(Montreal) There was once again talk of the attack by the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday at Hébert stadium in Saint-Léonard. Without being terrible, it has been less effective in recent meetings. Its revival perhaps involves the return of receiver Tyler Snead.
After a promising first season – 788 yards and five touchdowns on 56 receptions – and a hell of a camp, we had the right to expect a better season from the diminutive North Carolina receiver. Unfortunately, an injury to his right ankle suffered in the first game of the season in Winnipeg on June 6 cut all that short.
In total, Snead had to miss 11 games. Back in the lineup for two games, the receiver must now regain his synchronicity.
“It’s the hardest thing to come back to after 11 weeks on the sidelines,” Snead admitted. I’m no longer used to being the target of a high-speed pass. Sudden stops and starts also take a little longer to come back from.
It’s been tough, but I feel good and feel like I’m close to being fully recovered. I find that I move better and better. Cody [Fajardo] and I have more and more synchronism. This bodes well for the match this weekend.
Tyler Snead
“It was a lot better with Cody this week in practice and as a coach, when you see that, you can only increase his workload,” noted receivers coach and air attack coordinator Mike Lionello. When he returned to the game, we used him, but not as much as before his injury. Then, we increased the workload a little last week. We’ll see this week. »
Against the Calgary Stampeders two weeks ago, Snead caught all four passes attempted towards him for 38 yards. He caught three of Fajardo’s six passes for 40 yards.
“He’s getting better and better, that’s what matters,” said head coach Jason Maas. He is gradually regaining his bearings. It’s clear that his foot still bothers him on certain routes. I found that last week, based on what we asked him, he did very well. I think he’s getting more and more comfortable. Do we see what we will see at the end of the season? No. But losing 10 weeks is huge. I expect the synchronism and speed to return to the level we are used to. »
This is to be hoped for the Alouettes, whose offense has not amassed 300 net yards during its last three outings, during which the team compiled a 1-1-1 record. Thursday, there was talk – with good reason – of these last so-so matches of Jason Maas’s squad and the less consistent play of Fajardo since he returned from his hamstring injury. Maas did not walk away.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Jason Maas
Are there things we need to improve on, that we need to work on? Absolutely. The season has been full of ups and downs and now we are not playing at the level we should. We had opportunities in the last few games, but we didn’t take them all. In my opinion, this explains the drop in production. […] We’re not going to bury our heads in the sand and pretend this isn’t the case. But we’re not going to panic either.
Jason Maas, head coach of the Alouettes
“On certain sequences, Cody can do better. I think he was doing better before his injury. Some of his throws aren’t as effective. But one thing is certain: he prepares like no other day after day and I have no doubt that he will regain his level. It must also be said that his slight drop in performance is attributable to our poor execution in recent matches. »
Burns as starter?
PHOTO FROM THE ALOUETTES X ACCOUNT
Lorenzo Burns
On the other side of the ball, it appears that defensive back Lorenzo Burns will play his first game as a starter with the Montreal Alouettes this Saturday in Toronto.
Burns, five-foot-eleven, 185 pounds, took part in a third straight practice Thursday as part of coordinator Noel Thorpe’s first defensive unit. It appears he will be used in place of Nafees Lyon among the starters.
“Since he joined us, he quickly learned what we do. He has integrated into the group quickly and plays with an energy that you look for at cornerback, Maas said. He plays with great confidence and I see great skills that we look for in his position. I can’t wait to see him on the field. »
Burns, 26, was hired on September 9. First inserted into the team’s practice squad, he participated in last Saturday’s game against the Ottawa Redblacks, making a tackle.
It also seems more and more likely that Quebec safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy will make a return to the game.
After suffering a concussion against the BC Lions, Dequoy missed the game against the Stampeders. After participating in training sessions last week in preparation for the game in Ottawa, Dequoy was finally scratched from the lineup.
No. 24 of the Alouettes indicated Tuesday that it was not a preventive measure and that he had to comply with the requirements of the CFL concussion protocol. After taking part in his team’s three training sessions this week, it seems that he will be at his post against the Argos (7-7).
The Alouettes (11-2-1) could clinch first place in the East with a victory this Saturday, 7 p.m., at BMO Field. The team could already be crowned before starting the game if the Rouge et Noir lose to the Saskatchewan Roughriders earlier in the afternoon.