Alouettes in foul mood for date with Argos
Boatmen eye first home win against rival struggling to generate offence
In some ways, the Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes are going through similar problems.
With Toronto at 2-2 and Montreal at 1-2, neither team is happy with its record in the early stages of the CFL season. Both teams are also unhappy with their offensive production. The Argos are sixth in scoring at 23.8 points per game, while the Alouettes, missing two of their top receivers in S.J. Green and Kenny Stafford, sit at the bottom of the league with a paltry 14 points per game.
When they meet for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at BMO Field on Monday night, the pressure will be on both sides. The Argos are 0-2 at home, and after a 31-7 loss to Hamilton on July 15 the Alouettes were vocal about their lack of offensive punch.
It’s here that the teams seem to differ. After that loss to Hamilton, Als receiver Duron Carter publicly criticized the offence. The Alouettes fined veteran slotback Nik Lewis for criticism of his team’s play. Lewis stood by his expletive-loaded assessment and said he wouldn’t be muzzled. Alouettes quarterback Kevin Glenn, who missed the Hamilton game with eye inflammation, summed up the mood around his team over the last few weeks in one word.
“Anxious,” he said. “It’s been very anxious around the team — in the locker room, in practice. I’ve seen guys … be more accountable about what they need to do and what we need to do to be more successful, looking at ourselves in the mirror.
“It could be because of an old interview that an old guy on our team did, but I think guys took to it, they listened to it.”
The Argos know they need to win at home, especially against a divisional rival. But the mood during their Sunday walkthrough at Downsview Park was loose and easygoing.
“You can’t be excited about having a Grey Cup in Toronto without having a great home-field advantage,” Argos defensive tackle Bryan Hall said.
“That starts with the players up front first. Then we have to go out and handle our business. You can’t lose at home, period.”
“They’ll be desperate I’m sure, but I don’t know if they’ll be any more desperate than we are,” Argos coach Scott Milanovich said. “We’re 2-2 and we felt like we let one get away last week (losing to Ottawa) that would have put us on top of the standings.
“Whenever you lose, that following week, especially for us with a long week to have to sit and stew on it, I’m sure the players are anxious to get back out on the field because it’s been a rough week.”
“I see a team backed up against the wall right now. They’ve got a lot coming at them,” Hall said of the Alouettes. “I know if my back’s against the wall I’m going to come out swinging.
“I feel like they’re going to come out with their best game of the year. They’re hungry and pissed off for a win. We’ve got to be ready and compete with that.”