Rick Moffat
CFL.ca
Can the Rivalry born of the Repeat be the toughest speed-bump on the road to a Three-Peat?
The Alouettes are in Saskatchewan again for the first time since the Canada Day fireworks that launched the 2010 season.
Als vs. Esks? That’s soooo 50’s, 70’s and early 2000’s.
Als vs. Stamps? Puleeze! Calvillo will gladly let Smiling Hank stockpile more CFL individual honours in return for Grey Cups.
Als vs. Riders? Now that’s a rivalry. Fans can only hope the rematch of the Grey Cup rematch is even half as entertaining as last year’s 54-51 double-overtime shootout thriller.
Expect Anthony Calvillo and Darian Durant to make it so.
Vancouver would be wise to stockpile the watermelons now.
Calvillo had a near perfect first half vs. the Lions: completing 13-of-16 passes and heaving up long bomb touchdown throws seemingly at will.
Calvillo threw the deep ball to Jamel Richardson with an ease that recalled the best of AC’s long distance hook-ups with Jermaine Copeland a decade ago now.
Richardson, named an offensive captain by Coach Trestman for Week 1, told me on the eve of the season opener that he is part of the best Alouettes’ receiver corps ever.
The CFL’s offensive player of the week knows how to walk the walk after talking the talk.
Brandon Whitaker was the first player to get the ball in his hands from AC on 2011’s first play from scrimmage—surely by design.
It is not that anything Cobourne could do, Whitaker can do better. It’s just that the patient understudy to “the other AC” does things differently but with just as effective results.
Whitaker would love to rack up another 20 touches in Regina and will remain a dual threat swinging out of the backfield. But the Als and Riders will not meet for a Grey Cup rematch unless the sleek and shifty back has more sacks-prevented than touchdown runs over a full season.
Darian Durant often talks about studying the master Calvillo’s body of work on film, but being a Film Studies major doesn’t make you a director.
Roughrider fans don’t need to be reminded Durant threw 3 interceptions last week. The Als’ ball-hawks don’t need to be reminded either.
Lost in the hurt of Jerald Brown’s season-ending injury was a vital sign for the Alouette secondary. Billy Parker re-established himself as the lockdown guy.
He was as physical as need be, and frustrated Geroy Simon step for step in deep coverage. Not bad for a guy who was moved to the wide side corner in training camp.
Dwight Anderson was quick to pick up on the ball-hawking sign of success—acknowledging a bit hit last week by flapping his wings.
Even with 2010’s weakest link De’Audra Dix back in the starting lineup, expect more bump-and-run success as the Als crank up a better pass rush from their constant shuffle along the defensive line.
Signs of concern for the Als? Special teams coverage units. After two total busts in their final pre-season tuneup the Als surrendered their third kick return TD in two weeks.
Enough already.
Kitwana Jones is supposed to be a heat-seeking missile wreaking havoc to prevent such runbacks.
The last time a CFL team won 3 straight Grey Cups at the expense of the same victim, the Edmonton Eskimos tortured Alouette fans of the mid-50’s.
Saskatchewan, it was generations ago, but we’ve felt your pain.
It is part of the legacy of the Cup. And I’m willing to bet you a lacquered watermelon it can happen again with Montreal in role reversal.
