Defence shines in Alouettes' opening-night victory over pesky Redblacks

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It was a very good begin by the Alouettes. They usually did what was essential on the finish to defeat a cussed Ottawa Redblacks crew that has been horrible the final three seasons.

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And maybe, when every little thing’s stated and achieved, that’s all that issues. In any case, it’s not how, however what number of. And following the primary week of CFL video games, Montreal has sole possession of first place within the East Division. Let’s simply maintain off planning the Gray Cup parade for now.

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The Als launched their 2023 common season Saturday night time with a hard-fought 19-12 victory over the Redblacks earlier than 20,865 spectators, a surprisingly excessive opening-night complete. We’re unsure what number of of them got here to really watch soccer or Our Woman Peace carry out at halftime.

Nonetheless, this was hardly an beautiful efficiency by Montreal — at the least not offensively.

New beginning quarterback Cody Fajardo did what was required, finishing 14 of 21 passes for 261 yards. He didn’t throw for any touchdowns, however opened the scoring with a one-yard run lower than three minutes into the match, capping a formidable four-play, 62-yard drive. It appeared on the time this one was going to be an evisceration. Boy, had been we mistaken.

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Fajardo additionally didn’t throw an interception, though he fumbled as soon as on a third-down gamble, when the ball gave the impression to be kicked out of his mitts.

However after the Als made it 10-0 lower than 9 minutes into the opening quarter, on the primary of David Côté’s 4 area objectives, there was little to be impressed by offensively.

“That’s what per week one (offence) would seem like and will seem like,” Fajardo stated. “We’re going to get higher from there. Once we look again at it no one’s going to speak concerning the rating. They’re simply going to see what number of wins and losses we acquired. It is a large method to get us momentum. We discovered a method to win this one.”

The Als had 12 offensive possessions after being staked to that 10-point lead. Seven of them led to punts. Whereas their time of possession totalled practically 33 minutes, Montreal produced solely 14 first downs and 264 yards’ web offence.

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“It wasn’t our greatest effort all through the entire recreation,” head coach Jason Maas acknowledged. “Nice begin … however we completed sturdy, which is essential as properly. In between, we’ve simply acquired to have a look at the movie and get higher.

“Soccer isn’t only one aspect of the ball, it’s all three phases. The opposite two phases had been glorious tonight.”

The primary order of enterprise is the offensive line. Whereas Fajardo is a wholesome 6-foot-2 and 223 kilos, he was sacked a mind-boggling six instances. He took an unlimited quantity of punishment with Saskatchewan final season, and his physique merely received’t maintain as much as this duress over an 18-game season.

Whereas it’s all the time simple to criticize offensive linemen when issues go bitter, the Redblacks used delayed blitzes to get to Fajardo and the Als’ teaching workers was unable to correctly react.

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“We’ve acquired to get again to work and ensure this doesn’t occur once more,” guard Pier Olivier Lestage stated. “Six sacks is unacceptable. The Redblacks’ line of defense is absolutely good. They’re sturdy and transfer properly. We’ve acquired to be higher. We’ve acquired to speak just a little higher.”

Rookie receiver Austin Mack, the previous Ohio State Buckeye, is certainly a keeper. He caught 4 passes for 120 yards, together with a 61 yarder on the Als’ opening drive. Canadian Kaion Julien-Grant additionally appears destined to interrupt unfastened in his fourth season. He caught two for 62 yards, together with a 51 yarder that led to a area aim.

Whereas the Als made a concerted effort to run the ball, as promised, William Stanback solely generated 42 yards off 16 carries. His lack of success left the Als in second-and-long eventualities too steadily. Stanback, nevertheless, ripped off one run for 18 yards late within the fourth quarter, when it was required, and in addition caught 4 passes for 46 yards.

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Defensively, the Als restricted Ottawa to 4 Lewis Ward area objectives. And, whereas they intercepted quarterback Nick Arbuckle — enjoying for the injured Jeremiah Masoli — thrice, they solely generated one sack. That isn’t adequate. Arbuckle accomplished 19 of 35 passes for 176 yards, whereas the Redblacks had a paltry 220 yards’ web offence.

Two of the interceptions had been made by area halfback Ciante Evans, who additionally broke up the customer’s last offensive play on a third-down gamble within the last minute of regulation.

“I believe it was a collective effort,” Evans stated. “All of us got here collectively and rallied amongst one another. Video games are going to be like that. It’s a protracted season and we’ve acquired to lean on each other in all three phases.”

The Als now proceed to their first bye week of the schedule feeling good about themselves, their subsequent recreation June 23, at Hamilton, earlier than internet hosting Winnipeg, which has received two of the final three CFL titles, the next week after which travelling to B.C. That is what’s often known as an early-season litmus check.

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