defensive coordinator – their fifth in seven years – brings the winning touch with the patience and devotion of his family life.
Can Coach Thorpe heal and rebuild the Achilles heel of a team that believes it can contend for the 101st Grey Cup?
His career path and track record suggest he can.
Thorpe came to Montreal for his first tour of duty alongside the more vocal and perhaps more charismatic Chris Jones in 2002; hired by “The Don” himself.
Former Als sideline boss Rod Rust had initially brought the studious and bright Thorpe from UBC (where he won a Vanier Cup in 1997) to Als’ camp in 2001 as a guest coach.
“Mathews, Rod Rust and Chris Jones…those three have been big influences,” Thorpe said during a brief noon-hour break from the long and arduous training camp grind.
“Chris and I came into the league together and I learned a lot from him, but Don was tremendous for understanding leadership. Rod was very cerebral, but what Don taught was speaking the players’ language.”
Thorpe’s been picking up the language of winning pretty well, too. He was part of the Als’ staff that ended a 25-year Grey Cup drought in 2002. He would then go on to Edmonton to join another former Danny Maciocia’s Grey Cup winning staff.
The friendship forged off the field with Maciocia mirrored their on-field loyalties, so it was no surprise when Thorpe moved east again to reunite at the university level with the Montreal Carabins as the school’s defensive coordinator.
“Don’t forget, Danny was an outstanding offensive coordinator in the CFL and going against him in practice every day made me a better defensive coach.”
They still talk regularly, and in fact, Maciocia interviewed in Florida with GM Jim Popp about the Alouettes’ head coaching job and a possible return to the CFL as well, but who else in the football world can say they have seven years left on their deal?
Thorpe’s defence in 2012 led the nation in fewest points and yardage allowed (11.8 points/game, only 244 yards) en-route to an 8-1 season where the only blemish was a loss against Laval, the eventual Vanier Cup winner.
“Teaching is teaching,” said Thorpe of adjusting back and forth between CIS athletes and the pros.
“Emotionally with players, things don’t change…from Montreal to Edmonton, Edmonton to U of M…teaching is so important at the university level but it can be overlooked at the pro level.”
Thorpe has learned to roll with the hands of fate. 
Curiously, he was hired by Popp and Trestman just a day after the firing off Jeff Reinebold, whose 3-4 scheme and injury-plagued defensive roster never amounted to anything than being less than the sum of its parts.
He never worked for the man who would depart to lead the Chicago Bears, but is the only member of the coaching staff Dan Hawkins “inherits”.
“John Bowman and Chip Cox are still here since my first time around and in this league, there is going to be a cycle,” notes Thorpe.
“From Day one we’ve been laying a new foundation of team defence and they’ve embraced the work. I’m happy with the progress of the veterans and the rookies alike.”
Thorpe is also working with some old hands to teach some old dogs new tricks. Kyries Hebert, an All-Star safety in 2012, is taking reps at linebacker.
“We want him closer to the line of scrimmage and closer to the ball,” enthused Thorpe.
Former Argo linebacker Ejiro Kuale is practising at rush-end, where he could be a formidable “book end” for the Als’ perennial sackmaster Bowman.
“Kuale has dropping (into coverage) ability and we’ve got several athletes who are multi-positional. Marco Brouillette, Cox…for us it will be all about team defence and 12 hats to the ball.”
Linebacker coach Mark Nelson, a CFL veteran, has worked with Thorpe in Edmonton.
Keith Willis from NC State is drawing praise from defensive line players and Thorpe alike for his “intensity and fun” forged at both major US College coaching experience and from his playing days in the NFL (where he racked up 59 sacks in 139 games mostly with the Steelers in the ‘80s).
“The slate is wiped clean,” said Thorpe.
“I want to hold our identity in our back pockets for a while. We have outstanding talent and a great locker room. These guys are all trying to make everybody better, veterans and rookies. I like their attention to detail in the classroom and on the practise field.
“They care about each other. I’m excited. We’re all excited.”
