However Montreal is aware of it has its arms full on the highway towards a rested Argonauts squad that went 16-2 this season, together with 9-0 at house.
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It might take a efficiency for the ages from the Alouettes’ defence for Montreal to achieve the Gray Cup, and the gamers on that facet of the ball appear ready to hold the load.
“I like these odds,” veteran rush-end Shawn Lemon stated after Saturday’s 27-12 victory towards Hamilton within the East Division semifinal.
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The Als held the Tiger-Cats to 4 subject objectives and intercepted two passes. Lemon had two of the crew’s 5 sacks. And whereas the efficiency was spectacular, Montreal adopted an analogous begin to the playoffs final season.
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The Als defeated Hamilton 28-17 within the 2022 semifinal, holding the Ticats to at least one landing and three subject objectives, however have been unable to maintain Toronto out of the tip zone per week later within the division ultimate, received 34-27 by the Argonauts. Montreal squandered a superb sport by beginning quarterback Trevor Harris, who handed for 362 yards.
The Argos went on to win the Gray Cup, upsetting Winnipeg. Toronto has proven this season that victory was no fluke, producing a league-best 16-2 file, together with 9-0 at house. Coming off a bye week, the Argos will host Montreal within the division ultimate Saturday (3 p.m.) at BMO Area.
Toronto beat the Als 3 times this season, together with a dominating 39-10 win at house on Sept. 9. The 2 video games in Montreal have been extra aggressive, the Als shedding 35-27 and 23-20.
Because the CFL went to an 18-game schedule in 1986, just one crew — Edmonton in 1989 — went 16-2. After a bye week, that crew was upset 32-21 by (9-9) Saskatchewan within the division ultimate.
“We’ll have our arms full and our work reduce out for us,” beginning quarterback Cody Fajardo admitted on Saturday. “16-2 has solely been executed as soon as within the CFL, particularly with them coming off a bye and being wholesome. However generally, while you play the week earlier than, you’ve momentum and excessive power going right into a ultimate versus being on a bye week.
Street to the Cup
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“One factor I’m enthusiastic about, when a crew beats you 3 times in a season, all you need is to have yet another alternative.”
The Als had one of many league’s stingiest defences this season, permitting 392 factors (21.8 common) total, 37 offensive touchdowns and 380 offensive factors (21.1 common). In a league that stresses offence, the Als surrendered 347 first downs on the 12 months and a mean of 331.8 yards a sport. Montreal was among the many CFL leaders in all these classes.
Defensive co-ordinator Noel Thorpe has constructed a unit predicated on velocity and physicality; a relentless group that will get after the quarterback and relishes producing turnovers. The Als scored 9 defensive touchdowns this season.
“All people runs to the ball,” Thorpe stated. “They know that’s a requirement they usually consider in it.”
Thorpe additionally has given them a objective on every possession — have it finish in a kick and preserve groups out of the tip zone. Whereas the defence has had its share of early-game struggles, it produced extra good efforts than unhealthy. It was led by veterans like Lemon and middle-linebacker Darnell Sankey, who’ve been missed by different groups, and newcomers corresponding to rookie linebacker Reggie Stubblefield, cornerback Kabion Ento and first-round draft selection Lwal Uguak, whose play improved the extra he was on the sphere.
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“Our defence is a gaggle of hard-nosed gamers,” Sankey stated. “We come out each single sport with one thing to show. We wish to be the No. 1 defence within the league — that has ever performed. With the intention to try this, now we have to deliver our ‘A’ sport each single sport. If we wish to win the Gray Cup, we’re going to must be the perfect.”
One thing else hasn’t modified from final season; the Als’ offence struggles for factors at instances and depends on David Côté’s subject objectives far too usually.
“While you flip the ball over within the pink zone, these are those that damage me and frustrate you essentially the most,” head coach Jason Maas stated. “It’s not kicking subject objectives. That at the least ends in a optimistic.”
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