Nov
Calvillo in the zone
Courtesy Montreal Gazette:
Marcel Bellefeuille, Alouettes offensive co-ordinator until last season, said Montreal is the best team in the East Division.
And, the fact the Als are playing a Western team, Edmonton, in Saturday’s division final hasn’t altered his feeling.
“They have a good, veteran presence,” said Bellefeuille, recently named the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ head coach after replacing the fired Charlie Taaffe on an interim basis. “They’re executing at a high level, playing fast and smart.”
Bellefeuille, who spent two seasons with the Als, said he puts no stock in Montreal’s last two games – losses that came long after the team clinched first place in the division. He said the team generally played well after defeats.
“People forget this team is only two years removed from being in the Grey Cup,” he said. “They’re not a young team on the rise … a team that’s re-tooling.”
With the Als, Bellefeuille worked closely with quarterback Anthony Calvillo. He said he has no qualms with head coach Marc Trestman’s decision to rest Calvillo in the season finale.
“I think it’s good for A.C. to be rested, to have a chance to heal his wounds,” Bellefeuille said. “The fact they’re playing the same team twice in a row gives him a great opportunity to study film. To see how he played against them compared to Marcus Brady.”
Bellefeuille isn’t disparaging the Esks, but said the Als are tough to beat at home, especially coming off a bye week. Edmonton, in turn, is forced to play two consecutive road games.
He said Edmonton will have to score plenty of points to compete. The Ticats produced 44 points last month in defeating Montreal at Ivor Wynne Stadium.
“But look. Any time you’re playing a well-coached team like Edmonton, with Ricky Ray, you have a chance to win every game,” he said.
Winnipeg head coach Doug Berry, whose team was eliminated last weekend by the Esks, also said Calvillo’s three-week layoff won’t hurt. Berry also is a former Als offensive co-ordinator who worked closely with Calvillo.
“He’s enough of a veteran that he won’t need much of a warmup,” Berry said. “I think he’ll have a good day. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t. Anthony has been in a zone all year.”
