MontrealAlouettes.com
MONTREAL – Faced with a short week, the Alouettes (0-1) are preparing to defend their home turf for the first time this year in their regular season home-opener against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-1) at Percival Molson Stadium tonight at 7:00 p.m.
|
|
|
The Alouettes and Blue Bombers will renew hostilities tonight at Percival Molson Stadium (tickets). |
With both teams coming off tough losses in Week 1, close attention will be paid to how the two clubs respond to their early-season setbacks.
“We just need to get back to playing Alouettes football,” admitted receiver Jamel Richardson. “This is a division rivalry game and this one means a lot more than the season opener.”
After snagging five passes for 78 yards last week, the 30-year-old star will be playing in his 100th career game tonight and is looking forward to putting on a show for the home crowd.
“It would be fitting to have my first 100-yard receiving game fall on the same night as my 100th game in the league,” pondered Richardson. “I’m sure our fans wouldn’t mind that, either.”
The Alouettes aerial attack will be looking to get back on track after an uncharacteristically modest showing in Calgary last Sunday.
“Last week we left our defence out on the field for way too long” continued Richardson. “Last week, the D gave us three turnovers and we weren’t able to move the ball down the field and come away with any points. This week will be different.”
Fresh off his career-high 13 defensive tackles last week, linebacker Chip Cox is eager to get right back at it against the Blue Bombers. But with a brand new defensive unit sporting a few new faces in the lineup, Cox understands the need for patience.
“We’re a new defence and a work in progress,” explained Cox, who sits atop the CFL in tackles. “I look around on the field and I see new guys all around me. It makes me feel like I just arrived on this team. Only Billy Parker and I played in every game last season. But now with our guys back we’re quickly learning to play together once again.”
While many view this defensive corps as an up-and-coming unit, they still showed flashes of brilliance in the season opener with two interceptions along with a fumble recovery.
“We understand the importance of getting back on track to avoid a 0-2 start out of the gate. But one game doesn’t define a season,” admitted defensive tackle and newcomer Aaron Hunt after his B.C. Lions had a rough start to their 2011 season. “We had a slow start in B.C. last year and we got hot when it mattered. There’s really no need to panic at this stage.”
Dwight Anderson will not be in the lineup for Montreal as the two-time West Division All-Star sustained an injury to his finger.
“Unfortunately it happened on the last play of Wednesday’s practice,” confirmed Marc Trestman. “They had to put a pin in his finger and he will be sidelined for 10 days and is expected to miss the next two games.”
With the injury to defensive end Marques Murrell, former NFLers Mike Lockley and Michael Montgomery have been called in to fill the void.
Winnipeg quarterback Buck Pierce is expected to be under centre after suffering a right knee injury in the Bombers 33-16 loss to the Lions last Friday. The eight-year pivot participated in a full practice earlier this week at Canad Inns Stadium.
Key personnel on the Bombers’ offence are also dealing with a few injuries as receiver Cory Watson, right tackle Andre Douglas, running back Chad Simpson, and linebacker Marcellus Bowman are not expected to be ready for the game in Montreal.
The Alouettes and Blue Bombers will get down to business at Percival Molson Stadium tonight at 7:00 p.m. (TSN HD, RDS HD, CJAD 800, Sirius 157 and 98,5 fm).
