By Jack B. Bedell
MontrealAlouettes.com
Week 15: Calgary Stampeders
Montreal – One of the big issues facing the Alouettes heading into last weekend’s game in Calgary was how they would handle the Stampeders’ defensive pressure. Given the number of obvious passing situations the Als’ offence faced, and the fact that starting centre Paul Lambert was forced out of the game with a bicep injury, the team did well to hold the Stamps’ sack count to two.
Anthony Calvillo completed 17 of 33 passes for 227 yards and three majors, and had reasonable success attacking Calgary’s secondary. Calvillo was particularly effective finding Jamel Richardson downfield for big gains. Richardson’s five catches for 124 yards were positive proof that there was ample time in the pocket to deliver balls.
Pocket Protections
The Stamps’ defence did not blitz as often as I expected, nor did they vary their formations as often as they have in other games this season. Whether that “conservative” defence was due to respect for the veteran savvy of Calvillo, or whether much of it was due to the fact that the two teams play again this Monday in McGill Stadium, it definitely sets up a very interesting chess match between the two units.
Heading into the week 15 match up, the Alouettes face the daunting task of breaking in a new starting centre in the face of the Stamps’ league-leading defence. Where before I felt the key to breaking down Calgary’s pressure was an explosive, downfield passing game, this week my eyes will be focused squarely on the ability of Montreal’s offensive line to communicate under fire.
With Luc Brodeur-Jourdain stepping into Lambert’s starting job at centre, Montreal’s chances of keeping Calvillo clean will depend upon the o-line’s communication and recognition of the Stamps’ exotic pressure schemes. And you can bet that Calgary defensive coordinator Chris Jones’ unit will test the Alouettes’ protection early and often.
Under the Radar
One formation Jones has employed regularly with great success this season has been Calgary’s variation of the “radar” defence. With only one lineman down in a three-point stance, and the other six players in the Stamps’ front seven standing and mobile, the “radar” package is designed to cause more confusion than it does pressure.
Facing an alignment like the “radar,” it would be almost impossible for the Als’ o-line to guess pre-snap where the pressure, if any, is coming. Blitzes and stunts could come from multiple angles, and pressure could be applied by various position groups in combination.
Instant recognition and reaction on the part of the Als’ offensive lineman and backs will be absolutely paramount in defending pressure against a defence like this. One false step, or one confused assignment, might mean a free runner bearing down on the quarterback.
Pass protection is never the responsibility of one player, or even one unit. For the Alouettes to have any offensive success at all this Monday, it’s going to take a collective effort to protect the quarterback.
Brodeur-Jourdain will have to set protections, the other offensive lineman will have to communicate and work in conjunction to stave off Calgary’s intense pressure, the backs will have to make solid blocks, and AC will have to deliver the ball quickly and accurately to get the job done.
Make no mistake, though, the battle line in this tilt is drawn indelibly along the line of scrimmage. Whichever team owns that line will get the two points in this one.
The Alouettes next play the Calgary Stampeders at McGill on Oct. 11 at 1pm EST RDSHD, TSNHD, NRJ, CJAD
