September 9, 2016

The Alouettes will be taking on the Lions in their den tonight.

VANCOUVER – The BC Lions return home this week to face the Montreal Alouettes after going a perfect two-for-two on their extended road trip through Ontario.

For this game, the Montreal Alouettes are turning to Rakeem Cato under centre for the first time since Week 4. Cato, a Marshall alum, went 18-of-25 for 203 yards in his one and only start this season, a 31-7 loss to Hamilton.

We made an organizational decision (on) several things; it’s not just a quarterback change, we need to see what we have for the future at that position,” Als head coach and general manager Jim Popp told MontrealAlouettes.com. “When, outside of two games, you’re averaging 15.1 points a game — about 12 points below the league average — we’re not doing well enough. We’ve got to find other ways to see if (we can) spark anything.

The Als’ offence will hope for a boost from wide receiver Duron Carter, who was suspended for the last week’s game against Ottawa for an incident earlier in the season.

If you’re winning or in first place, you usually don’t touch your roster,” furthered Popp. “If you’re not, you’re behind and not generating enough points, eventually you’ve got to start looking at some other options.

The Montreal skipper noted that the shift to Cato was not a straight knock on the 37 year-old Kevin Glenn. “This is nothing that’s directed right at Kevin Glenn,” insisted Popp. “He’s not the only one (where) we’re making a change, but this is a move for the future in that we’re trying to see what we have while trying to win games.

The Als have been one of the league’s best defences through 11 weeks, surrendering just 237 points — the third-lowest mark in the league and best in the East.

One of the keys to Montreal’s defensive success, along with its balanced defensive line, has been the strong play of defensive back Jovon Johnson; the Iowa product who has posted a career-high five sacks this season.

It feels good to get to the quarterback and put pressure on the QB,” said Johnson, known largely for his ball-hawking prowess as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers throughout the 2009-11 seasons. “Whatever helps the team, I’m all for it.

As for the challenge posed by BC’s balanced attack, Johnson believes the key to stopping the Leos lies in shutting down three major players.

Their offence is good across the board, but we know who their big-play guys are: Chris Rainey, Bryan Burnham and Emmanuel Arceneaux,” said the Montreal DB. “If we can limit those guys, keep them contained, we’ll be okay.