Clouds of criticism hang over Als and Eskimos
MONTREAL — They have just about the entire Canadian Football League between them, but the Montreal Alouettes and the Edmonton Eskimos are in the same place right now, and not just geographically.
Both 1-3, both with clouds of criticism hanging over them, both with the same keywords playing a part in their vernacular, two dominant teams from the past decade are trying to find their way before it’s too late and a season slips away from them. In July.
On the host’s side, the talk of the day on Wednesday was about new tricks for the offence, something to give quarterback Anthony Calvillo, an old dog by pro sports standards at 41, a bone.
Offensive co-ordinator Mike Miller, offensive quality control coach and former CFL QB Ryan Dinwiddie and Doug Berry, the senior adviser to headcoach Dan Hawkins, have spruced up the team’s play- book in advance of Thursday’s game against the Eskimos.
“When you’re running new stuff, I think there’s a reason why you make little mental mistakes,,” Calvillo said. “Overall the guys are saying, ‘Let’s not use that as an excuse anymore.’
“We’re not going to ask more questions; we’re going to make this happen. That’s the approach we’re taking now and if the coach is going to continue to challenge us then it’s going to be on us to go out and execute it.”
An inability to execute in the third quarter has been the key problem for the Eskimos in all three of their losses, where they’ve given up a pair of touchdowns in each of those games.
It’s happened most recently over the last two games, a pair of losses to the B.C. Lions.
“I’m not sure what the exact problem we’re having right now is. Offensively is the only thing I can speak to,” quarterback Mike Reilly said.
“We have to come out and get plays together. We have to get some points ... especially when the game is tied. When we come out in the second half and have a chance to take the lead, we have to do that.
“Potentially, the most important drive of the game is that first drive of the third quarter, so we need to treat it as such and focus and execute.”
Both teams have been terrible in third quarters this year, with Edmonton being out-scored 42-12 and Montreal out-paced 42-2.
On both sides, the words ‘must-win’ have crept onto the radar. The response, has been similar.
“We haven’t completed a third of the season yet,” Reed said.
“This is an 18-game regularseason schedule. This is Game 5,” said Als’ linebackers coach Mark Nelson.