Head to head: Defence

By Richard Obrand,
MontrealAlouettes.com

Comparing the front seven…

John Bowman, Anwar Stewart, Eric Wilson, Keron Williams, Shea Emry, Diamond Ferri, Chip Cox
vs.
Stevie Baggs, Marcus Adams, Keith Shologan, John Chick, Sean Lucas, Renauld Williams, Tad Kornegay

Anwar Stewart’s career has almost come full circle. Nine years removed from being cut as a 24-year old from the Calgary Stampeders, Stewart – making his seventh Grey Cup appearance – is back where it all began. Now at the tender age of 33, Stewart finds himself as the leader of the Alouettes’ front seven, a group filled with fresh, young talent. Surrounded by names such as John Bowman, Eric Wilson, Keron Williams, Shea Emry, Diamond Ferri and Chip Cox, Stewart finds himself in good company whenever he lines up at his usual rush end slot. With two of the league’s top-10 sack leaders by his side in Bowman and Williams, rest assured that Stewart is in good company. At the linebacker position, the Alouettes underwent a major facelift during the off-season that involved promoting sophomore Emry to the middle-linebacker position. Following an impressive first-year playing mainly special teams for the Als, Emry has flourished in his new role, garnering 51 tackles with two sacks. His fellow linebackers, Cox – the league’s co-leader in forced fumbles – and Ferri, provide an element of speed and grit to the second line of defence.

What do you do when you’re face-to-face with two of the most elusive defensive ends in the CFL? Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the year John Chick and fellow lineman Stevie Baggs have had teams asking that question all season long. Co-leading the CFL in sacks with Montreal’s Bowman, Baggs poses as a physical threat whenever he steps onto the field. With 12 sacks and two forced fumbles, the second-year Rider requires a load of attention. Baggs and Chick are fast, shifty and hold the ability to make opposing lines look foolish. It’s almost perfect theatre that the top six forced fumbles leaders will be on the field for this game.

Dissecting the secondaries…

Mark Estelle, Billy Parker, Davis Sanchez, Jerald Brown, Matthieu Proulx, Étienne Boulay
Vs.
Donovan Alexander, Lance Frazier, James Patrick, Chris McKenzie, Omarr Morgan

Some would agree that having elite shutdown cornerback Mark Estelle and veteran leader Davis Sanchez on the field at the same time is all a secondary would need to succeed. But putting emerging star Billy Parker, outstanding CFL rookie Jerald Brown and Canadian-grown Matthieu Proulx between them? That’s just not fair. Together, the five combined to be among the league’s most elite secondaries and the stats refuse to prove otherwise. Their 24 interceptions are first among playoff teams, while their 18 passing touchdowns allowed were the fewest of any team in the CFL. With 14 players on the roster credited with at least one interception, it’s clear that regardless of who’s on the field at the time, opposing quarterbacks better beware.

Lance Frazier goes into Sunday’s Grey Cup as the leader in interceptions with five. The only Saskatchewan starter to score a touchdown off an interception, Frazier brings a wealth of experience to the Rider secondary. The only member of Saskatchewan’s 2007 Grey Cup team in the back four, Frazier’s on-field presence should not go unrecognized.