It's All In Their Heads

Big news in the CFL today as they will be moving forward with headsets in the QB's helmets. Another positive step for the CFL as they continue to grow year by year.

It took awhile for the CFL to get HD replay for the referees, however they got it and they got it right. Headsets for the QBs may be years behind the NFL, however it is now in effect.

Coaches will be able to communicate with their QBs up until 10 seconds left on the play clock and the headsets won't be turned back on until the play is whistled dead.

What does this mean for the Alouettes? More offense. This can only benefit a team that is already on the same page offensively. The Als are a team that can run a hurry up offense at ease, meaning coach Trestman will be able to communicate to Calvillo even more knowledge at times of need. The two already have a great relationship this piece of technology can't hurt the potent tandem.

The Headsets are only one-way, meaning the QBs will not be able talkback to their coaches, I'm sure the coaching staffs prefer it that way.

-------------------------
Camp notes:
-Gavin Walls is out with a torn ACL in this knee, he suffered the injury on the opening day of camp.
-I'll be making the 2-hour trek to Sherbrooke tomorrow morning for camp, I'll be tweeting updates at www.twitter.com/seanrcampbell

AC Cools Down Bombers

The Montreal Alouettes put to rest any idea that they were in a slump. The Als disposed of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 48-13 during the second leg of their home and home. The Als also improve their record to a perfect 9-0 at Percival Molson Stadium for the 2009 season. Only one more home date remains and that will be the East Final on November 22nd at the Big O.

On to the game at hand, this game was never in doubt. Actually I guess after Larry Taylor fumbled the opening kick-off, there was a smidgen of doubt but it did not last long. Taylor used his flub to propel him to an incredible game which included 7 punt returns for 73 yards, 5 kickoff returns for 147 yards, oh yeah and 1 MISSED FIELD GOAL for 115 yards and a touchdown. All in all 13 touches for 335 yards. He will be your special teams Player of the week in the CFL. Taylor said after the game that he wanted to be a player that made a difference on the team and this week he set up Anthony Calvillo and his offence on numerous short fields.

Calvillo returned to the helm of the offense that was run by Adrian Mcpherson for the past 5 plus quarters. Calvillo did not miss a beat by going 27/38 for 305 yards and a pair of touchdowns. As much as this teams players and coaching staff will say that they have the upmost confidence in McPherson behind centre in the absence of Calvillo, this offense is a different beast with Calvillo running the show. From snap counts , to checkdowns, to pocket presence Calvillo has something that McPherson doesn't have and that's the experience. After the game Avon Cobourne felt that comparing the two is just not fair because Calvillo is a sure fire hall of famer and McPherson has only played two seasons. Not that McPherson couldn't have gotten the job done against Winnipeg on this day, because for one thing Montreal's defense finally woke up which stalemated the Blue Bombers attack.

Only one touchdown against, which came on the first play from scrimmage of the second half, a 65 yard TD pass from Michael Bishop to Titus Ryan. Other than that one play Bishop struggled going 7/20 for 80 yards. Fred Reid was held to only 37 yards. The Montreal defense that Als fans have been seeing all year finally showed up. The Als welcomed back Shea Emry, Diamond Ferri and Davis Sanchez back into the line-up and it showed. Both Ferri and Sanchez felt it was tough to watch from the sidelines and wanted to get back in and make a difference.

Only one more meaningless game left for the Als, next Saturday against the already eliminated Toronto Argonauts. However with Winnipeg's loss the playoff picture just got that more interesting in the CFL, we'll tackle playoff scenerio's tomorrow.

Als at Home Safe Bet

Beautiful day once again for Larry Smith and his Alouettes. looking at 9,C with some cloud, Wow the forecast was on the mark. Minimal wind, nothing that should affect the passing or kicking game.

Als get back AC, Sanchez, Emry and Ferri which will make the difference. With Hamilton winning yesterday puts more pressure on Winnipeg. However, their game against Hamilton next week is a bigger priority.

I think the Als Wideouts will find more room at home and with AC at the helm. Defence does need to pick up their game, Keep Winnipeg under 25 points and the Als should be fine.

Als 35-Blue Bombers 22.

All in good fun. For in Game updates head to twitter at www.twitter.com/seanrcampbell

Als Look to Run the Table

Sitting at 8-0 on the Season At Percival Molson Stadium the Montreal Alouettes will attempt to go 9-0 at home this Sunday vs the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Kickoff is at 1pm). The Als are however coming off their third loss of the season to the same Blue Bombers team last week 41-24.

Alot of talk heading into this rematch game will be about the return of Anthony Calvillo into the line-up. Adrian McPherson will return to his second string duties. However the focus should squarely be on the defense. Who over the last two weeks have given up 79 points and hasn't registered a sack on the QB.

But good news for the Als Defense corps, Davis Sanchez, Shea Emry and Diamond Ferri should all be back in their usual positions. The defensive line will need to get to Michael Bishop for the rest of the defense to be effective. The DL hasn't had a slump like this all year. Look for a big game from their veteran Lineman Anwar Stewart who should apply some pressure. JOhn Bowman and Keron Williams will ahve to step up their game with Eric Wilson out of the Line-up and Jermain McElveen banged up.

Should Be a Nice day for the game forecast says 9'C and partly cloudy.

Flu for Chiu

Brian Chiu missed Thursday's Practice because of flu- like Symptoms. Normally not big news in the world of sport as everyone gets sick, even Athletes at some point. However in the world of the H1N1 Virus aka the Swine Flu it affects teams preparations and rosters.

In the past a player would would be isolated, within the locker room, on the bus but would still practice minimally and play. The Player would still be part of the game-time planning. But you see it more and more that players will be asked to stay at home for up to 3 or 4 days. You're seeing alot of this in the NHL as we speak.

Football is a sport where preparation is everything. You can almost guarantee if Chiu misses Friday's practice and Saturday's walk through that he wouldn't play. Even for a seasoned veteran like Brian Chiu it's not worth the risk after missing the week of game planning.

However with only 2 regular season games remaining, this is probably a very smart move on Coach Trestman's part. Especially if you consider how close Chiu and Anthony Calvillo work together. We'll see where he is tomorrow.

The Santos Factor

When Ricky Santos was traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, I had to think about it for a second or two. Why would the Blue Bombers trade two roster players for one of the Alouettes non-Roster Practice players? Yes I do understand, The Bombers QB situation at the time was a tad uneasy however it did make me think there was a little more to this trade than just the players involved.

The Alouettes acquired Riall Johnson and Shawn Mayne on September 21st for Santos. Both those players have dressed for the Als since and Santos never got that chance other than exhibition games. I think Blue Bombers head coach Mike Kelly saw an extra edge he could gain by adding Santos to his roster.

Ricky Santos practiced with the Als for the last year and a half under Marc Trestman. Santos has had first hand knowledge on how Coach Trestman wants his quarterbacks to play. Did it seem odd that The Winnipeg Blue Bombers seemed to read Adrian McPherson on most plays, I think so. I'm sure Mr Santos and Mr. Kelly have had a few conversations over the past few weeks in preparation for the home and home that the two teams are in the midst of.

I'm not saying that there's ill will but surely no one could have missed the extra sauce on the touchdown spike Santos had on his 1 yard plunge. He ran with something to prove for a 3rd string QB accumulating 20 yards on 5 carries all on sneaks.

Talking to Anothony Calvillo about it, he said that the play names have stayed the same, even though Santops is on the other side. Well a 41-24 loss to a division rival could easily change that.