Aug
Als offence must be better
Courtesy Montreal Gazette:
The Alouettes have finally lost a game. Like taxes and death, this was inevitable. It was going to happen sooner or later.
But now, what will be determined in the coming weeks and games, was whether this 33-19 humbling defeat administered by Edmonton on Thursday was just one of those things or whether the Eskimos exposed some deficiencies in Montreal’s game that will be exploited by other teams.
“I’ve played over in Montreal. We went on some streaks where we won six games – and then lost four or five,” said Eskimos defensive-tackle Dario Romero, who spent 2006 and ’07 with the Als. “As the season goes on, you get more film on a team and can prepare better.
“Football isn’t a magic show we put on,” Romero added. “It’s a simple game of competition. You have to beat the guy in front. And we did it all across the board.”
The Eskimos beat the Als at the line of scrimmage and virtually everywhere else on the field. Montreal had allowed only one quarterback sack this season – the Eskimos’ Eric Taylor the recipient of that honour in the second game – yet Romero registered two in the same game on Thursday.
Not an alarming total by any means, but something to take note of.
Of far more importance, on the other hand, was the Eskimos became the first team to take quarterback Anthony Calvillo out of his rhythm. Disrupt the veteran’s timing, and he’ll struggle.
Calvillo completed 28 of 34 passes, which looks good on paper, surpassing 60,000
career yards on Montreal’s opening series. But those 28 completions generated only 236 yards. In other words, the Als’offence had to nickel and dime its way downfield, without big plays. Do this enough, and mistakes will occur. Or drives will simply end.
Calvillo went vertical only twice, completing 20-yard passes to Ben Cahoon and Kerry Watkins. Jamel Richardson, the Als’ big-play threat, didn’t catch a pass until late in the second quarter.
There were numerous times when the Als were faced with second and short – and failed to generate a first down. Scrimmaging from their five-yard line in the second quarter, Calvillo passed nine yards to Cahoon. Avon Cobourne was then stopped for no gain, forcing Damon Duval to concede a safety.
On the Als’ opening possession of the second half, they had second-and-three from their 41. Again Cobourne was held to no gain.
Edmonton did a superb job of tackling. Just before halftime, a six-yard pass to Watkins on first down moved the ball to the Eskimos’ 15. Another pass to Watkins generated a yard and Duval kicked a 21-yard field goal.
It was an offence that showed no imagination all night, an offence that continues to leave points on the field, unable to complete drives. A week before, against Hamilton, Calvillo passed for more than 400 yards, yet the Als scored a modest 21 points and two touchdowns. They’ve been held to three touchdowns in two games. That’s not good enough.
“The offence has got to do a better job,” Calvillo admitted. “We’re not holding up our end, and it cost us. The defence isn’t going to bail us out every week.”
“We didn’t break tackles … and made nothing significant happen after the catch,” Cahoon said. “We played into their hands, with short passing plays. We have a lot more dimensions to our offence than we showed.
“I can’t explain it, frankly.”
Defensively, the Als were exposed and allowed numerous long gains, including a
48-yard touchdown pass to Fred Stamps after Montreal incredibly pulled to within seven points in the fourth quarter. Maurice Mann caught a 36 yarder and Kamau Peterson had a 28-yard gain. Even Canadian Andrew Nowacki caught a 29-yard pass. And Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray was flawless, completing 23 of 27 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns.
The Als created two turnovers defensively – an interception and fumble recovery – but failed to capitalize, scoring only three points. They failed to sack Ray.
“We fought and tried to get there. We were just a step too late,” rush-end Anwar Stewart said. “It’s on us, especially the defensive line. This should serve as a reality check. We were flatter than a pancake.”
And that should be the biggest concern. A team that was 4-0 showed little emotion or intensity. The Als were beaten by a team that played only last Saturday, while head coach Marc Trestman and his staff had a week to prepare.
“You’d think we’d be all excited,” Stewart said. “This game’s about emotion, and we didn’t match Edmonton’s. We weren’t an aggressive defence.”
The Als have completed the toughest stretch of their schedule in good shape. Now’s the time to begin pulling away from their East Division competitors, starting Friday, when they entertain a Toronto team that’s now without its best offensive weapon – Arland Bruce.
The Als were impressive in July. But now we’ll see what they’re made of. And whether they have any backbone.
