Our Alouettes landed in Argonaut territory earlier today in anticipation of their Saturday night match-up at BMO Field. You know as well as we do that this game could have an enormous impact on the team’s season. The guys have their backs up against the wall. They need a W. Focus, discipline, perseverance, perfect execution… definitely. But the watchword this week, as veteran Stefan Logan said, is: win.
Here’s a lookahead at what could help the team regain some traction.
Strong support for Darian Durant
Will Ken Miller’s arrival ignite the offence? Kavis Reed’s strategy seems clear: give Darian Durant the means to succeed. The recent hiring of Miller as a consultant will surely have a positive effect on the quarterback as it’s giving him the opportunity to reconnect with a valued mentor. When the leader is confident, the team follows suit. The chemistry and respect between Miller and Durant could prove to be a valuable asset for the entire team. After all, the Miller-Durant tandem took part in three Grey Cup finals and brought the trophy home to Saskatchewan in 2007.
More good news: Durant will start the game against Toronto behind an offensive line reinforced by the return of Philip Blake. Number 68 was part of the group that, up until late-July, had given up the fewest sacks in the league. His physicality should not only help when going up against the powerful Toronto defence – including Victor Butler, Marcus Ball and Matt Black, who shone last week when the Argos defeated Edmonton – but also allow the ground game to get back on track.
Keep in mind that before Blake’s absence and his own injury, running back Tyrell Sutton was in the hunt for leading the CFL in rushing yardage. Still today, his desire to reach the top and his combativeness make him one of the key components of the offence. In fact, it was Sutty’s 43-yard dash that led to the Alouettes only touchdown against the Ottawa REDBLACKS last week.
Complementary football
Even though the season has not gone as we hoped it would thus far, conceding with six games still remaining on the schedule is completely out of the question. Success on Saturday and the rest of the season relies upon much more than game strategies and the talent-level of the players on the field. To overcome adversity takes guts and it takes men who are willing to sacrifice for one another.
Linebackers coach Greg Quick nicely summarized this concept: “It might be an overused phrase in modern day football,” he said, “but we must play complementary football. The defence is like the pitcher in baseball; it delivers the ball to the offence. So we need to give them the ball many times and let them hit it out.” No doubt you’re thinking that you’ve heard it all before – the defence complements the offence, the offence complements special teams and so on – but this concept remains at the heart of football and it’s high-time it’s put into practice.
If Marc Trestman remains true to form, he’ll likely want to employ deep passing plays (however, after James Wilder’s performance against the Eskimos, we won’t be surprised if Trestman also opts to exploit his running back to the max). Montreal’s defence needs to quickly get into Ricky Ray’s face to give the offence a short field. We’ll be counting on the more intense members of the defence, namely Kyries Hebert and Jonathon Mincy, to create turnovers and reverse the current trend regarding time of possession.
After a disappointing season series against their main East Division rival the Ottawa REDBLACKS, our Alouettes are determined to come out on top against Jim Popp’s Argonauts. Their will to succeed will be put to the test on Saturday, and it will be that same desire that will enable the team to rise from its ashes.
Want to know how this all plays out? Follow the team on TSN
or on CJAD starting at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.
