Preview: Edmonton Eskimos (4-1) @ Montreal Alouettes (1-4)
By Jared Book
EDMONTON ESKIMOS (4-1) @ MONTREAL ALOUETTES (1-4)
Percival Molson Stadium
Game Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV/Live Stream information
Canada: TSN, RDS
Online: TSN Go | ESPN3
I can’t help but see the irony of the Edmonton Eskimos coming to town thriving under head coach Chris Jones while the Montreal Alouettes are pretty much in a free fall. Davis, a former Alouettes defensive coordinator, was a coaching candidate for the team several times.
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He was a candidate in 2007, before Jim Popp named himself as head coach, while he was the Alouettes defensive coordinator. He was a candidate in 2008, before Marc Trestman was hired. When Trestman was hired, he left the team to join the Calgary Stampeders, then went to the Toronto Argonauts before finally getting his chance in Edmonton.
I can imagine, had the Alouettes not ignored him so many times that he would have been a candidate last year, when the team hired Dan Hawkins, and this year when the team hired Tom Higgins. I covered the team in that 2007 season, and you could tell that there was tension between Popp, offensive coordinator Doug Berry and Jones.
Now, here we are. The Eskimos with a pretty unbelievable turnaround, all things considered and the Alouettes struggling to put together a touchdown.
Obviously Jones’ specialty is defence, and that is not really where the Alouettes are struggling at the moment. So, maybe it wouldn’t have been different but still, it’s hard to not wonder what could have been.
The Alouettes have had more coaching additions than touchdowns the last three weeks and it will take time to see improvement as they only have a week to get everything figured out, however you have to wonder how long they will stay with Troy Smith as starter.
Montreal has made some changes to their lineup. With S.J. Green back in the lineup, they have moved Chad Johnson to the inside slotback position to get him closer to the quarterback and will have Green and Duron Carter as the wide men. It should be noted that the Alouettes have been playing with some bunch formations in which all receivers are closer to the middle of the field.
This will be a big game for the Alouettes. I will be attending the game in person, my first this year and will keep an eye to see if I can notice anything you just can’t see from the television. Something has got to give for the offence this week.