Montreal Alouettes
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.cfl.ca/games/6280/montreal-alouettes-vs-ottawa-redblacks/#preview
Montreal Alouettes
Can Montreal get revenge and secure that home playoff game?
Can Ottawa keep their momentum going under Dyce and keep their playoff hopes alive?
The first game this week is a rematch from Thanksgiving on Monday as the dreadful Ottawa Redblacks look to end their season on a high note in which preventing the Montreal Alouettes to potentially winning the east division would help the team in the nationâs capital in the late stages of the year. Of course one of many components of the reason why the Redblacks having essentially an identical dismal season to last year amid having a bolstered roster is at the quarterback position. Both Nick Arbuckle and Caleb Evans have at times better success throwing the ball to the opposing teams than their own receivers in which when even Jeremiah Masoli was playing prior to his injury those game changing plays have cause them dearly. Amid the fact the Montreal Alouettes already secured a home playoff game, as they will host the east division semi-finals, they are still eying top spot of the division which would automatically have them hosting the east division final and have a bye in the semis. Amid Trevor Harris and Dominique Davis not being the elite quarterbacks in the CFL, they have done the job this season. In addition, with having Geno Lewis making those highlight reel catches and William Stanback returning from injury, the French Canadian based team aims not only for the win but also the division title.
On crutches doesnât bode well for seeing him again this year. That sucks, he can be electric.
Montreal Injury Report
Player Name | Position | Injury | WED | Game Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chris Schleuger | OL | Healthy Scratch | Full | â |
Philippe Gagnon | OL | Healthy Scratch | Full | â |
Michael Wakefield | DL | Healthy Scratch | Full | â |
Reggie White Jr. | WR | Knee | DNP | Out |
Sean Jamieson | OL | Knee | DNP | Out |
Ottawa Injury Report
Player Name | Position | Injury | WED | Game Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
RJ Harris | WR | Healthy Scratch | Full | â |
William Powell | RB | Shoulder | DNP | Out |
Tyron Vrede | LB | Elbow | Full | â |
Ryan Davis | WR | Healthy Scratch | Full | â |
DeVonte Dedmon | WR | Quadricep | DNP | Out |
Patrick Levels | DB | Ankle | DNP | Out |
Randy Richards | OL | Calf | Full | â |
Jaelon Acklin | WR | Head/Shoulder | DNP | Out |
Praise Martin-Oguike | DL | Ankle | DNP | Out |
Lorenzo Mauldin | DL | Shoulder | Full | â |
Dino Boyd | OL | Shoulder | DNP | Out |
Montreal Alouettes
Position | Player | Injury | Status |
---|---|---|---|
WR | Reggie White Jr. | Knee | Out |
OL | Chris Schleuger | Healthy Scratch | Out |
OL | Philippe Gagnon | Knee | In |
OL | Sean Jamieson | Knee | Out |
DL | Michael Wakefield | Healthy Scratch | Out |
Ottawa Redblacks
Position | Player | Injury | Status |
---|---|---|---|
RB | William Powell | Shoulder | Out |
WR | RJ Harris | Hip | Out |
WR | Ryan Davis | Healthy Scratch | In |
WR | DeVonte Dedmon | Quadricep | Out |
WR | Jaelon Acklin | Head/Shoulder | Out |
OL | Randy Richards | Calf | In |
OL | Dino Boyd | Shoulder | Out |
DL | Praise Martin-Oguike | Ankle | Out |
DL | Lorenzo Mauldin | Shoulder | In |
LB | Tyron Vrede | Elbow | In |
DB | Patrick Levels | Ankle | Out |
Team Notes for Week #19 â Game #79 Ottawa vs MontrĂ©al:
Ottawa Staying in Contention:
Ottawa's win in Montréal last week kept their chances alive and they are now just two wins (4-11) back of Saskatchewan (6-10) who holds the 3rd East Division playoff position to this point. A second straight victory over Montréal would put the REDBLACKS just one back and keep real even their long-shot to finish in 2nd. Either way in Week #19, they will retain playoff possibilities, win or lose to the Alouettes.
Ottawa Needs a Sweep:
Last week, the REDBLACKS won the first game of this back-to-back set with the Alouettes. These sets have been RARE between Montréal and Ottawa with only 6 across 42 years. Ottawa has not swept Montréal in 42 years back to August 12-18, 1980 - here is a history since then:
Year Dates Results Year Dates Results
2022 Oct 10-Oct 14 Ottawa won game #1
2021 Oct 11-Oct 16 Montréal sweep
2002 Oct 26-Nov 3 Split
1996 Oct 14-Oct 19 Montréal sweep
1980 Oct 05-Oct 12 Split
1980 Aug 12-Aug 18 Ottawa sweep
Ottawa Needs a Home Victory:
The REDBLACKS are 4-4 on the road in 2022 but 0-7 at TD Place. They have lost their last 10 home games and are just 1-21 dating back to July 2019. A win would also secure the 2022 series tie-breaker over Montréal.
Montréal Staying in Contention:
The Alouettes' loss last week means they remain one win away from clinching 2nd place in the East and a home playoff game. A win in Ottawa this week and a sweep of their two final games with Toronto would mean a first place finish for Montréal.
2022 QB-Receiver Connections:
Last week Eugene Lewis was #2 among all CFL receivers with a season-high 9 catches. Lewis now leads the CFL with 82 receptions and with Trevor Harris have connected a CFL-high 70 times for 981 yards and 9 TDs. Lewis now has an active 39-game reception streak.
QB Receiver Team Rec Yards TD
T.Harris E.Lewis MTL 70 981 9
M.Bethel-Thompson K.Gittens Jr. TOR 70 920 4
M.Bethel-Thompson M.Ambles TOR 65 687 4
Z.Collaros D.Schoen WPG 61 1,183 12
Ottawa & Montréal 29 Rushing TDs:
The REDBLACKS and Alouettes have a combined 29 TD runs in 2022. Of the 29 rushing scores, 27 have been by their QBs in goal line situations. Caleb Evans has set an Ottawa record with 12 rushing TDs while Dominique Davis has 11 for the Als, one short of Vernon Adams Jr.'s club record of 12 (2019).
Bob Dyce 4-6:
Began his second tenure as a CFL head coach the same as his first - with a win in his first game leading his club. He is one of just two coaches to win TWO in-season debuts. The only other to do so was Jim Popp as a replacement in 2006 and 2015. Dyce's record is now 4-6 .400 in 10 games as a head coach.
Nick Arbuckle:
Has gone over 6,000 career passing yards in 2022 and this game will mark his 21st career start (9-11, 2-1 v MTL). Last week he completed a career-high 87.5% of his passes (28-of-32). His depth breakdown in last week's game is notable with so much emphasis on short throws (27 of 32 attempts):
Range Att Com % Yds Int TD
0 to 9 yds depth 27 24 88.9 138 0 0
10 to 19 yds depth 3 3 100.0 51 0 0
20+ yards depth 2 1 50.0 40 0 0
Game Total 32 28 87.5 229 0 0
Trevor Harris #20:
Will be making his 95th career start (47-45-2) and he is 6-4 all-time vs Ottawa. Harris ranks #20 all-time with 27,956 yards and needs 142 more to pass Kerry Joseph for #19. He is 8-7 in 15 starts for Montréal.
Beverette Doing It All:
Tyrice Beverette had 5 defensive tackles, 3 more on special teams, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a tackle for loss last week. He is now #2 on the Als with 76 total defensive plays.
Hergy Mayala:
Had a season-high 5 catches on 5 targets last week for 60 yards, his second-best output in 2022.
Joseph Zema:
Is having an excellent season and ranks #3 in the CFL at 47.7 yards per punt. He has 8 punts where the opposition has had to start inside their own 10-yard line.
Bounce back on 2nd down to 58%:
Ottawa converted on 58% of their 2nd down chances last week. That followed their previous game where they were held to just 17% by BC.
Considering how bad theyâve been at home, theyâre doing quite well at the gate. I wonder how much better turnout would be with even a .500 home record.
Thatâs a lot of potential games vs Toronto in the next month.
Iâm not a big of this trend. It seems to me weâre seeing more and more short-yardage QB sneak TDs and fewer and fewer passing TDs and/or RB power run TDs.
My guess is itâs because of more PI calls in the endzone creating first and goals, but Iâm not positive about that.
Ottawa starts with a nice chunk play - that leads to a touchdown.
Game starting right away so bumping this thread ahead of the duplicate.
Big gaffe by Arbuckle evens the score.
Well that made up for the poor play previously...
Red Blacks moving the ball reasonably well so far. That was a nice scoring drive.
Pickett isn't getting the message. Two fines this week and we don't even get out of the first quarter without another one......