This Carr brakes for no one

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/10/2010 (5794 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MONTREAL — Undoubtedly there have been bigger and more electrifying debuts.

But know this: Winnipeg Blue Bomber receiver Greg Carr has certainly opened eyes across the Canadian Football League with his 16 catches for 373 yards and three TDs in three games in blue and gold.

Case in point, we give you Montreal Alouettes head coach Marc Trestman, who was asked at his pre-game news conference on Saturday how a defence stops Carr, who had four catches for 185 yards and two touchdowns against the Alouettes in his debut.

“I don’t know what you can do,” said Trestman. “What you can do best is rush the passer, keep Steven (Jyles) in the pocket and try to pressure the pocket as much as you can and try to minimize his ability to get (Carr) the football. But if he gets close he’s going to catch it and we don’t have anybody with the combination of that size or speed to cover him. But somebody’s going to — more than one guy, probably, at different times in the game.

“We’ve got to try to do our best to contain him.”

Here’s the scary thing, arguably, for the rest of the CFL: Carr is still trying to figure out all the little nuances that makes the passing game so much fun up here. And once the 6-foot-6 Florida State product gets his head wrapped around that…

“It’s been truly a blessing,” said Carr. “When I got up here I just wanted to make the best of it. Did I think it would turn out like this? No. But I do have faith and confidence in my abilities and I was confident I could do this if I got an opportunity.

“I know I’m doing good, but it’s just on instincts and natural ability right now. Once I learn the ins and outs of the game like a guy like Terrence Edwards then the sky’s the limit. But I do know I’ve got to put in the work.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Bombers-ALouettes NOTES

“Ø FIRST PLACE? REALLY? A win clinches first in the East for the Als… although you’d hardly know it visiting their dressing room.

“We haven’t even talked about that,” said QB Anthony Calvillo.

“We didn’t address it with the team (Saturday),” added head coach Marc Trestman. “We’re trying to stay focussed on growing and becoming the best team we can be and just decided to leave it at that. We’d like to be a team that makes things happen and doesn’t wait for things to happen. The only way to do that is go out and play our best.”

“Ø NEW BOSS? Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Kavis Reed was ready to step in for Paul LaPolice if LaPolice was unable make it to Montreal in time for the game due to the birth of his child. Reed’s last time wearing the big headset?

“Pop Warner,” said Reed with a chuckle. “We were very successful that game.”

LaPolice was en route to Montreal on Saturday night and was expected to be on the sidelines today.

“Ø HIGH PRAISE: Here’s Calvillo discussing how to game plan against the Bomber D-line:

“Hunt, Willis and you add Brown in there… they are tough. Those guys go out there and create havoc. We know their record is not anything close to what type of team they are. Every team that plays them knows you have to play them hard.

“You can’t just leave any tackle in this league one on one with them for 60 plays… you’ll lose that battle every single time. We’re aware of that.”

“Ø FYI: The Als will honour long-time centre Bryan Chiu, who retired at the start of training camp, at today’s game… Bomber receiver Brock Ralph has caught at least one pass in 30 straight games… Winnipeg is averaging just 63.5 yards more passing and about a touchdown more per game than at this time last year… Montreal is re-activating safety Etienne Boulay for this game… LB Courtney Smith steps in for Merrill Johnson (knee) for the Bombers.

“Ø QUOTABLE: “If I figure that out, I’ll patent it and be retiring in the next couple of days.” — Reed when asked if he stays up at night trying to come up with a plan to stop Calvillo.

— Ed Tait