Bombers seek return to high-flying ways, Als seek respect

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/06/2023 (823 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MONTREAL — What happens when you pit one CFL team still fuming from getting their butts whooped a week ago, against another that’s a clear underdog but riding a wave of confidence?

We’ll soon find out, as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Montreal Alouettes prepare to do battle in a Week 4 match-up Saturday at Molson Stadium.

The Bombers (2-1) suffered a rare loss in Week 3, falling to the B.C. Lions, 30-6, on home turf. It was just the third defeat in the last 30 games at IG Field, but was costly, dropping the Bombers to second in the West Division, behind the 3-0 Lions.

Winnipeg had four days off before practice Tuesday, leaving players extra time to stew over an uncharacteristically bad performance.

The ensuing week of practice, while productive, seems to have done little to cleanse that awful taste in their collective mouths.

“It was a long week,” Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson said during a media availability Friday in downtown Montreal. “We can be pissed. We can be angry. Call it whatever you want. We’re just ready to come out here and put another win in the win column.”

The Bombers didn’t just lose to the Lions; they were pushed around.

One common theme from the game kept popping up all week, and was brought up again Friday: for the Bombers to be successful, they need to play a more physical brand of football compared to what was seen a week ago.

Especially the offensive line — a unit that is usually sturdy but had its lunch money stolen by B.C.

“It was a long week. We can be pissed. We can be angry. Call it whatever you want. We’re just ready to come out here and put another win in the win column.”–Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson

Winnipeg gave up seven sacks on quarterback Zach Collaros, with four occurring during plays where the pass blockers outnumbered B.C.’s rushers.

“Keeping the quarterback upright is paramount to what we do and critical to any offence. It’s big for us making sure Zach’s clean, so he can go through his reads and get the ball out when he needs to and to where it has to go,” Bombers right guard Patrick Neufeld said.

“We’ve put emphasis on that, but we know the challenge Montreal poses. They have a great front. We have to match that and overcome it.”

The Alouettes have been one of the bigger surprises this season, with few expecting them to start the season 2-0.

Montreal went through a significant overhaul in the off-season, everything from finding a new owner and president to a level of roster turnover that, even for the CFL, was pretty shocking.

They’ve found a way to prosper despite facing some stiff early challenges. During training camp, players used their underdog status as a rallying cry. After wins over the Ottawa Redblacks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats, they’re starting to believe and trust in the process.

“We have a stiff test tomorrow; the Bombers have been the gold standard in the league the last few years. So anytime you get an opportunity to play the gold standard and see where you kind of measure up, it’s always an exciting opportunity.”–Montreal Alouettes quarterback Cody Fajardo

“For a lot of guys, this is their first year here, and it’s my first year (in Montreal), too. So, there was just so much excitement and optimism around the team,” Alouettes quarterback Cody Fajardo said. “I stressed to the guys that we have to find a way to win games early to keep the optimism high, and we’ve done that.

“We have a stiff test tomorrow; the Bombers have been the gold standard in the league the last few years. So anytime you get an opportunity to play the gold standard and see where you kind of measure up, it’s always an exciting opportunity.”

Skeptics have argued Montreal has yet to play a quality opponent. (The Redblacks and Ticats are a combined 0-5.)

“I’ve been in the league long enough to know that those records can be thrown out the window every single week. It doesn’t matter who you play,” said head coach Jason Maas, who, like Fajardo, signed with the Alouettes after spending the last few years in Saskatchewan.

“You have to play well to beat teams in this league. Every game has been very difficult… (The Bombers have) won two of the last three Grey Cups. They’ve been a model of consistency, and in order to achieve what we want to achieve, that’s the type of model we want.”

If the Bombers loss to the Lions revealed any cracks in their armour, Maas wasn’t telling. He instead gave credit to the Lions for achieving what few teams have against Winnipeg during its run of dominance.

The Bombers are filled with veteran players, Maas added, so he knows he’ll be getting their best Saturday.

“Whatever they showed last week, I know they’ve improved upon and we’re expecting the best Bombers team they can be to play us,” Maas said. “Bottom line is we need to play well for 60 minutes to beat them — and that’s what our focus is.”

What’s been most impressive about the Alouettes is the contributions they’re getting from all three phases. It’s truly been complimentary football.

With how he’s throwing the ball deep downfield, Fajardo seems to have recaptured some of the magic from his 2019 season, when he was named the league’s West representative for most outstanding player.

He enters Week 4 leading all quarterbacks with a passer rating of 129.2.

Fajardo has a clear chemistry brewing with rookie receiver Austin Mack, who has been on the receiving end of both his touchdown passes. Mack is averaging just more than 100 receiving yards a game, tops in the CFL.

“Cody has a great arm. He was trying to play it off like, ‘Man, I’m an old guy.’ No, he’s not. Forget what people are saying,” said the 25-year-old Mack, who played four seasons for the Ohio State Buckeyes before NFL stints in New York (Giants), Tennessee and San Francisco.

“More importantly, it’s just me and him have been communicating and, for me, I’m always trying to take the top off the defence. Let it loose, because I’m going to go get it regardless and make a play.”

Special teams has also been a bright spot for Montreal.

Chandler Worthy is dangerous every time he touches the ball; last week, he returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown midway through the second quarter, giving the Als their first lead and one they wouldn’t relinquish.

The defence, however, has been the driving force. Montreal hasn’t allowed a touchdown this year, with both its opponents forced to settle for field goals (Ottawa and Hamilton notched four apiece).

The Bombers couldn’t find the end zone last week and the Alouettes hope they can continue the trend.

“It’s easy to play aggressive defence when our offence is scoring points and when our special teams is also getting points on the board,” Als defensive back Wesley Sutton said. “Our coaches have recruited and scouted the right guys to play in our defence and you see it showing up on game day.

“It’s allowed us to play like we like to play — by attacking and not letting their offence dictate what we do, and instead us dictating to them.”

jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton