(Montreal) Cody Fajardo and Taylor Powell have one thing in common. They both threw a touchdown pass on their first CFL career pass attempt.
The difference between the two quarterbacks is that Fajardo has since thrown 57 more, while Powell has yet to reach the end zone a second time. In his defence, Powell will only be making his second career CFL start with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-4) when they host the Montreal Alouettes (3-3) on Saturday at Tim Hortons Field.
“I saw when he came into the game before his first start, I liked the way he worked,” Fajardo said of Powell earlier this week. It seems that all quarterbacks eventually get a chance to play in the CFL — whether it’s through injury or bad play, etc. I can’t wait to meet him. »
Powell will be employed by the Tiger-Cats in relief to Bo Levi Mitchell and Matt Shiltz. Mitchell returned to action last week after missing four games with a hip injury, but suffered a right leg injury last Friday in a 16-12 win over the Rouge et Noir from Ottawa.
In his only previous CFL start, Powell completed 27 of 41 passes for 282 yards and one interception in a 31-15 loss to the Toronto Argonauts.
“We have some video footage of him, but the system in place with the Tiger-Cats has been the same for a long time,” said Alouettes safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy. A player who has less experience will often try less complicated things, but from what we see he [Powell] is able to make good reads. It should not be taken lightly. »
The Alouettes also have their share of substitutes to manage. Defensive backs Najee Murray and Dionté Ruffin, linebacker Avery Williams and receiver Kaion Julien-Grant were added to the list of cripples this week. Receiver Austin Mack also missed a practice, but should be at his post.
All of these changes to both teams make the Alouettes’ 38-12 win over the Tiger-Cats on June 23 in Hamilton seem a long way off.
“It’s always more difficult for an offense when it faces a team a second time,” Fajardo said. Defense can review video footage and make adjustments more easily than an offense.
In their last outing, Sunday, the Alouettes did not offer a classic, despite a 25-18 victory over the Calgary Stampeders at Percival-Molson Stadium.
After the game, head coach Jason Maas said he was still happy to see his offense generate seven streaks that led to runs, even though they ended with six field goals and a miss for a single.
Questioned earlier this week to find out what he thought of the work of the defense, which allowed six streaks that allowed the opponent to score – six placements – Maas also preferred to see the glass half full.
“If you limit the opponent to just field goals, it’s a win for the defense,” Maas insisted. What I also remember is how we stopped them three times about 15 yards from goal late in the game.
“The goal is to score more points than the opponent. Our offense has scored seven times and the opponent’s has scored six times, he added. And in addition, our defense provided a touchdown. So it was played out on a few key games and they went in our favor, which makes me very proud. »
If the key plays go in favor of the Alouettes on Saturday, Maas’ troops will help themselves greatly in anticipation of the end of the season by securing the tiebreaker against the Tiger-Cats.