Fraser Caldwell
Ticats.ca
Montreal is another tough test
With the Alouettes’ previous decade of success in mind, it is perhaps understandable that many consider the Montreal outfit among the most difficult tests in the CFL.
Tiger-Cats Head Coach George Cortez admitted on Thursday that the Als will pose a significant challenge in two days’ time. However, he also pointed out that it remains much too early at this stage of the 2012 campaign to assess Montreal’s place among the Black and Gold’s seven competitors.
“Well we haven’t played some of the other teams yet, so that’s hard to know,” said Cortez of the Alouettes’ relative strength.
“They’ve got a good team. They’re very good on offence, and I think they’re still searching for the right personnel groupings on defence. But part of that has to do with things like Dwight Anderson being out. But they’re definitely a very good team.”
Calvillo’s strength is in his understanding
The most immediate symbol of Montreal’s success, Anthony Calvillo is also the most ready target of media attention and Ticat game planning alike in the lead-up to Saturday’s contest.
On the topic of the future Hall of Famer, Cortez attributed much of Calvillo’s success to his familiarity with the Alouettes’ offensive system. Such understanding simplifies a quarterback’s thought process and allows him to cycle through his passing options with ease.
“He doesn’t hold onto the ball, he has good timing and he understands what they’re trying to accomplish,” said the Ticats coach of the Montreal pivot.
“When you understand what you’re trying to accomplish in the throwing game, it always gives you a leg up, because you’re not caught many times with where you’re thinking of going with the ball.”
Personnel discussions are constantly ongoing
The Tiger-Cats have continued to rotate personnel at several positions throughout this week’s training sessions, and Cortez indicated on Thursday that such is a deliberate and constant policy.
Rotation allows a greater number of players to be included in drills and gain repetitions, providing a measure of insurance in the event of injury. The Tiger-Cats coach argued that while personnel preferences develop over the course of the training week, physical setbacks are inevitable.
“We talk every day about how it looks, but we try not to make up our minds until all of the hard work is over,” said Cortez of the projected weekly lineup.
“Because as soon as you make up your mind on yesterday’s work, someone comes out and rolls their ankle. Then you’re thinking maybe it should be this other way, so we try to be open minded until it’s all done.”
Burris is gradually building familiarity with receivers
Asked to comment on the development of the relationship between his quarterback and receivers, Cortez stated that it is an ongoing process, and one that always requires time.
Much of that adaptation stems from the fact that each receiver has his own set of tendencies with which the quarterback must become accustomed.
“The longer that quarterbacks play with receivers – I don’t like the word chemistry – they understand by looking at a guy running, what they’re going to do next,” said Cortez.
“They can just tell by the way their body leans and their posture. If that’s chemistry, then the longer they play together, the better it gets.”
