MontrealAlouettes.com
EDMONTON – The Alouettes (6-5) arrived in Edmonton this morning as they prepare to close out the month of September with two road games. Despite having missed a chance to move into top spot in the East Division, the Alouettes and their fearless leader aren’t losing any sleep over the standings just yet.
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“We’re a very good team, but a team making too many mistakes on offence, and we have to correct that.” |
“I strongly believe that we have to stop worrying about how we are going to catch up to other teams,” warned All-Star quarterback Anthony Calvillo. “We’re going to have to start focusing on the task at hand and on our jobs week in and week out. I think that’s the most important thing for us to do right now. We’re a very good team, but a team making too many mistakes on offence, and we have to correct that.”
Friday night’s showdown with the Eskimos (7-4) will mark the second meeting between the clubs this season, with the Als defeating the Esks 27-4 back in Week 7.
Although the Als’ defense didn’t surrender a single touchdown and controlled the line of scrimmage to hold Edmonton’s rushing attack to a scant -1 yard on the ground, head coach Marc Trestman is mindful his team will be facing a much different squad this time around.
“Edmonton has vastly improved since the last time we played them. This will not be an easy game,” cautioned Trestman. “Their offense is stronger and they have guys on the defensive side of the ball who were injured that will be back in the lineup for them as well.”
The healthier Edmonton squad will include wide receiver Fred Stamps, who is set to face the two-time defending Grey Cup champion Alouettes for the first time this season. The Eskimos’ co-leader with five touchdowns on the year, Stamps sat out three games this season with an abdominal injury.
Going into this Friday’s tilt, Calvillo will count on a mending weapon of his own in S.J. Green, even though the slotback left last week’s game against the Blue Bombers in the opening quarter with a rib injury.
“The ribs feel good,” confirmed Green after being medically cleared to play. “I will have to play with a protective brace, but it shouldn’t be a problem. I moved around and I felt good at practice. I have good range of motion and I’m ready to play.”
Trestman knows his receiver will be ready and made it a point to drive that point home.
“It’s a rib issue. It reminds me of the injury that J.P. Bekasiak sustained earlier this season,” said the Als coach. “We will never risk a player getting hurt or put a player on the field if he does not feel ready.”
That bodes well for the Als, with the Eskimos having given up the second-most passing first downs (144) and the second-most passing touchdowns (17) this season.
On the other hand, Edmonton’s front seven did pile up five sacks last week, so running backs Brandon Whitaker and Dahrran Diedrick will have to excel in the blocking game and keep Calvillo’s jersey dirt-free on Friday night.
The Alouettes and the Eskimos will kickoff at Commonwealth Stadium Friday (TSN HD, RDS HD, CJAD 800, Sirius 158 and 98,5 fm) at 9:00 p.m. (Eastern).
Here’s how the two teams match up so far this season:
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| Total Offence Per Game | 410.8 (1st) | 348.3 (5th) |
| Rushing Offence Per Game | 103.0 (2nd) | 102.6 (3rd) |
| Passing Offence Per Game | 322.5 (1st) | 267.5 (5th) |
| Total Defence Per Game | 349.0 (4th) | 357.3 (5th) |
| Rushing Defence Per Game | 79.6 (1st) | 102.0 (5th) |
| Passing Defence Per Game | 286.4 (6th) | 270.6 (4th) |
| Points Per Game | 30.9 (1st) | 24.3 (6th) |
| Opponents Points Per Game | 25.1 (4th) | 22.7 (2nd) |
