Steinberg’s MMQB: A lot of questions needing answers

While we’re seeing the three perennial West Division powerhouses playing as such early on in 2013, things just don’t seem right on the other side of the country.  The troubles of the Montreal Alouettes have many on the outside baffled, and unfortunately, many on the inside as well.

Work in progress

The Alouettes are one of the most intriguing stories of 2013.  In their 38-27 loss to the Stampeders on Saturday night, it was new issues dragging them down, and new issues that seemed to have their coaching staff  just as confused.

We’ll start with the good news.  The Als were able to move the football as well as they’ve been able all year against the Stamps…for one quarter.  In taking a 24-0 first quarter lead, things seemed to be back on track.  Even with injuries, the Montreal offensive line looked like it had been at work all week long in trying to shore up their issues.  

They allowed far more time for Anthony Calvillo and for the first time all season, S.J. Green was the type of gamebreaking threat we know he’s capable of being.
    
So what happened in the final 45 minutes at McMahon Stadium when the Als only scored three more points?

Well, first off, their offence did stall, there’s no doubt about it.  Give the Calgary defence some credit though, as they did an outstanding job in pass coverage.  The Stamps really smothered Montreal’s playmakers, knocking down numerous passes thanks to a mobile group of linebackers and a solid secondary.
    
That wasn’t what stuck out most, though.  The Als were much better offensively than they had been the prior two weeks, but unfortunately they had downfalls all over the rest of the field.
    
Defensively, Montreal did not look like the group they had been previously.  Even with solid pressure on both Calgary quarterbacks, the Als made continual errors in coverage that allowed the Stamps to continue drives.  

Even Kevin Glenn’s final play of the game (where he was rocked while completing a pass), was an example of a coverage breakdown that resulted in a huge Calgary hookup.  To make matters worse, Bo-Levi Mitchell’s job was far too easy in relief.  He had all day to throw, and Montreal didn’t take advantage of an opportunity to rattle a young quarterback thrust into action.
    
Oh, and let’s not forget what may have been the biggest issue of all.  The Als have too many other issues to work out right now that penalty problems just can’t be accepted.  Montreal took 13 penalties on Saturday night, many of them adding 15 yards to Calgary drives on needless unnecessary roughness calls.  Dan Hawkins has a huge task on his hands, and that task can’t include figuring out discipline issues.
    
On the field following the game, the thing that struck me most was the way Calvillo reacted.  The future Hall of Famer seemed resigned to what is going on and was very calm and measured about the team’s third straight loss.  It seemed to me like he is a guy who understands this isn’t going to be a quick fix.

Money in the bank

Rene Parades was the most important playmaker for the Calgary Stampeders in their Week 3 three win over the Alouettes in Montreal.  In their Week 4 win over the Als back at home, he wasn’t accounting for 73 per cent of the offence like he did the game prior, but he was still very much in the spotlight.
    
Officially, Calgary’s kicker went four-for-four on field goal attempts, even though it seemed like his assault on history had been halted just short of tying a record.  

Entering action on Saturday, Paredes had made 25 consecutive field goals dating back to the 2012 season (18 in a row to finish 2012, seven straight to start 2013).  

After punching through his fourth three pointer, Paredes was poised to match Paul McCallum’s CFL mark for consecutive field goals made.
    
When John Bowman blocked his fifth attempt, it seemed like some sort of cruel twist of fate was going to deny Paredes a chance to tie, and maybe make, history.  

However, we found out very shortly after that the streak remained intact thanks to the CFL rule book. 
Because Bowman was able to block the kick prior to the ball reaching the line of scrimmage, the play was ruled a fumble and not a field goal attempt.  So, to make a long story short, the streak continues, which is obviously good to see.
    
Stamps Head Coach and GM John Hufnagel was asked about Paredes prior to his team’s Week 4 win, and about the somewhat fortunate circumstances they acquired him under.  

“I went to church,” were the words from Huf, basically agreeing with anyone who believed Calgary got a tad lucky with their deadly accurate kicker.

Having a completely untested kicker out of Concordia turn into an automatic weapon is not something anyone plans on.  Remember, Paredes was brought in as an injury replacement for Rob Maver a couple years ago, and has been in that spot ever since.

The most amazing thing about Paredes is how he’s made Stampeders fans forget all about Sandro Deangelis at the same position.  He’s at the 95 per cent mark for the last couple of seasons, and could set a new record in Winnipeg this coming weekend.  

Ironically enough, the Bombers are the team that Paredes couldn’t make prior to him putting on red and white.

This and that

The battle between the mentor and the pupil didn’t really turn out the way the scriptwriters would have liked.  That battle was waged in the late game on Saturday, when BC topped Edmonton 31-21.  

For Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly, it was his second game against his former team, and the guy he tutored behind in Travis Lulay.
    
This column sang major Lulay praises last week, and he was just fine if not spectacular in BC’s third win of the season.  Instead, it was a game where the Lions D was able to something Edmonton’s wasn’t: stop the run.

Give the Esks credit, as they got the ball in the hands of Hugh Charles 13 times, which is higher than what we’ve seen at points over the last season plus.  Unfortunately for him, there just wasn’t a whole lot of field to be had, thanks to some sure tackling from the likes of Anton McKenzie, Solomon Elimimian, and Dante Marsh.    

Andrew Harris, on the other hand was able to do his work effectively over and over.  Running for an average of over six yards per carry, the Lions made sure he was established early and used plenty. 

I know plenty of Lions fans who felt Harris didn’t get enough run in 2012 and thought his work was overshadowed by the season Jon Cornish had.  Whether he gets a ton of national attention or not, his work against Edmonton was just another example of why Harris is one of the most explosive players in this league.
    
Oh, and I’ll save the Riders for last this week, because really, what else is there to say? I guess there is one thing to say following their 37-0 win over the Hamilton Tiger Cats on Sunday.  In front of a circus-like atmosphere, the Riders put together as flawless an overall performance as we’ve seen from any team all season.

Defensively, there’s not much more that needs to be said than the score.  When you shutout any team in this league, let alone a team that looked so dangerous the week before, you get a tip of the hat.  But it was the attack that looked about as unstoppable as they come.
    
Darian Durant didn’t seem to show any ill effect from the injury he suffered last weekend, and was deadly efficient once again.  His completion percentage isn’t groundbreaking or anything, but it’s what he’s doing with the passes he completes that is astounding.  Kory Sheets was as good as usual, and it was a multi-pronged attack at receiver.  There’s not much else to say, in the end.  They deserve to be where they sit in the standings and they’re going to be tough to be beat the next 14 weeks.