Argonauts 35 – Alouettes 27 | The Alouettes narrowly fail the Toronto test

Friday night’s game between the Montreal Alouettes and the Toronto Argonauts was a barometer game for Jason Maas’ team. Despite a sustained effort and an almost perfect cohesion, the Montrealers were unable to put an end to the Torontonians’ perfect streak.

On one side, the Alouettes. Lost in their last two games and back from a short five-day week. On the other, the Argonauts. Leaders in the Eastern Division with a record of three wins in three games and an average points scored per game over 40.

Despite a cruel 35 to 27 loss, the Alouettes were able to prove that they were still on the right track.

Several lackluster elements had been noted after their last duel in British Columbia. Whether it’s the lack of cohesion in attack, the weakness of the offensive line, the inconstancy of the receivers or the indiscipline of the special teams.

Despite their short preparation, the locals learned and readjusted quickly. Even if it is a third loss in a row, they have not been downgraded. Far from there.

“I’m proud of our group, it proves that we are capable of being neck and neck with any team. […] There’s no one destroyed in the locker room. We can be happy with our performance,” said quarterback Cody Fajardo.

If the start of the game will not go down in Canadian football history, the Alouettes’ defense limited the damage. Marc-Antoine Dequoy also made his first interception of the season. The defensive wall gave more latitude to the offensive by granting few gains, despite a time and a superior quality of possession on the part of the Argos.

The offense did the job, but the visitors were simply better able to take advantage of the chances. It cost the Alouettes the game in the last quarter.

trusted men

The receiving brigade was intriguing from the start of training camp. With the absence of Greg Ellingson, supposedly the number one receiver, since the start of the season, Cody Fajardo has auditioned just about every member of his receiving squad.

By the end of game five, it’s clear that his favorite target has become Austin Mack. Reliable as a computer, Mack is able to stand out easily, but above all he offers simple and effective solutions to his quarterback when the latter is in trouble.

More importantly, the two men are easily found on the ground. This chemistry is encouraging, and somewhat unexpected.

“We work a lot every week. He plays really well with all the guys. We are a young group and we are growing together. There are a lot of rookies and we’re improving every game,” Mack said after the game, somewhat disappointed.

Even though Mack didn’t score a touchdown, he still allowed the Alouettes to progress many times during the game. With catches for 14, 15 and 17 yards in the second quarter, the 25-year-old American established himself as the insurance policy of the receiving squad. His versatility and dexterity will be welcome for the rest of the season, in a group still filled with question marks.

However, another receiver managed to stand out for the right reasons. Almost completely sidelined since the start of the campaign, Tyler Snead has risen at the right times.

The small receiver scored the three touchdowns of his own. The first on a 17-yard pass in the back of the end zone to take the lead in the final moments of the first half. The second when he managed to free himself on the left of the paying zone, after Fajardo had scrambled to avoid a second sack from the quarter. This success allowed the Als to create equality. Then the third on a 26-yard reception in the middle of the field, again creating the equality, this time 27 to 27.

It was his first three career touchdowns in the CFL.

“I’m not here for the individual results. I just want to be able to respond when I’m needed, ”he replied in the locker room after the game.

Nevertheless, he admits that the confidence and rhythm provided by this performance reassure him, especially since it was only his second game in a tricolor uniform: “It sure helps. I have more confidence because of the great chemistry we have in the locker room. »

Coming off a two-game touchdown streak through the air, this performance by the receiving group against the top team in the division was life-saving.

The Stanback Enigma

It was hard to cheer or find any positives in William Stanback’s play in the first four games.

Visibly whipped by this start to the season below expectations, and his own standards imposed in the past, the Alouettes’ running back finally had a game where he lived up to his image.

To be honest, it only lasted a half. And it was hard to explain why.

In the first half of the match, the veteran was at the heart of each sequence. He had nine carries for 44 yards and three catches for 26 yards. We saw, for a few games, a bit of the Stanback of 2019.

However, even though his output was consistent, he was never able to pull off the big game that could tip the scales. At least he was touching the ball and he looked comfortable. As never before this season, at least. It was an encouraging sign, especially for an offense that was supposed to rely on the ground game.

However, in the second half, he was completely dropped from the game plan, with only two touches in the third quarter and sporadic appearances in the last quarter.

Coach Jason Maas said at the end of the meeting that Stanback had had lower body problems halfway through the match: “I just saw him come out. I think he taped his ankle. With the short week, maybe he was dragging something. I believe he will be in better condition after the bye week. »