(Hamilton) After the victory against the Toronto Argonauts in the Eastern final, it was very difficult to find fault with the Montreal Alouettes. Except perhaps the performance of his attack.
Speaking to his teammates in the locker room after the game, guard Kristian Matte praised the defense and special teams. When it came time to attack, Matte didn’t beat around the bush: he told his playing partners that they should do more.
“We know we have a lot more to give,” he said following Friday’s training. We watched the videotapes and we still had 32 minutes of possession and finished with two touchdowns in as many passes inside the 20 line. We did well, but we want to do more. »
His teammates did not run away.
“Our defense is the reason for our success, but we are sure to be able to put our shoulder to the wheel,” noted running back William Stanback. We want to support our defense. When she gives us the ball, we want to take advantage of it. Last week we did just enough, but we need to come out on top this week. »
“[Kristian] is right,” receiver Tyler Snead admitted. We pulled out all the stops in training and I think we have a good game plan for Sunday. »
“We noticed that in the media they only talked about defense and special teams. We want to be a team with three phases of play, added receiver Tyson Philpot. We know that we will have to contribute offensively if we want to win the Gray Cup. »
Receivers Tyson Philpot and Tyler Snead admitted that the offense should have a better game if they hope to get their hands on the Gray Cup on Sunday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Head coach Jason Maas brought an important nuance to his charges’ comments: all three phases of play will need to have a better game if the Birds hope to bring the Gray Cup to Montreal for the first time since 2010.
“I think we had a good week of work. But to be honest, all three phases of play need to have a good match to win. Can we improve in all three phases of play? The answer is yes.
“If we want to win this game, we have to be better. It will take the best of us if we want to win. That’s what we want to do in practice this week: improve in all aspects of the game.”
His counterpart from the Bombers, Mike O’Shea, however, took care to emphasize that his team was preparing to face a balanced Alouettes team, specifying that no one-dimensional team could reach the Gray Cup. Moreover, he does not expect the Alouettes to focus on just one element of his club.
“Maybe it’s a priority for them to stop one aspect, like Brady Oliveira’s ground game. But I don’t think that with two teams playing this kind of match, you can concentrate on just one aspect. Whether it is Montreal or us, both clubs have enough weapons to win. »
Difficult to say if it was intentional or not, but Jason Maas allowed himself a little arrow at the Alouettes facilities in Montreal.
“We so appreciate what the Hamilton Tiger-Cats do for us here, letting us use their facilities. These are grandiose installations and we treat them with all the respect and attention they deserve. This is new for us, we don’t have that at home. »
The team does not have a stadium or training complex and its home, Percival-Molson Stadium, is well below CFL standards. It is also the only stadium in the league that is not new construction or has not been renovated.
Are we at the Gray Cup or the Gray Cup? According to the signage at Tim Hortons Field (which bears the bilingual name of Tim Hortons Field, as unpoetic as it may be), it was rather to the Gray Cup that everyone was invited.
No display of the event in French appears in the stadium. However, the logos and other names exist: the Convention Center, headquarters of this Gray Cup, and the bowels of the stadium are well stocked with bilingual displays.
A spokesperson for the Ambrosie circuit assured that the league was working to correct the situation. So let’s give the runner a chance.
But it must be admitted that the local organizing committee seems overwhelmed. However, it was not yesterday that he knew that he would be hosting this 110th edition of the competition.
On the field, the Alouettes were once again without left guard Pier-Olivier Lestage. Injured a leg during the last match of the season, Lestage has still not trained since and it would be surprising if he was in the grand final.
On the Bombers side, excellent receivers Dalton Schoen, third on the Ambrosie circuit with 1,222 passing yards this season, and Nic Demski, as well as linebacker Adam Bighill, missed a third consecutive practice.
The Alouettes and Blue Bombers will cross swords at Tim Hortons Field starting at 6 p.m. Sunday.