ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
If there is a litmus test in the CFL for opposing teams to measure themselves against, the Montreal Alouettes would be the club to lay claim to such a title. Currently holding the league’s best record, 4-1, and leading the country in numerous offensive categories, the Montreal Alouettes are clearly a test for the Argos as they try to inch closer to their East Division rivals that sit only two games ahead of the Boatmen.
Running back Avon Cobourne sits only four yards ahead of Argos RB Jamal Robertson as the league’s rushing leader.
Montreal enters the game with an offence that seems to be firing on all cylinders, led by QB Anthony Calvillo who shows no signs of slowing down in his 16th CFL campaign. Calvillo currently leads the league in passing yards with 1,519, just ahead of Edmonton’s Ricky Ray and the Argos’ Kerry Joseph, and has the highest QB rating at 110.6.
A large portion of Calvillo’s success can be attributed to the balance of Coach Marc Trestman’s offence, which allows the veteran QB to share the ball with almost every receiver on the field as well as establish a productive ground game led by RB Avon Cobourne.
Despite their dominance early in the season, the Als have shown signs of vulnerability in the last two weeks. In Week 4, the Alouettes defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats but not in the convincing fashion that they had become accustom to in the three weeks prior. Week 5 saw them suffer their first loss of the season, falling 33-19 to the Edmonton Eskimos
Therefore, along with being a test to opposing CFL clubs, the Als face a test of their own on Friday night when they host the Argos; is their latest slip up just a blip or are teams finally figuring out how to compete with the often dominant squad?
Players to Watch:
QB Anthony Calvillo
RB Avon Cobourne
WR Jamel Richardson
WR Kerry Watkins
WR Ben Cahoon
DE John Bowman
CB Mark Estelle
Offensive Line
Story Lines:
How will the Als bounce back after suffering their first loss of 2009?
How will the Als potent offence match up against an Argos’ defence that is top three in the league in 18 defensive categories?
Can Calvillo continue to get production out of all of his receivers?