This Saturday, September 28 at 10pm EST, our Alouettes are facing the BC Lions at BC Place… and we all know how much success we’ve had in that stadium over the years. Our team’s last win on the West Coast was on August 20, 2015, when Tyrell Sutton rushed for 111 yards and Rakeem Cato was playing under centre.
This week, our Als will attempt to reverse the trend again as they battle it out with a Lions team that really hasn’t risen to the expectations so far this season.
Here are three things that could help us get the win, in addition to our unwavering team spirit.
1-Our Dynamic Duo of RBs
The running game was pretty much non-existent last week against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as the backs were mainly focused on protection. With the return of Jeremiah Johnson supporting Will Stanback, we can hope it will have a bigger impact this weekend. While Will is known for his powerful bursts, Jeremiah has a little more scat to his game. The combination opens up a variety of possibilities. Plus, Jeremiah should be able to read his opponent fairly well. Having spent three seasons in BC, the running back chose to move his family to the East Coast to reunite with Khari Jones. Let’s just say he doesn’t regret his decision. If Tyrell Sutton was able to run all over the Lions defence in 2015, both our RBs have the potential to cause damage once again. The challenge shouldn’t, however, be taken lightly as the Lions’ defence is number two in the CFL for yards allowed per carry.
Jeremiah will also play a role on kickoff returns.
2-Matt Shiltz under centre
Immediately after the one-game suspension of Vernon Adams Jr, our Head Coach Khari Jones announced without any hesitation that Matt Shiltz would be our starting quarterback in Vancouver.
“His pocket presence has improved. I think he might have been a little quick to get out of it sometimes. Now, he’s staying in there, trusting himself and trusting the reads. That comes with time and practice. He sees things more and more and has gotten more comfortable with what we’re doing. It will be fun to see.”
That’s what you call trust. Plus, the Lions won’t have as much tape on Matt… BC’s Head Coach Devone Claybrooks said it himself: the Lions’ record against backup quarterbacks this year hasn’t been glorious, to say the least. If the opposing defence manages to contain the running game effectively, Matt will be able to rely on his clutch receivers. Quan Bray, among others, could pose a threat on deep plays.
3-Busy DBs
Despite the Lions’ disappointing results, Mike Reilly is still ranked second in the league for most passing yards. He’s also the only starting quarterback who has managed to stay injury-free so far this season, even with the worst offensive line in the circuit. Go figure. With receivers like Duron Carter and Bryan Burnham, who’s first in receiving yards, the Lions have enough weapons on offence. Our defensive backs should see lots of action! Watch out for Boseko Lokombo’s hits, they’ve been pretty fun to watch. One change to flag on the secondary: with Ciante Evans being out, Ryan Carter is moving to the cornerback position and Jarnor Jones comes in as a starter for the first time.
Our Alouettes will take on the BC Lions this Saturday, September 28 at 10pm, and will be back at home on Saturday, October 5 to face the Calgary Stampeders.
