By Jack Bedell
MontrealAlouettes.com
Following Grey Cup appearances in 2008 and 2009, the Alouettes were faced with the challenge of opening their previous two seasons on the road with title-game rematches against the Calgary Stampeders and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
After last year’s Grey Cup triumph however, the Alouettes finally get the chance to open their season at home this Thursday when the 2011 CFL season officially kicks off. And what do they win for their prize—a match-up against what was arguably the league’s hottest team down the stretch in 2010, the B.C. Lions.
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Receiver Jamel Richardson should enjoy a tremedous size advantage against the Lions’ defence. |
Opening the season against a quality football team like the Lions is more than enough of a challenge to get the juices flowing, but when you add the fact that the Lions finished last season taking seven wins in their final 10 games and only narrowly missed derailing the Roughriders in that West Semifinal overtime classic, you know Montreal is in for a dogfight.
It was very clear watching the Lions’ two pre-season games this summer that the team is gunning to play in their own Grey Cup come November. Coach Wally Buono has built a young, aggressive team that is playing behind a confident QB in Travis Lulay, who is really coming into his own as a team leader. Well-coached and talented, they’ll offer challenges for the Alouettes across the board.
The one match-up that I’ll be keeping a sharp eye on come Thursday night, though, is how well the Alouettes’ receivers do with the ball once it’s delivered against one of the stingiest secondaries in the CFL.
The Lions boast one of the league’s deepest, most aggressive defensive backfields featuring ball hawks like cornerbacks Dante Marsh and Davis Sanchez, sticky cover guys in half backs Korey Banks and Ryan Phillips, and a hard hitter in safety Jason Arakgi.
This pre-season, the Lions secondary managed to short-circuit two of the CFL’s most accomplished passing attacks, blanking Henry Burris and the Stamps and making it a real uphill battle for Darian Durant and the Riders. Banks collected a pick while Sanchez and Arakgi caused fumbles. That’s not even counting the two turnovers Sanchez had in his palms and dropped.
On top of their nose for the ball, the Lions’ secondary tackles well and has done a fine job historically of limiting yards after catch. It’ll be up to Alouettes receivers Jamel Richardson, S. J. Green, Brian Bratton and others to buck those trends by snagging balls in tight coverage and pushing the ball upfield after each catch.
The Alouettes’ receivers, particularly Richardson and Green, should enjoy a tremendous size advantage against the Lions’ defenders, and Anthony Calvillo’s ability to deliver quick, accurate passes should guarantee that opportunities for those YAC gains are there for the taking.
For the Alouettes to get off to another great start with a victory, both Richardson and Green will have to be on their games. How well they do in their duel with B.C.’s secondary will go a long way toward determining the outcome of the match-up.
I can’t think of a better way to kick off the 2011 season than by pitting the strength of the Alouettes’ passing attack against a high-quality opponent like the B.C. Lions. Except for maybe lighting up the scoreboard in the process.
