Alter: Argos Confident While Showing Respect For Als

DAVID ALTER
Argonauts.ca Columnist

David Alter is a reporter and sportscaster for Toronto’s Sports Radio THE FAN 590.  David covers the Argos and has covered football at every level dating back to 2003.

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Recognizing that the defending Grey Cup champions pose the toughest challenge yet, the Argos are confident in their ability to pick up another road win while showing their opponents respect.

One thing was clear as the Argos prepared for Sunday’s Eastern Final.  They weren’t about to engage in the war of words that was started by Als linebacker Diamond Ferri referring to Toronto QB Cleo Lemon as, “shark bait.”

“(laughs) No, that’s funny to me,” said Lemon in response to Ferri’s comment when asked if he was concerned about Montreal’s approach. 

In their first practice, the Argos spent a lot of time focusing the passing game, something which the Boatmen executed well earlier in the season in a 37-22 Week 7 win over Montreal. Lemon threw a season high three touchdown passes, averaging just over 20 yards per pass.
There has always been that thought out there that if you can get the better matchup on Montreal’s secondary then you can burn them in the air. 

“They run a lot of man (on-man) so you know what you’re going to get, do your job and win,” says Jeremaine Copeland. “The best thing about us is we have a lot of speed when it comes to our receivers versus their (Montreal’s) DB’s.  We’re going to try and take advantage of our speed and try to make big plays.  With Montreal, you’ve got to make big plays and score with them and if you can do that you can stay in the game.” 

Head Coach Jim Barker feels the Alouettes will utilize more zone in their defence this Sunday. 
“We’re just expecting them to do that and we’ll adjust to that,” says Barker.  “But they are a team that plays great man-to-man defence, and in the Grey Cup last year they played a lot of zone so we’ll be prepared for that.” 

Wild Card in Christian

RB/SB Ryan Christian is set to come off the nine-game injured reserve after he sustained a broken hand.  At practice, he took his usual reps on special teams and having a healthy Christian in lineup would not only help in terms of special teams coverage, but it will also open up the game a little more to Chad Owens who was fairly contained in the Argos’ win over Hamilton.

Having Christian alongside Owens takes away the opponent’s ability to kick the ball out of harm’s way and away from a very capable returner.  The Als learned this the hard way when Christian ran back a franchise record 110-yard kickoff return for a touchdown back in mid-August. 

“He helps out huge on offence, and on special teams he brings a certain amount of effort that you want everyone to have,” says Owens.  “He goes on a punt team and he’s taking on guys throwing his body out there and making big plays on the coverage units.  He has the ability to take returns to the house as we saw.  He’s just a guy that really wants it and we know he’s excited to be back; I’m really excited to have him back. It’s going to be a lot of fun this week.”

The Argos are a confident bunch who has respect for their opponent.  They know what Anthony Calvillo and the Montreal defence is capable of so it will be up to the Argos’ defence to continue to hold strong; the way they have over the past few weeks.  Special teams will have to click on all cylinders, the Argos will have to continue to win the turnover battle, and the Alouettes haven’t played in a meaningful game for several weeks; they will be hungry and well rested.   Logic dictates that the Argos will need more than 16 points this time around if they want to move on, and they’ll really need to get the passing game going in order to do just that.