Tyrell Sutton (20) of the Montreal Alouettes and Bear Woods (48) of the Toronto Argonauts during the game at BMO Field in Toronto, ON, Saturday, August 19, 2017. (Photo: Johany Jutras)
The Toronto Argonauts are coming off much needed back-to-back wins. They were both by one point, but the four points has propelled the Argos out of the struggle for worst and back into playoff contention.
MAKE SURE HE GOES TO THE RIGHT LOCKER ROOM
The word ‘legend’ is thrown around a lot, but in Montreal that’s a perfect description of Argonauts Quarterbacks Coach Anthony Calvillo. Friday night the former Alouettes QB returns to face his former team for the first time in over two decades.
In preparing the media game notes for this week’s game, Argonauts.ca thought it would be interesting to find out what happened the last time Calvillo faced the Alouettes in Montreal.
A little digging on the interweb revealed that the Hall of Famer last appeared as an opponent on August 16, 1997. He was quarterbacking the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and was pulled early in the game with Ricky Foggie taking over. It was the first game for Hamilton interim Head Coach Urban Bowman, who was replacing Don Sutherin.
Montreal won the game 36-26.
Looking to confirm those details, and secretly hoping to find out a little more, an email was sent to CFL stats guru Steve Daniel. Within about ten minutes there was a reply and it underscored why he is the king of stats.
The note relayed that Calvillo started for the Ticats and played the first five series. He was 2/5 for 41 yards with an interception. Four of the five series resulted in turnovers, with the QB fumbling it away three times himself.
Hamilton committed seven turnovers on the day.
In the second half Calvillo gave the fans in Montreal a sign of what they’d enjoy for themselves beginning the next season. He dismantled the Alouettes in the final 30 minutes, going 21/34 for an amazing 294 yards. He’s toss a pair of second-half TD passes.
One would hope the Alouettes show him on their video board during the game as the crowd reaction could be pretty special. He sure was an amazing player.
LEARNING FROM A LEGEND
When linebacker Akeem Jordan joined the Argos almost a year ago, it not only added a sure tackler to the lineup, but it brought a boatload of experience.
Jordan played an even 100 games in the NFL, the first 82 with the Philadelphia Eagles. It was there that he played with one of the sport’s highest-profile players and recent inductee to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Brian Dawkins.
The safety had a reputation of not only being an outstanding player, but also of being a leader. He was quiet off the field, but extremely vocal on game day.
What was it like for an undrafted player to suddenly find himself on the field with a player he grew up watching?
“As a younger player I think I was more star struck to be beside him,” Jordan told Argonauts.ca. “After being out there with him and getting comfortable playing with him it was easy, it made it easier to be out there playing.”
For a young player, lining up beside such a respected veteran presented an incredible learning opportunity. When Dawkins spoke, Jordan listened.
“I guess you could say he was a coach on the field,” said the Virginia native. “He’d take charge, he was vocal about everything, anything he knows. It really helped a lot, it helped me as a player, just like here with Cash ( Cassius Vaughn).”
What was the main thing the student learned from the coach?
“One thing I took from him, especially playing beside him, is just relax and play ball,” said Jordan. “Just let the game become the game.”
Dawkins was a great teacher, while Jordan was obviously a good student. He’s now in his tenth season of pro football.
BEAR SIGHTING
Friday night will mark the season debut of middle linebacker Bear Woods. He’s missed the first part of the season due to off-season back surgery.
There was a chance that he would return in time for last week’s game, but he hurt himself in practice. Woods intercepted a pass, but fell to the ground, breaking his hand in the process.
It’s not unusual to see a player with a hand or wrist injury tape up the appendage, or wear a cast, essentially turning the hand into a fingerless club.
Woods is best known as a sure tackler. During a casual conversation at the facility this week Argonauts.ca asked him how much of a detriment is to not be able to use his one hand.
He matter-of-factly replied that it actually tends to make a player a better tackler. The theory is simple, a defender can’t just grab for an opponent and make a hand tackle, it forces him to be more technically prepared and get into position use more than just a hand.
Bear Woods had 126 tackles in 2016, the sixth-highest single-season total since the league started recording the stat in 1987. Listening to a player of his ability talk about the finer points of his craft made for an interesting few minutes.
VIVE MONTREAL
It’s tough to see the Alouettes playing in front of empty seats these days. Things are cyclical, and there’s little doubt the fans will return when the Als have more success in the standings, but for years Molson Stadium was the place to watch a CFL game.
The Als sold out the building for over 100-consecutive games and rolled out a team that just kept winning. Between 2000-2010 Jim Popp’s club was in the Grey Cup a staggering eight times.
The building was loud. The stadium on the mountain was a place to party. If you were to walk down the stairs from the press box to the field after a game it was startling how many adult beverages were consumed over the course of the afternoon or evening.
Calvillo, Pringle, Richardson, Green, Cahoooooooooooooon. The players were fantastic on the field and wildly popular with the fan base.
It was just a fun place to go and watch a game. Hopefully, the building rocks again, and sooner rather than later.