From the Lark's Nest

With the Als' losing streak extending to six games, MadJack checks in with his take on what's going wrong in Montreal.

Well, now we have lost 6 straight.  Deservedly so.  Let's face it, we just aren't that good. We are but a pale imitation of the great team we used to be.

The offensive line was better than last time out...at least we didn't give up 12 sacks, but the running game still left much to be desired.  Frankly, for the few carries they got, Lapointe and Diedrick looked better than Edwards, and should be given more playing time, at least for a change of pace if nothing else....keep the opposing defences off-balance.

AC was AC as we've come to know him this year; mediocre.  He is not the star QB anymore, and does not compare well with the QB leaders of this year such as Burris.

The receivers were average at best.  Cahoon dropping passes, what gives with that?  Anderson was his usual self (the odd good grab, but with that annoying propensity to give up on other routes).  Watkins was underused but at least showed some desire, which was clearly lacking from most of our players this game.

Defense was fair to good for the most part, but two major problems were the inability to adjust to Kevin Glenn's short passing game on crossing routes over the middle...he ate us up all game with that.  And then of course the turning point of the game:

We are driving for the winning or tying points; we gamble on third down, and Brady fumbles the ball.  I do not question the call; sure hindsight says kick the field goal and tie the game; but come on, we're the Alouettes, we're at home, and at that point momentum was in our favour; I totally agree with the call of eschewing the 3 points and going for the first down; if Brady hung on we might well have won the game.

And then, the defence lays an egg and allows Roberts to run all over us to give the Bombers the win. 

Now, give the Bombers some credit; they were on a slump as well, but they played poised, confident football; Glenn managed the game well from their perspective.

We could easily have won, just a few things have to change to make that happen (Brady hanging on to the ball on that third down gamble; Philion making the interception that was in his hands; Edwards not fumbling at a crucial time...his fumbling has happened too often this year).

But the main problem with that game?  No intensity whatsoever from our team.  That was made crystal clear when you watched the second game, BC and Saskatchewan.  From the point of view of intensity, the contrast was like night and day.  So what's to be done?

Well, when your team shows a glaring lack of intensity, and takes undisciplined penalties (like, too many men on the field right after having to burn a timeout because we didn't have the right guys on the field), that says to me that we have a problem, a major problem, with control on the bench.  Fingers must be pointed at the coaching staff.  Now, I'm not saying necessarily that the Don should be given his walking papers, I have not all season ever said that he should be let go, but at this point I'm now willing to consider the possibilty.  If not that, then maybe look at the O-Line coach, and the O and D coordinators.

Our offence is unimaginative; our defence bends and then breaks at the most inopportune times (Winnipeg's last march in this game); those you lay at the feet of the two coordinators.  The lack of discipline, effort, and intensity, however, goes to Matthews.

I think we have to face the fact that we are just not an elite squad anymore.  We certainly are not in the class of Calgary or BC; arguably we dont' even measure up against Saskatchewan, and we've now lost to Toronto and Winnipeg, teams we are fighting with for first place in the East.

All things considered, I am not particularly optimistic.  Toronto is playing poorly, and Winnipeg was until yesterday.  We may still finish first, heck we may even win the Eastern final, but as things stand now, when we would then meet BC or Calgary in the Grey Cup, unless we see dramatic improvement on the flaws I have noted here, we're in for a thrashing.

Major changes are coming for next year if this slide continues.......and with each loss, those major changes appear more likely to occur before the end of the season.