Missing playoffs ‘tough pill’ for Montreal
When safety Marc- Olivier Brouillette turned pro in 2010, the Alouettes were preparing for their second of two consecutive Grey Cup victories. Seven years later, they’ve known for a matter of weeks they’ll miss the Canadian Football League playoffs for a second consecutive season.
In a nine-team league, where two-thirds of the clubs qualify for post-season play, that’s a dubious accomplishment.
“An unfortunate series of events led us to this point,” said Brouillette, in the final season of his contract. “I don’t think anybody could have really predicted that. Every season’s kind of its own creature. Unfortunately, we’ve been in a bit of a downward spiral the last couple of years. Hopefully, I’ll be around to be a part of the change.”
The Als (6-11) conclude their schedule Saturday against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Tim Hortons Field. Many believed the Ticats were the class of the East Division at training camp, but the team has been ravaged by injuries and has lost four of its last five. Nonetheless, the Ticats (7-10) have qualified for the playoffs.
A Montreal victory Saturday would leave the teams deadlocked in the standings, but the Ticats own the tiebreaker, having defeated the Als twice this season. Indeed, Ham- ilton is 5-2 within the division, while the Als are 2-5. When the teams met here on Sept. 16, a short field goal on the game’s final play carried the Ticats to a three-point win.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” Brouillette said. “It’s something we should have taken care of several weeks ago, the last time we played them. We didn’t know that would come back to haunt us.”
The winter will have its share of nightmares for this franchise and its players. It wouldn’t have taken much in the division for the Als to have extended their season. Ottawa, which has clinched first place, dropped to 8-9-1 with a 33-20 loss Friday night against Winnipeg.
“A win would add credence to the fact we’re a better team than we’ve been led to believe,” said interim head coach Jacques Chapdelaine, who has led the Als to a 3-2 record since replacing Jim Popp, including the team’s first two-game winning streak since August 2015.
Middle-linebacker Bear Woods is under contract next season and figures to return — especially since he’s a double team award nominee as the outstanding player and top defensive player. But he understands this team, as he knows it, is preparing for its final game together. Rosters evolve but the Als, in particular, will probably make drastic and necessary changes.
Woods missed most of last season with a torn pectoral muscle. He’s preparing to miss the playoffs for the first time. “It’s going to be a strange feeling when it’s over,” he said. “It’s more bitter than sweet.
Vernon Adams has recovered from his thigh injury and will start at quarterback. Receiver Marcus Henry has an Achilles tendon injury and will be replaced by Kyle Graves, while import tailback Cam McDaniel will be activated for the first time this season.