Last Saturday, the Montreal Alouettes arrived at the end of a week of rest, granted by virtue of their first position in the East division standings. That same day, the Toronto Argonauts sent a powerful message to the rest of the Canadian Football League (CFL) by scoring 58 points to get rid of the Ottawa Rouge et Noir.
Updated yesterday at 6:37 p.m.
This sparkling victory for the Argos, their fourth in five games, combined with the Alouettes’ recent troubles, plunges Marc-Antoine Dequoy back into a situation of déjà vu.
“I’m pretty sure we’re going to come out underdogs again this week against Toronto. That wouldn’t surprise me,” suggested the Quebec marauder at the end of the team’s first training session on Tuesday.
All the players watched the Eastern semi-final together, Wesley Sutton said. “They are supposed to score a lot of points,” said the cornerback. So a result like that doesn’t frighten him too much.
The Argonauts have scored a league-high 514 points this season. The Alouettes knew what to expect. Thus, the Argonauts’ offensive performance against Ottawa in no way disrupts the team’s plans or strategy at the start of the most decisive week of their season.
“It’s a reflection of their team. They’re good, they’re talented, they can play well in all zones,” said Noel Thorpe, the team’s defensive coordinator.
“I think we will be better prepared than Ottawa,” Sutton continued. We’re used to playing against this group of receivers, Chad Kelly and their offensive schemes. »
PHOTO NATHAN DENETTE, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Chad Kelly, Toronto Argonauts quarterback
Another duel
The Alouettes have often faced the Argos, but the reigning Gray Cup champions have taken some bad turns during the season.
Toronto took the measure of Montreal twice in three games. The last time the Alouettes got the better of their rivals was June 28, when starting quarterback Chad Kelly was still serving his nine-game suspension for off-field actions.
“It’s about energy and moving better,” Sutton suggested. We came up flat this season. »
At least, the Alouettes players recently watched the Eastern final played last year against these same Argonauts. A resounding 38-17 victory that catapulted the team to the Gray Cup. An emotional video session with some hints of nostalgia, but head coach Jason Maas insists on the importance of looking ahead, rather than basking in happy memories.
It’s a completely different season. We have just played 18 games. We played them three times. We will be ready. At the end of the day, it comes down to playing football. The match can be played over six games. Which team will carry them out? Our goal is for things to lean in our direction.
Jason Maas, head coach of the Alouettes
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Jason Maas, head coach of the Montreal Alouettes
In absolute terms, the experience of this clan will have its effect, believes Dequoy, even if in reality, it is an imponderable difficult to measure.
“That’s the approach,” he explains. Realistically, this week the preparation is the same. It’s the same every week. We learned that last year when it was working and we won the Gray Cup. Afterwards, it’s execution on the ground. Sometimes it’s more difficult. But one thing is certain, and which is perhaps different, is that we do not need to look for additional motivation, given that it is the playoffs. »
On the ground
The loss of running back AJ Ouellette during the off-season ultimately had no harmful consequences on the Argonauts’ ground game. Ka’Deem Carey took over and thanks to him, the Argos won on the ground.
Toronto led other teams in the league in the amount of running plays. Only the Edmonton Elks gained more yards.
Against the Alouettes this season, they amassed more than 500 yards, including 234 in the most recent matchup.
On the other hand, the Alouettes were one of only three teams in the Canadian League to have allowed more than 2,000 yards on the ground in 2024.
It’s no secret in the Montreal camp that to win, the Birds will have to limit their opponents in this precise phase of the game.
“Coach Thorpe emphasized that this week. We have what we need to slow down the race on the first down and that will allow us to do good things on second and long,” underlined Geoffrey Cantin-Arku.
Maas has no illusions either: “They are capable of hurting us in different ways. […] It will be a good challenge for us. »
The fate of the Alouettes therefore lies in the hands of the players on the defensive unit. And that too is like a feeling of déjà vu.
