By Jack Bedell,
MontrealAlouettes.com
Hammond, LA – Filling out my online CFL All-Star Ballot the other day, I had a difficult time remaining objective. Honestly, I could’ve made a case for almost every Montreal Alouettes starter on the East Division ballot.
As much as I would’ve liked to check the boxes of all those Als, in the interest of fair play, I decided to stick to CFL statistical leaders for my votes. And even using that criteria, I was still compelled to vote for over a dozen Alouettes players.
While an all-Alouettes All-Star squad would probably go over like a lead balloon in the league office, there’s just no denying the level of talent the team possesses. Stats bear that out in categories covering all three phases of play.
Offence fills the seats…
On offence, it’s an absolute lock to include Anthony Calvillo on the CFL All-Star team. Calvillo leads all CFL passers in yards (3,311), completion percentage (72.3), and passer rating (105.2). With seven games remaining, there’s little doubt he’ll continue to pad those stats at his current rate.
Calvillo’s primary receivers – Kerry Watkins, Ben Cahoon, and Jamel Richardson – all deserve serious consideration as well. Statistically, they are three out of the top four receivers in the division. Watkins leads the East in yards (818), and Cahoon leads the CFL in receptions (56) with Watkins and Richardson right behind (52).
And there’s no overlooking Avon Cobourne. Number 6 currently leads the league in yards from scrimmage (1,184) and is second in the East with 850 yards rushing.
None of those skill players could perform without the offensive line, though. And considering the Als’ O-line has surrendered the fewest QB sacks in the league (17) and have opened holes for the East leader in rushing yards, it would be difficult to deny a few of those players spots on the All-Star roster – particularly Bryan Chiu, Scott Flory, and Paul Lambert who’ve been perennial All-Canadian selections.
And defence wins championships…
Defensively, the Als have been phenomenal all season, at or near the league lead in every meaningful statistical category.
Anwar Stewart and John Bowman definitely deserve recognition for their work on the D-line. Both players are tied for the East lead in sacks (7), while Stewart is atop the CFL list for forced fumbles (3). And numbers don’t even do justice to the havoc those guys have caused this season.
Then there’s Chip Cox and Matthieu Proulx. Cox is amongst league leaders in tackles (54) and is tied with Stewart for forced fumbles. For his part, Proulx leads the league in interceptions (4) and was having a tremendous season at safety prior to losing time to injury.
Let’s not forget the ‘teams…
And finally, on special teams, Damon Duval and Larry Taylor have been absolute class at their positions. Duval presently leads all punters in average (46.8) and all kickers in points scored (140). Taylor leads the East in punt return yards (578) and the CFL in returns for TDs (2).
That might be a heavy dose of Alouettes for one season’s All-Star ballot. But there’s no doubt they all deserve the nod.
