Alouettes vow to not take last-place Edmonton calmly

The Alouettes have feasted on the CFL’s weak sisters this season, which maybe makes their 9-7 document deceptive, however they know wounded groups will be probably the most harmful.

The Edmonton Elks (4-12) have been eradicated from playoff rivalry, however stay a menace when the groups meet Saturday afternoon (4 p.m., TSN1, TSN5, RDS, CJAD Radio-800, 98.5 FM) at Commonwealth Stadium. After beginning the season with 9 straight defeats, Edmonton has gone 4-3 regardless of a present two-game dropping streak.

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An Alouettes victory would safe second place within the East Division and a house semifinal playoff date towards Hamilton on Nov. 4.

“Enjoying towards somebody with quote-unquote nothing to lose are often actually good video games as a result of they’re throwing every little thing they’ll,” stated new middle-linebacker Darnell Sankey, who joined Montreal in mid-September. “I take each sport the identical means and by no means overlook an opponent. They may not be within the playoffs, however they’re nonetheless a fantastic group. We are able to’t underestimate them. We’ll be able to go.”

Montreal has received its final three video games, beating Calgary and Ottawa twice. Certainly, the Alouettes are undefeated in 9 video games towards groups with .500 or dropping information, however have misplaced all seven matches towards Toronto, Winnipeg and B.C.

After defeating the Redblacks final Monday, the Alouettes needed to put together for his or her subsequent opponent on a brief week and with just one follow day, on Thursday, mixed with a prolonged cross-country flight on Friday. But it surely’s not the primary time such obstacles have been positioned in entrance of head coach Jason Maas. He gave the gamers Tuesday and Wednesday off.

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“Focus is the large key,” he stated. “Relaxation and focus is what we talked about. Our key to success is we would like our guys to be excited daily to come back into the constructing. That’s why we give them a lot break day.

“We’re approaching the sport like every other, placing our greatest guys on the market to play and win. We don’t give attention to the sport. We give attention to the method, to try to get higher. That doesn’t change, whether or not we’re within the playoffs or not.”

Whereas the Elks’ season will as soon as once more finish in disappointment, their fortunes modified when Canadian Tre Ford turned the beginning quarterback. In 14 video games, Ford has handed for 1,565 yards and 10 touchdowns whereas throwing six interceptions. He has accomplished 68.6 per cent of his makes an attempt.

But it surely’s on the bottom the place the 6-foot-1, 185-pound native of Niagara Falls, Ont., is best. Ford has gained 561 yards on 59 carries (9.5-yard common) whereas scoring three touchdowns. He has supplied Edmonton with a glimmer of hope for the longer term.

“I feel he has finished an amazing job getting his first actual shot at it,” Maas stated. “He’s athletic and spectacular and makes good selections. He’s harmful, clearly, with the ball in his palms. He’s throwing it nicely and is correct. He’s making quite a lot of performs. Clearly, he has received video games as nicely.”

The Alouettes have made no roster modifications for the sport. Meaning world participant Jose Maltos stays the kicker for the injured David Côté, whereas tailback Walter Fletcher continues to exchange William Stanback. Maltos made two of 4 area objectives towards the Redblacks, lacking from 48 and 49 yards.

Montreal has their third and ultimate bye week within the schedule following the sport, which means Maas, who lives within the Edmonton suburb of Sherwood Park, can sleep in his personal mattress and earn a living from home subsequent week for the primary time since April.

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