Follow the Eastern final between the Argonauts and the Alouettes on Saturday at 3 p.m. with RDS and RDS.ca.
Pre-match Argonauts v. Larks
MONTREAL – Last year, Walter Fletcher experienced the Alouettes’ playoff run as a spectator. This time he will be a key player and he wants to put his name on the Gray Cup.
To achieve his ultimate goal, Fletcher will have to master the scenario to perfection to be more successful against the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday in the Eastern final.
Because this season, Fletcher is far from having had his best performances against the Argos. His three games against Toronto led to productions of 25 yards in 10 plays, 76 yards in 6 plays and 53 yards in 10 plays.
“It’s true, I have to take advantage of my chances against them more. I want to establish a good threat through the run and make explosive shots through the pass,” admitted Fletcher with his usual kindness.
The 27-year-old athlete relies on a relevant argument to believe in his chances of shining.
“I feel prepared through and through. The extra week was beneficial and we had even more time to study videos. It’s nice to be able to know a team to the point where you can identify what they’re going to deploy,” Fletcher explained.
His coach Jason Maas would be the first to look forward to more convincing scenes from him against Toronto.
“Above all, openings must be present. Afterwards, we will dictate the games that we will choose and he will also have to make the most of his opportunities. He must be faithful to his usual production (against other clubs),” said Maas.
Fletcher did not need additional motivation, but he was able to draw inspiration from the offensive success of the Rouge et Noir in the Eastern semi-final against Toronto.
“Ottawa’s plan was to send the ball into areas with space and I think we succeeded. When this is the case, we will have to maximize our chances,” reacted number 25 who was a reserve for William Stanback in 2023.
Fletcher, in his position as an observer, learned a lot from this road to winning the Gray Cup.
“It’s really the camaraderie and the confidence in our abilities. Coach Maas set the highest standards upon his arrival and his approach instilled the necessary energy,” he said.
That said, Fletcher expects tougher opposition from Toronto this year in the Eastern final. To beat the Argos, he recognizes that an inspired performance from quarterback Cody Fajardo will be necessary.
“Cody is used to playing his best football in the most important games. It will be up to the recipients and myself to make his life as easy as possible with attractive winnings. We will sometimes have to transform plays of five yards into gains of 20 or even 25 yards,” said the American.
Without Mustafa Johnson, Dylan Wynn must contribute more
During the off-season, the Alouettes hired Dylan Wynn, a veteran defensive lineman who had caused havoc earlier in his career.
This year, Wynn will have succeeded in proving that he had regained his health. He played in 16 games compared to 7 in 2023 and 11 in 2022.
However, Wynn did not have as resounding an impact on the field. Of course, at the heart of the defensive line, the work often goes into the shadows. However, his tackles were scattered and he did not bother the opposing quarterbacks as much.
In the absence of the excellent Mustafa Johnson, Wynn finds himself with a golden chance to shine when it matters most.
“The Argos have a very dynamic running back (Ka’Deem Carey) and a solid offensive line. It will be up to us to come out on top with great attention to detail and high intensity,” Wynn responded.
“I love the position we find ourselves in, we definitely can’t complain. Our defense made big plays throughout the season thanks to a great group effort,” he added.
In 2017, Wynn was able to win the Gray Cup with Toronto. Provided he does not fall into indiscipline, his wealth of experience could help the Alouettes.
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s going to be a big factor, but I’m going to help as much as I can. Above all, I think we are ready. We play for each other and it shows on the field,” said Wynn.
Linebacker Tyrice Beverette was among those who benefited from Wynn’s work on the defensive line. He would be happy if Wynn was rewarded with a defining play.
“You never know which player will stand out before the match. Defensive performance is collective work. Second, defensive line guys don’t always get the stats that reflect their impact. Above all, we must not rely solely on the numbers, we know their impact on the team,” mentioned Beverette.
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