Als QB Adams must fix erratic play
Alouettes QB falls short again in 27-18 loss to Lions with coach Jones still in isolation
If you're looking for excuses, there were plenty that could be made.
Perhaps the Alouettes, coming off their second bye week of the schedule and playing for the first time in two weeks, were rusty? And there's no doubt the absence of head coach Khari Jones, who was in isolation following a positive COVID -19 test last weekend, extracted a toll on his team.
Jones, after all, wears numerous hats, including offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. And on this night in particular, Vernon Adams Jr. could have used the benefit of Jones' ear and calming influence.
The Als appear strong on paper. And there's no doubt Adams has some commendable attributes along with the potential of becoming an electrifying player. But the 28-year-old, now in his fifth CFL season, continues to be dogged by erratic play and has been unable to produce consecutive consistent efforts this season.
Adams passed for 270 yards Saturday night against the B.C. Lions, but completed only 16 of 36 attempts, although his receivers — especially Eugene Lewis — were guilty of repeatedly dropping passes. Adams failed to generate a touchdown, was intercepted twice and fumbled once.
Put it all together and it's not surprising Montreal lost 27-18 in a game they dominated statistically, while squandering David Côté's six field goals.
The Als had 25 first downs to the Lions' 20. With 456 yards' net offence, they generated 80 more yards than the visitors, while controlling the ball for 31 minutes, 28 seconds. William Stanback was stellar, as usual, gaining 139 yards on 18 carries. Even Adams gained 44 yards on seven attempts — B.C. seems incapable of stopping the run.
But it mattered little in the long run. Montreal has now lost both games it has played at Molson Stadium, has a 2-3 record and faces the formidable task of going on the road for its next two matches at Toronto and Hamilton. While Montreal sits only a game behind both the Argonauts and Tiger-cats, and holds a game in hand, the team could be 2-5 by the time it returns home on Thanksgiving Monday against Ottawa.
“If I take (Adams') place for a minute, I feel my head coach isn't there, my QB coach isn't there, my OC isn't calling the plays,” said assistant head coach André Bolduc, who replaced Jones and called the offence with assistant Mike Lionello. “Maybe (Adams) took a little more on his shoulders. That's what he did early in the season and we tried to fix that, to have him play the game like he does, with no pressure and having fun.
“I think we needed to make more plays when the ball was in the air,” Bolduc added. “If we make a couple more plays, then the pressure's not on Vernon to have a perfect ball. I think it's a collective effort. We have to make more plays for him and the points will come in the red zone.”
Adams' mistakes were plenty, unfortunately. It started on the opening drive — the Als already trailing 7-0 — when he marched the team to the Lions' 15-yard line. On second down, he tried hitting B.J. Cunningham, who was well covered in the end zone. Predictably, the pass was intercepted by T.J. Lee; three points, at least, squandered.
Adams too frequently threw into double coverage while missing receivers who appeared open. And while he completed several big plays — a 40-yarder to Dante Absher, a 35-yarder to Lewis, who made a spectacular play despite double coverage — Adams often attempted the kill shot on one play. Great if it works, but it didn't enough against the Lions.
When Adams is good, he's very good and exciting. But he still lacks consistency and makes errors in judgment.
On his second interception, Adams did a good job of eluding the rush. But then, instead of hurling the ball out of bounds from the B.C. 48, his attempt was under thrown and pilfered by Bo Lokombo. Montreal was still in the game at the time, trailing 17-15.
“We didn't capitalize when we got in the red zone,” Adams said. “We have to be better as a whole. I've got to be better. It starts with me.
“We were moving the ball. Everything was fine. We just weren't capitalizing and weren't on the same page. It was just tough.”
Defensively, the Als probably deserved a better fate. But they allowed a touchdown on the opening drive — a recurring theme — and failed to make a stop in the fourth quarter when one was required, the Lions requiring only three plays to drive 59 yards, culminating in a touchdown that gave them a 24-15 lead.
We didn't capitalize when we got in the red zone. We have to be better as a whole. I've got to be better. It starts with me.