Montreal Alouettes | The Alouettes want to learn from their defeat against the Lions

The Montreal Alouettes want to learn from their 37-23 loss to the BC Lions last Friday. But Jason Maas’s squad isn’t discouraged.

Against the Lions, the Alouettes allowed 472 yards of offense, a season high. The visitors’ 37 points are a 2024 high, tied with the July 11 game, the Alouettes’ only other loss of the season, at the hands of the Toronto Argonauts.

While offensive lineman Pier-Olivier Lestage spoke of a setback that could prove positive at this stage of the season, the Alouettes coaches met Wednesday, after the Oiseaux practice, at Hébert stadium in Saint-Léonard, were more nuanced.

“There’s never a good time to lose a football game,” defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe said. “But we’re not going to feel sorry for ourselves. We learn from every game, win or lose, and we’re going to be better. We know we’re never going to be perfect and we’re always going to have areas that we need to improve.”

Thorpe believes the Lions didn’t find a “magic formula” to beat the Alouettes, but rather the Alouettes shot themselves in the foot.

“I wouldn’t say they showed us things that other teams didn’t do against us,” the veteran coach said. “I would say our lineups were lacking. You have to be in good position and when opportunities present themselves, you have to make plays. I have to do a better job as a coach. Everybody has to do a better job.”

In his post-game commentary, Lestage was mainly referring to the Alouettes’ recent victories, acquired while the team made comebacks in the second half of the game. On that, he touched on a good point, according to offensive line coach Luc Brodeur-Jourdain.

“Instead of waiting in these critical situations in the fourth quarter, why don’t we blow them up in the first quarter, when you’ve already taken advantage of three turnovers and you can go get big points, put your club ahead and in confidence, and force them to play catch-up football,” he wondered.

Brodeur-Jourdain also reflected on his offensive line’s toughest night against what may be the best defensive front in the CFL. Lions defenders picked off Cody Fajardo behind his line of scrimmage four times, including a crucial play early in the third quarter that allowed the Lions to get the ball back, and pressured the Montreal quarterback four times.

In both cases, these are peaks this season.

“The start of the game wasn’t what we’re capable of doing on the attacking line. But then there was a series of plays where it worked well. There were a few disappointments, which were more due to our technique. […] In terms of pressure on the quarterback, there was a lot of turnover on the defensive line, including on the first play of the third quarter. It made life difficult for us.”

Result: the Alouettes’ ground game was limited to just 70 yards.

“In their response at the secondary and linebackers level, we felt they were more aggressive than what we had seen on film before the game,” noted Brodeur-Jourdain. “They did a good job on that point. Once again, the permutations on the defensive line played tricks on us. […] It’s a shame to say it, but in this game it seemed like everyone was passing the baton to make a mistake on every play.”

Julien-Grant and Snead back?

The Alouettes appear close to getting receivers Kaion Julien-Grant and Tyler Snead back, but they could be without safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy.

Julien-Grant and Snead, whose names still appear on the injured list for six games, trained with the main group in attack for a second consecutive day on Wednesday.

For Julien-Grant, this shoulder injury could not have come at a worse time, as he had an excellent start to the season before falling in combat early in the game against the Toronto Argonauts on July 11, the Alouettes’ sixth game of the campaign. He had caught 26 of the 33 passes thrown his way for gains of 288 yards and a touchdown.

Snead injured his right ankle in the season opener on June 6 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has not been seen since.

On the other hand, Dequoy was conspicuous by his absence for a second day in a row, so much so that his presence for Saturday’s game in Calgary seems uncertain at the time of writing.

Thorpe sought to reassure himself by saying that for now, there is no talk of replacing anyone on the roster and that “there is still plenty of time between now and kickoff.” On Tuesday, head coach Jason Maas had talked about treatment for Dequoy, after a “twitchy game” against the Lions.

There is talk of a head injury for Dequoy, which could indicate a concussion. Either way, it’s not very reassuring.

Arthur Hamlin took reps Tuesday and Wednesday as a safety on the top defensive unit, a sign he could get the start Saturday against the Stampeders.

The Alouettes will hold a final practice Thursday before flying to Alberta Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time Saturday.