Montreal Alouettes: Between Thoroughness and a Choke

The Saskatchewan Roughriders face a daunting task if they want to emulate the celebration in the above photo from 2007 at this year's Grey Cup.

They face a much tougher opponent in the Montreal Alouettes this time around, a team that led the CFL statistically on both offense and defense.

The Alouettes showed last week that they can make a game get out of hand for an opponent early.  They are full value for their 15-3 record including two convincing wins over Saskatchewan.

Since the Roughriders are stepping on the field, they do have a chance.  It goes without saying that quarterback Darian Durant must play at least the equal of his counterpart Anthony Calvillo.  The Alouettes have too much in their favor to add a bad quarterbacking performance by their opponent as well.

Durant may be untried, but he has won games consistently for the Roughriders since he joined their roster last year.  It will be a learning experience, but he has shown he can play competently in big games.

But the Roughriders will have to have more than good quarterbacking to win this time.  The other key element is line play.

Durant may try to play his best, but he won't do it if he is under the type of pressure Casey Printers was under in last week's semifinal.  Printers had played good too since he returned to the CFL, but he was made to look ordinary by the Alouette's defense.

The Roughriders' offensive line must keep Montreal's front four away from Durant and also open up holes for their running game.

On the defensive side, the same scenario applies.  Saskatchewan's defensive line must outplay Montreal's offensive line. 

Anthony Calvillo must be put under consistent pressure.

For the Alouettes, they are swinging between two extremes; thoroughness and choke.

On the positive side, most opinions say that this year's Alouettes are better than last year's version that barely lost the Grey Cup.  The best word to describe their improvement is thorough.

Marc Trestman believes that somehow the Alouettes failed to win the Grey Cup last year because it slipped through some undetected holes.

This year, the team won every game at home and won more of their away games in the tougher Western Conference. 

Trestman hopes that the few holes that he felt came to light when the Alouettes lost last year have finally been patched up.

Based on last week's game, their regular season record, and their dominating statistics, few will disagree.

Still, there is the choke factor...

Montreal has been to the Grey Cup again and again this past decade but has only one victory to show for it.  Somehow their opponent has always found a way to win.

But this is the first time there has ever been a Montreal-Saskatchewan matchup.  There are no hexes—yet.

Montreal should win.  With all they've accomplished this year, it would be a shame if they don't.

Still, as long as Saskatchewan is willing to step on the field, there is a crack of light.

Prediction:  I'll be rooting for Saskatchewan, but my head says something else.  Montreal will win...