Alouettes head coach Maas expects Fajardo and Stanback to face Riders Friday

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With one other quick week beckoning — the Alouettes will play their second consecutive sport on solely six days relaxation — Alouettes head coach Jason Maas elected to relaxation some veterans Tuesday, when his group returned to the sector for a prolonged walkthrough session.

And when a kind of gamers is the beginning quarterback, tongues begin to wag, particularly after it was evident Cody Fajardo took successful to his left shoulder/pectoral space in opposition to Hamilton final Saturday however continued taking part in.

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Whereas Fajardo remained within the dressing room Tuesday, tailback William Stanback, who produced his first 100-yard sport of the season in opposition to the Ticats, was on the sector at Olympic Park, albeit on the sideline, doing a little working and speaking to a group athletic therapist.

After the session, Maas assured the media each gamers would gown Friday evening, when the Als host Saskatchewan. Montreal will likely be in search of a season-high third consecutive victory.

“I’m not going to reveal something greater than I must, but when I used to be a betting man I’d guess on Cody taking part in,” Maas mentioned. “Once more, after a brief week, our philosophy is it’s form of a psychological day for us. We’re going to get off our ft as a lot as doable. If they’ve something lingering in any respect or don’t really feel fairly proper, we all know we’re going to compete (Wednesday) in observe. We observe as exhausting as anyone does, however we’re solely going to do it as soon as this week due to a brief week.”

“Anyone that feels something lingering, we’re going to carry them out after they wish to be held out.”

Stanback had a breakout 2021 season and, regardless of being restricted to 12 video games, rushed for a league-leading 1,176 yards, together with 203 yards in opposition to Toronto. However he suffered a fractured ankle in final season’s opening sport and didn’t return till October.

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Stanback has been inconsistent up to now this yr — very like Montreal’s offence — however gained 106 yards on 19 carries in opposition to the Ticats, a group that historically has been profitable stopping him.

“Clearly I’m slightly drained,” Stanback admitted. “It’s attending to that point of the season. He (Maas) instructed me to calm down and take it straightforward and simply stretch on the sideline and perform a little bit of labor and hold the blood flowing.

“I’ll be nice on Friday, belief me.”

Nonetheless, tailbacks continuously are measured by 100-yard video games and it took Stanback seven to succeed in the usual. After all, there have been video games when he wasn’t used sufficient — the Als deserted the run sport when trailing — or the offensive line was struggling to guard Fajardo, not to mention open holes for Stanback. Stanback additionally encountered some safety difficulties in entrance of Fajardo.

“Typically my manufacturing wasn’t as nice,” Stanback admitted. “I suppose you can say the carries as properly. All that issues is I lastly bought that style of 100 yards. I’m going to be striving and in search of that each week. The offence is aware of we are able to run the ball rather well. We simply have to purchase into no matter play’s referred to as and should run it exhausting.

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“A victory got here with it so it tastes like a bunch of success.”

In different information, offensive-tackle Landon Rice, who had been on the six-game injured checklist however missed solely two video games, practised with the starters and could possibly be activated in opposition to the Roughriders.

Montreal has allowed 29 sacks this season — solely Ottawa has surrendered extra — however has restricted the harm since import Jamar McGloster changed Rice at right-tackle. Fajardo has been sacked solely thrice within the final two video games.

“It’s not one man,” Maas mentioned. “I can guarantee you that. There’s numerous issues we’ve gotten higher at. Clearly McGloster did his half in that. After I take a look at the primary 5 weeks of our season … it wasn’t all on one man. The issues we had been having had been (based mostly on lack of) communication, some bodily drops by the quarterback. It’s a mixture of issues and I believe we’ve gotten higher in any respect of them.”

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