By Jack Bedell,
MontrealAlouettes.com
Pre-season games can often be a mixed bag of scrappy play, penalties, and turnovers. This is especially true of the first game of the season, considering teams have been in training camp for a week or less.
But even with all the rough edges, the next two games will offer a great gauge of the team’s depth, not to mention an early peek at its attitude and the chemistry being built in camp.
Game plans might be vanilla, veterans might be making brief appearances or taking nights off, and the good look we get at several players might be the last look in many cases. The fundamental match-ups in the game, though, can still be very telling.
Toeing the line
One of those match-ups I’ll be keeping a close eye on this Sunday in Winnipeg will be how the interior of the Alouettes offensive line competes against the Blue Bombers’ defensive triangle at middle linebacker and two defensive tackles.
The Als’ quick-release passing game and slashing rushing attack feed on edge pressure and all the space it leaves when handled properly. Pressure from the defence right up the middle, however, disrupts all elements of the offensive attack.
While we might not be able to calculate the emotional impact the retirement of all-CFL centre Bryan Chiu will have on the Als for some time, we should be able to see some of the physical changes right away in the interior of the Als’ O-line.
Paul Lambert, Luc Brodeur-Jourdain, Andrew Woodruff, and company will have their work cut out for them against Winnipeg’s collection of big, disruptive defensive tackles and active middle linebackers.
All-Canadian Doug Brown and MLB Joe Lobendahn are known commodities, regardless of how the Bombers’ new defensive scheme plays. The rest of the characters, including newcomers LaDarien Scott, Don Oramasionwu, and Dorian Smith, start with clean slates. One thing’s for sure, they al have good size, quickness, and high motors, and they’ll all be eager to impress new defensive coordinator Kavis Reed.
Communication will be key
Communication and teamwork will be absolutely key along the Als’ offensive line to handle the challenge. If the offence is going to have any chance of getting quality work in, it’ll be up to the interior of the Als’ o-line to keep the Bombers’ defensive triangle on its side of the line of scrimmage for the passing game and to collapse its shape in the running game.
I can hardly wait to see how the battle in the trenches goes in Winnipeg this Sunday. It’s been too long since the final whistle blew on the Grey Cup, and I couldn’t be more ready to kick this preseason off.
The Alouettes will face the Blue Bombers at Winnipeg’s Canad Inns Stadium this Sunday, June 13 at 2 p.m. (Eastern) – listen live on CJAD 800 AM.
