By Jack Bedell,
MontrealAlouettes.com
It happens every year…
No matter whether it’s in Week 1 or in Week 10 – or Week 3 like last weekend – the Alouettes’ first loss always stings.
It’s not just the disappointment of losing a game. The first loss of the year bursts my secret dream of a perfect season every year.
And no matter how irrational that dream of 18-0 might be, I have to admit I study the Als’ schedule the second it comes out in the off-season, going through the opponents, the rhythm of the home and away games, and the placement of the bye week, and harbour the same improbable hope year after year.
But like any other vaccination, the pain of the first loss helps prepare me for the ups and downs headed our way in 2008. It really puts some perspective back into play and gives me the chance to analyze games more realistically.
The main solace I can take away from last week’s game against the Stampeders is that the Als ran head-on into one of the finer teams in the league this season and more than held their own.
All three phases of the game performed well.
Anthony Calvillo and the Als’ offence was on fire again in the first half of the tilt, and A.C. was well on his way to another 400-yard performance when his pinky finger was injured and threw him off a bit. Plus, the Als’ protection was extraordinary considering that Calgary’s defence ran more games and blitzes than I’ve seen in quite some time.
The defence put good pressure on Stamps’ quarterback Henry Burris, forcing him to spread the ball around and taking away his deep game, and contained running back Joffrey Reynolds for the most part, limiting him to 82 pretty tough yards. T.J. Hill was all over the field with eight tackles and two sacks – those would be good stats for two players combined!
And Damon Duval flat-out kicked the stuffing out of the ball on punts, averaging 60 yards over six kicks, making Stamps’ returner Marcus Howell a non-factor.
The fact is: two good teams met last week and played hard. Calgary controlled the clock in the second half and came away with the W.
I can live with that…even if it stings.
But it doesn’t mean I won’t be predicting wins for the Als the rest of the way!
