Since we are all so critical of Marshall (me included) lets see how the experts on this site would beat Montreal.
I am of the opinion the only way to beat Montreal is to pressure Calvillo. In every playoff game they have lost he has been hurried or even knocked out of the game. Kavis needs to send as many players as he can and pray we get some kind coverage. The three-man rush in any situation will be our downfall. On the other side of the ball Montreal's defense is all pressure so our quick play offense may actually work providing we stay out of second and long. If Holmes is ready I would also like to see him and Josh in the same back field.
I am an Als fun. Hamilton can beat Montreal if Hamilton gets their Air offnese under way. You have an excellent QB et got good players compared to last year. Terry Vaughn had a slow start in Montreal too but when CAlvillo started to connect with him, Terry started gaining good yards.
Hamilton will be back in about 3 games.
About Calvillo choking under pressure, he usually chokes not becasue of defense pressure but because of playoff pressure.
Offensive strategy: the offense must find more time for Maas to go deep. The running game needs to allow for a play-action game to develop. If the O-line is not providing that, Maas will have go on more designed rollouts to buy time. We need a deep threat to stretch the D and allow the running game with Ranek more space to operate. Flick, Ralph, Yeast and Quinnie should be bomb threats throughout the night. A few 2-and-outs* are fine if the net effect is to get the DBs of Montreal on their heels all night.
Defensive strategy: blitzing must be more varied -- less of a "we're sending the house" 7-9 on the line of scrimmage approach. Zone blitzes, delayed DB and safety blitzing, and more STUNTING along the d-line has to part of the mix. No 9-back vanilla zones please, or AC will burn us again...we need combination zones with some consistent complexity that forces AC to change what he does best.
Special teams: Yeast or whoever is returning must be decisive in getting the ball secured and running downfield. Boreham has to perform like a professional kicker...there is one in there if you rub him long enough, but we haven't got time any more to wait.
Some ideas...
*- Editor's note: I wrote 3-and-out earlier in error. My Madden Tiger-Cat team is a juggernaut, and sometimes I forget that the 2-and-out version I watch on TV is the real thing I can't block out of my mind... joking...sometimes more than less LOL
2 and outs* My bad. 3 and outs would be when we are down by 20 in the fourth quarter having to go for it on third down like a really bad re-run I keep having to watch.
Addressing the D is the biggest concern. We don't have to sack the QB but we do need that ball out when WE want it thrown. That means pressure. If we can make Calvillo throw our DB's won't be trying to cover for ever. One thing that seems to be forgotten is that a DB can't cover all day no matter who he is. I think our DB's need a game with constant pressure to really judge if they need a revamp.
it'll be hard to go deep because montreals 7-8 men in the box blitzing tons.
you need a quick release (alas dmac) or maas needs to establish an early ground game for 2nd and shorts to be able to utilize play action.
Stay in AC's face all night long, plain and simple, he still gets rattled sometimes! Cover the intermediate routes better than last game. Keep their "O" off the field as much as possible by time consuming drives by our offense.
joking...sometimes more than less LOL
