The Alouettes’ last game against the Toronto Argonauts transported me 10 years earlier. I watched Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie and remembered when, in 2013, we briefly worked together as part of the Montreal club’s coaching staff.
As head coach, Dinwiddie is serious, bordering on stoic on the sidelines. He quietly becomes the Bill Belichick of the Canadian Football League. With a few fewer championships than the legendary New England Patriots coach…
Getty Images via AFP
When he was the offensive quality control coach for the Alouettes, Dinwiddie didn’t get much sleep. Having seen him work, I would tell you that he did practically everything. Let’s say he learned the hard way, first under the orders of American Dan Hawkins, who didn’t last long at the helm of the Alouettes.
At 42, Dinwiddie is already a brilliant coach and I’m surprised he never got an opportunity in the NFL in a role like quarterbacks manager. For now, the Argonauts continue to benefit from his expertise. Dinwiddie also won the Gray Cup with Toronto last year, in his first appearance in the Finals as head coach.
Mental fatigue
Regarding the recent game against the Alouettes, it’s still incredible that the Argonauts were able to win, while multiplying the penalties against them.
Despite the loss, Montreal did well. It was probably mental fatigue in the fourth quarter that ended up costing the Alouettes the game. On the decisive touchdown, there is also the defensive half Kabion Ento who looked very badly. Your job comes down to two things in football when mental fatigue sets in: you have to focus on your assignment and on your technique. Ento missed his shot against David Ungerer III with less than two minutes to go. It is to believe that he anticipated a run from the quarterback when it was not his responsibility to prevent such a play.
Marc-Antoine Dequoy
Photo Martin Chevalier
On a more positive note, I greatly admire the work of Tyrell Richards and that of Marc-Antoine “Flash” Dequoy on the special teams. With his speed, Dequoy is extraordinary. As long as he’s on the field for the Alouettes, I don’t see how an opponent will one day be able to reach the end zone on a kick return.
lose to learn
At the end of the game, Alouettes head coach Jason Maas spoke of a need to lose in order to win better later. Such remarks do not shock me at all. It’s true that sometimes you lose to learn. It makes sense in the case of the Alouettes and their last three games. They received three straight big runs, facing the Blue Bombers, Lions and Argonauts.
This spring break must be good, it’s a good time to recharge your batteries mentally. On the return, however, the time will have come to have results and we naturally speak of victories. Next game: July 30, in Montreal, against the Calgary Stampeders.
Interview by Benoît Rioux
