Thoughts on what’s not firing on all cylinders for Montreal with three games remaining in the regular season.
Is the sky falling in on the Alouettes or are we overreacting?
The defending Grey Cup champions began the season winning five games. Then, they suffered a loss against Toronto — arguably attributable to the hamstring injury suffered by starting quarterback Cody Fajardo at the end of the first quarter — only to go on another five-game winning streak.
Montreal was the first team to qualify for the playoffs and, with an 11-3-1 record, it has clinched first place in the East Division. Win the division final at Molson Stadium on Nov. 9 against either Ottawa or Toronto and the Alouettes will advance to the CFL championship game eight days later.
It would seem like the perfect scenario and one the Argonauts (16-2) believed they had achieved last season — until Montreal came to BMO Field and obliterated Toronto.
With the Als on their third, and final, bye week of the regular season, here are some idle thoughts following an idle week.
The Alouettes already have won as many games as they did in 2023. However, a year ago at this time, Montreal was in the midst of an eight-game winning streak, including playoffs. While none of those regular-season victories came against teams with a winning record, the Als were the CFL’s hottest club going into the playoffs. They say the CFL season doesn’t begin until after Labour Day. Montreal’s record since then is 1-2-1, and they were fortunate to garner that tie at Calgary after overcoming an early 10-0 deficit.
With three games remaining — at home against Ottawa and Winnipeg and a trip to B.C. on five days’ rest — the Alouettes might not have much momentum entering the playoffs. And the players might be sluggish following an opening-round playoff bye. The Als are 11-3-1, but it’s not a sexy-looking record at this time. Conversely, the Blue Bombers are 9-6, but on a seven-game winning streak. That’s sexy.
The Alouettes must establish the run. With 1,222 rushing yards and 240 attempts, Montreal is last in the CFL. With 84 rushing first downs, it sits eighth. But its 5.1-yard average is in the middle of the pack. CFL teams must be able to run, especially come November, when the weather turns cold and nasty. When Montreal runs on first down, they’re frequently faced with second-and-long.
What’s going on with the offensive line? The Als have allowed 33 sacks, tied with Ottawa for the sixth-highest total. And yet the group hasn’t considerably changed since last season, other than Josh Donovan replacing the injured Jamar McGloster at right tackle. The team allowed 61 sacks last season, so it has drastically diminished that total. But they don’t seem to be opening holes for tailback Walter Fletcher. And it appears Fajardo is frequently running for his life.
The Alouettes have been crippled by repeated slow starts. Why? That remains a mystery. From one first down and 25 total offensive yards in the first quarter against Toronto on Sept. 28; one first down and 20 yards’ offence against Ottawa; the 10-point deficit and two first downs against Calgary, two first downs and a 10-0 deficit against B.C. … this keeps occurring. The Als’ average time of possession is 28:38 — eighth in a nine-team league.
Montreal’s defence is littered with playmakers. From linebackers Darnell Sankey, Tyrice Beverette and rookie Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, defensive-tackle Mustafa Johnson, defensive backs Dionté Ruffin and Wesley Sutton, and safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy, the Alouettes are loaded. So why can’t they stop the run and why don’t they get to quarterbacks more frequently?
And, with 29 sacks, the Alouettes sit sixth in the CFL. The loss of suspended rush-end Shawn Lemon, both on and off the field, is conspicuous. On the other hand, the possibility of changing a game with a turnover still exists. The Als have intercepted 16 passes (third-highest) along with a league-leading 10 fumble recoveries.