The Montreal Alouettes had a huge challenge ahead of them on Saturday night at Percival-Molson Stadium, and they failed it, losing by a score of 27-18.
With a four touchdown performance the week before against the Ottawa Rouge et Noir, Lions quarterback Michael Reilly was not so dominant, but he still found his receivers. 21 times in 25 attempts, for 308 yards.
Reilly had two runs for a major, including a 75-yard throw to Lucky Whitehead in the second quarter. This is the second time this season that the two men have joined forces to register a major at this distance.
Running back James Butler also crossed the goal line for the Lions, on a rushing play, in their first offensive streak of the game.
“The defense is ups and downs. We gave big easy games, easy touchdowns. And often we forced “two and out”, said André Bolduc, who replaced Khari Jones, inconvenienced by COVID-19, as head coach. It is certain that this is not the outcome that we would have liked in terms of the score, but we will try to find something positive. ”
Anemic attack
In the absence of head coach Khari Jones, assistants Michael Lionello and André Bolduc had the task of selecting the games in attack. Even though the offensive unit has racked up over 400 total yards, it has never really been able to tame the Lions’ defense, which has stood up like a wall.
Vernon Adams Jr. was the main victim of the opposing tertiary, who had two interceptions, including one in his own end zone, in addition to knocking down 13 assists, a team record. The pivot of the “Sparrows” only completed 16 of the 36 stints he attempted, for 270 yards.
“Definitely a lack of opportunism,” said Bolduc. When you arrive in the [zone rouge] and all you can do is place all night long, put yourself in a position where you’re going to run out of points at some point. Interception in the area sure hurts. You lose the chance for a placement too, so you really leave a lot of points on the pitch. It is certain that that was an important element of this defeat. “
Adams Jr.’s most targeted wide receiver, Eugene Lewis, only caught four of 11 balls aimed at him.
On the ground, William Stanback had 139 yards on 18 carries, while Adams Jr. added 44 on seven carries.
A confident kicker
Rare positive point for the Alouettes, Quebec kicker David Côté scored all 18 points, he who was perfect in six field goal attempts, including four in the first half.
Of his six attempts, Côté had one from 49 yards, his longest of the evening.
Too many dropped balloons
If Montreal Alouettes quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. only made 16 of the 36 passes he attempted, he’s not just going to be to blame.
Even though the Lions’ defense has proven why it is the most intercepted in the Canadian Football League this season, with 10, including both in the duel of the day, the Sparrows wide receivers will have to stand up. look at length in the mirror.
“I would have liked to see receivers making contested catches. For their part, BC, hat, they did it all evening, launched André Bolduc, in a post-match conference. When it’s tight, with the defensive back who is close, you have to be able to make these plays and I have the impression that we did not make them often tonight. It didn’t help us. It certainly didn’t help Vernon either. These are things that need to be worked on. ”
On more than one occasion, they have dropped a grabable ball. Eugene Lewis probably made the costliest escapement. At the gate at the end of the second quarter, Lewis was unable to catch a grabable ball that would have allowed him to add six points to the table for his own. The Alouettes had to be content with a placement from David Côté, one of the six he made during the game.
Nevertheless, Vernon Adams Jr. did not hesitate to target Lewis several times during the second half. The number 87 of the Alouettes finally captured four, for an efficiency percentage of 36.36%.
“It’s readings, we send it to the right route and we do not choose who is there at the end, but it is certain that, the receivers, when your number is looked at, you have to play these games. , you have to do these [attrapés] and we should have done more for sure. ”
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