By: Jack B. Bedell
MontrealAlouettes.com
Week 13: Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Montreal – Stopping the run and forcing a one-dimensional offensive attack is one of the fundamental hallmarks of quality defence. As simple and basic as this tenet is, it’s also one of the most truthful in football at any level.
Heading into Winnipeg this weekend, the Alouettes’ defence is about to face as true a test as there is in the CFL in terms of battling for control of the line of scrimmage to contain the Bombers’ run game.
Winning percentage aside, the Blue Bombers head into week 13 as one of the league’s most effective rushing attacks, leading the league in average yards per rush (6.6) and ranked second in both average yards rushing per game (146.5) and most net yards rushing (1612).
Model of consistency
Fred Reid currently leads the CFL in yards from scrimmage with 1096. And he’s also tops on the league’s rushing list with 906 yards on 141 carries, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.
Reid’s ability to put the Bombers’ offence in reasonable down-and-distance scenarios consistently has been one of the main reasons back-up pivot Steven Jyles has operated at such a high level of efficiency in relief of injured starter Buck Pierce.
Without a doubt, Reid’s success on the ground opens up high-percentage passes for Jyles off play action, and it has the side benefit of changing the angle and ferocity of the pass rush Jyles faces each game.
In the past, the Als’ front seven has been able to nullify Reid on almost every occasion by virtue of its ability to swarm to the ball and to get excellent penetration from its front four.
This weekend should be no exception with John Bowman, Jermaine McElveen, Eric Wilson, and Anwar Stewart re-routing Reid on their way into the Bombers’ backfield. Active penetration by the Alouettes’ front four should disrupt the timing of Winnipeg’s run game, and it should provide multiple opportunities for the Als’ aggressive linebacking corps to make plays.
On top of their games
Chip Cox, Diamond Ferri, and Shea Emery are all blessed with great speed to the ball and wonderful instincts for plugging gaps along the line of scrimmage. They’ll need every bit of their skills to curtail Reid again this weekend.
Turnovers might play a large roll in shutting the Bombers’ run game down as well. After 12 weeks, the Bombers have lost the second-most fumbles in the league (12), many of which were the result of ball carriers being stripped.
Fortunately for the Alouettes, three of the CFL’s top-five players in terms of forced fumbles suit up in their front seven—league leader Bowman with four strips and Ferri and Jermaine McElveen tied for second with two apiece.
The Alouettes next play the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Canad Inns Stadium on Sept. 24 at 8pm EST RDSHD, TSNHD, NRJ, CJAD
