Since the start of camp, the message has been clear among the Montreal Alouettes: management believes it has what it takes to go a long way. Manager Danny Maciocia even fired head coach Khari Jones and defensive coordinator Barron Miles last week because he felt the team was not performing as expected.
But after letting slip a 19-point lead in the third quarter to lose 32-31 to the Edmonton Elks, which many considered the worst team in the CFL before this game, a question arises: the Alouettes (1 -4) are they the team they claim to be?
“I don’t think our staff aren’t as good as we think they are,” said Danny Maciocia, who will have to wait before savoring his first victory as interim head coach. Our staff must find a way not to waste a 19-point lead, however. We want to play fast, disciplined and intelligent. We weren’t smart (Thursday). »
Maciocia was referring in particular to the turnovers (three) and the many penalties the Alouettes received in this game: 13 for 193 yards, including three for 108 yards on pass obstructions imposed on Wesley Sutton.
“These are not roughing penalties, but they are still punishments,” Maciocia dropped.
Many Alouettes players were trying to understand how the Alouettes could let this game slip away.
“It’s the worst feeling. We had the wind in our sails then, pfft! Just at the end, just screw it up like that, commented tackle Almondo Sewell. We can’t do that. We have to roll up our sleeves and find a way to stop this from happening. »
“It’s frustrating to find yourself in this good position and shoot yourself in the foot again,” said quarterback Trevor Harris, who suffered two interceptions in this game. Penalties and turnovers: that’s what cost us the game again.
“I think tonight we lacked the killer instinct. No lead is high enough, it’s cliché, but you saw it tonight. We have to score touchdowns; they scored 20 points and we scored none. »
However, the game seemed to be closed: ahead by 19 points, the Alouettes had programmed a fixed play on a kickoff that worked, the short kick ending up in the hands of kicker David Côté.
“We find ourselves offside and we are the victim of a reversal on the next game, noted Maciocia. At this point, I don’t think we were able to salvage this game. When you lead by 19 points, you have to find a way to finish the match. »
Is his team too weak mentally?
“I don’t know if she’s more fragile, that’s a good question,” admitted Maciocia. I don’t think she’s fragile, but I think sometimes players take things for granted. Well, we’ll take care of that this week. When I talk about playing with some intelligence, unfortunately that was not the case (Thursday).
“Maybe we have to go get that mental toughness. We had played well, apart from the first series of the match. You have to be able to finish these matches. We come out strong in the third quarter – our problem since the start of the season – we manage a trick play on the kick and we are not able to capitalize. That’s what tires me. »
With a 1-4 record and 13 games to go, can the Alouettes turn the tide?
“It’s still early days,” Harris said. I’ve seen teams, like the Lions in 2011, go 0-5 and win. On the other side, in 2017 in Ottawa, we started the season 6-1 and finished 8-9-1. A lot can still happen, you just have to improve every day in this adversity. »
“We are going to see what wood we are warming up, for his part imaged Maciocia. We’re going to be back at work on Sunday and we’re going to get some answers. Defensively, we reinvented our way of playing in five or six days. Hopefully we will become better. Offensively, we have to protect the ball, we can’t give the ball away like that. »
Only positive point: while they were unable to produce from the opposing 20 line, the Alouettes scored four touchdowns and a field goal in similar situations against the Elks (2-4).
“I think our play in the pay zone is something positive that we can build on,” Maciocia said. On the other hand, we had opportunities to get more points, but we threw interceptions, which we cannot afford. »
“We scored 31 points, I think it’s not that bad, even if you can’t get enough of that,” Harris added. I believe this attack can play two or three levels higher and really dominate for 60 minutes, but it takes the right mentality for that. We have to make sure we have it, not just in games, but in training, meetings. You will always play like you train. »