Jason Maas was clear this week: the Montreal Alouettes’ next three duels will not be played at a slower pace even if the team is already assured of finishing in first place in the Eastern division of the Canadian Football League.
Without talking about a training camp before the playoff matches, which will begin on November 9 for the Alouettes (11-3-1), with the Eastern final, Maas spoke of a period of recovery level of play of his team, which has not been up to par, particularly in attack, during the last four meetings. And it starts Monday at 1 p.m. against the Ottawa Rouge et Noir.
” In [les] three phases of play, there are things we can do better, said the Birds head coach earlier this week. When you look at our offense right now, we are our own worst enemy. When we found ourselves on second down with one to six yards to go, we weren’t good. When you see the images, there are things that coaches can teach better and things that players can execute better.
“I am convinced that by doing our job, both coaches and players, we will be able to improve from week to week and play our best football when it matters most, which is in playoff games. »
Maas therefore prefers to talk about a long dress rehearsal between now and the autumn tournament.
“What we are going to work on over the next three weeks, it starts in meetings, then we translate it onto the field in training. Then you have to do it in matches. […] There’s no better way to get information than in a match situation. This is why the final three of the season are so important. »
Quarterback Davis Alexander will be behind center for the first time since Aug. 17, in the absence of Gray Cup MVP Cody Fajardo for the Thanksgiving game. Fajardo missed practice all week after his wife gave birth to their second son, Cian, on Wednesday in Nevada. The Alouettes have triumphed in Alexander’s four appearances this season. Despite long periods without playing, the 25-year-old American says he still prepares as if he were “just one game away” from taking the field.
“It’s time to gain momentum for the playoffs and remind the league what we’re up to. […] We talked about it at the start of the week: the next three teams could well be clubs that we will meet in the playoffs. »
“These will be super important matches. First to give momentum, but also to send a message across the league, added Quebec marauder Marc-Antoine Dequoy. The last few games, we haven’t been up to par against the run. We all hold ourselves responsible for this. We don’t lack confidence, but we want to prove that we can solve this problem. […] We did it last year. It’s up to us to figure out what we do differently now. »
Alexander also believes that the team must turn the page on offensive performances below expectations in recent games.
“These are the simple things that we must accomplish,” he recalled. We have to get first attempts and control the time. »
“We want to be competitive and become better, that’s why these meetings must be so important to us,” added Maas. This is where we are mentally. We never take our foot off the gas. »
The Alouettes have won both games played against the Rouge et Noir so far this season. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Immediately after the game, Alouettes players will visit the Welcome Hall Mission to serve Thanksgiving meals to hundreds of people, as the team has been doing for 20 years now.