For the Montreal Alouettes, a victory on Monday would be priceless.
The Alouettes (7-7) of the CFL, who have spent most of the season chasing a.500 record, can earn a playoff spot and a home postseason game with a victory over the Ottawa Redblacks on Thanksgiving Day (3-11).
The Redblacks have a modified sideline when the Alouettes play them.
Following a 34-19 defeat to the BC Lions on September 30, coach Paul LaPolice was let go.
With four games left in the regular season, special teams coordinator Bob Dyce took up the temporary position.
At Percival Molson Stadium, plays will be called by Redblacks quarterbacks coach Will Arndt.
The players’ success is my number one priority, according to Dyce, who stated this as his greatest goal. “I don’t want to make hasty decisions. Even though we only have a limited amount of time, I want to prepare properly for these four games.
“I have a lot of respect for the men in the locker room, and I want to make sure that we do things correctly because it will allow us to build a good foundation here.
Danny Maciocia, general manager and interim head coach of the Alouettes, insisted that his squad will not undervalue Ottawa.
Regarding the rival, Maciocia remarked, “I think that this is a squad that is very proud and they have a coach that can inspire his players.” “I have no doubt that they will work really hard for us.
It will be crucial to match the level of energy they bring to the situation.
It’s crucial that we don’t treat them with disdain. They are coached, professional athletes who take pride in themselves.
William Stanback, the Alouettes’ star running back, is happy to be back. The two-time all-star, who led the CFL in running last season, hasn’t played since injuring his ankle against the Calgary Stampeders in the season opener.
Trevor Harris, the quarterback for the Alouettes, said about Stanback: “When you add that element, it can obviously influence a lot of things that the defence can and can’t do.”
Being able to use our play-action game late in games and send the ball to him knowing that we’re going to go downhill and be able to gain positive yards helps us establish the run, too.
Although Stanback represents a major improvement for Montreal’s offence, Maciocia is still unsure of how much of Monday will see him on the field.
After playing on Monday, Montreal will play again on Friday in Ottawa.
Stanback had to participate in three pain-free sessions before the coach added him to the lineup for Monday’s game. Once that is done, Maciocia will play, albeit sparingly, one of his most dominant players.
It’s crucial, according to Maciocia, that we approach William strategically. “Since the beginning of the year, he hasn’t played. In five days, we have two games.
Giving him 20 carries on Monday and 20 carries on Friday is not something we can really afford to do.
We already have a plan in place with the coaches, which we must have. We told the players about it, including Will, so he can contribute to our victory on Monday. He is not a player who will lead 60 or 70 plays, I hope.
Stanback is a valuable offensive component, but Harris also noted that the Als achieved a.500 record without him.
When the star wasn’t there, other running backs filled in.
I think Walter Fletcher is an unbelievable rising star in this league, so to say that our other backs haven’t performed well would be a disservice to them, Harris said. And Jeshrun Antwi, who makes explosive plays when you least expect them and then bursts for 70 yards.
This week, the Redblacks changed their head coach and appointed two new members to their coaching staff.
Doug Malone, who was an offensive line coach for the Lions, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats, joined as an offensive consultant.
Cory McDiarmid joining as a special teams assistant means he’s served on the coaching staff of every current CFL team except the Tiger-Cats.
MONTREAL ALOUETTES (7-7) VS. OTTAWA REDBLACKS (3-11)
POWELL RETURNS: The Redblacks get running back William Powell back Monday. The 34-year-old last played in Ottawa’s 17-3 loss to Stampeders on Aug.
5 when he sustained a knee injury.
ROMICK 100: Defensive end Nigel Romick will play his 100th career game Monday. The 31-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ont. has spent all eight of his CFL seasons with the Redblacks. .
Alouettes pursue a CFL playoff berth against Redblacks as Stanback makes a comeback.
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