Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg at Montreal November 1, 2025

[Pete]

Change what?

***takes a quick glance at this team's record since 2016, including five consecutive West Division titles and two Grey Cup championships***



What even. LOL

and every year we get a little weaker. Im hoping we can make it past the semifinals this year,, but now were the underdogs. Not saying that this team has done a bad job, just that our core is aging, we've lost key people that we haven't adequately replaced and it may be time to reevaluate our stance to bring us back to the elite team. Non of this is made up in fact a number of posters have also commented on this.
We need to focus on future success more rather than past.

[RebusRankin]

That's not even remotely true.

The Alouettes operate within the same SMS parameters as every other team.

You're saying its untrue that Montreal has reupped their key guys before they hit free agency?

[Jesse]

and every year we get a little weaker. Im hoping we can make it past the semifinals this year,, but now were the underdogs. Not saying that this team has done a bad job, just that our core is aging, we've lost key people that we haven't adequately replaced and it may be time to reevaluate our stance to bring us back to the elite team. Non of this is made up in fact a number of posters have also commented on this.
We need to focus on future success more rather than past.

And those comments are fair. But the first thing you brought up was that our young talent always leaves because we don't play them enough. But there isn't a single instance of a player leaving due to playing time and having success elsewhere. And the second thing you said was that we should retain players before they hit FA, which is what we always do. Onteria Wilson being the most recent example.

[Jesse]

You're saying its untrue that Montreal has reupped their key guys before they hit free agency?

I'm personally saying we already do this and it has been our MO for several seasons.

[RebusRankin]

I'm personally saying we already do this and it has been our MO for several seasons.

Dobson, Lawler, Ford, O'Leary Orange, Houston would indicate we don't always do this.

Bottom line, Montreal is fielding a better roster than we are.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I'm personally saying we already do this and it has been our MO for several seasons.

Not as much as they used to, but that was before the championship run and everyone had their hand out.

[Blue In BC]

Lots of roster movements listed on CFL.CA aside from the obvious added players that were parked on the 1 game IR last week and added back.

Many players shown moved to PR: Griffin, Kelly, Vanterpool, Vibert, Jenkins and Echols to name a few. Others that were on the PR mostly deleted: Gassama, Kornelson for example. OTOH, Person and Weitz remain.

I don't get why some rookies went to the PR and others went to 1 game IR. In theory all the PR players are free agents after the end of the season.

So what's the deal with Griffin and the others shifted 2 the PR? Is that a statement those players are not in the plans for 2026?

The roster doesn't show those transactions so I'm not sure if this is a paper shuffle ( and why ) or actual movement.

[theaardvark]

That's not true. You declare how many Canadians are starters on each side of the ball it must equal a minimum of 7.

You then have to maintain that for the entire game. So if we declare three starters on defense, Thomas, Lawson and Kramdi, three spots will be filled with nationals ALL game long regardless of if those three get hurt, get benched, etc. it can be any three. But it's still three. We cannot go: Kramdi is hurt were only going two nationals on defense now.

You declare at the start what your ratio is, but you are committed to 7 total starters.

If you declare 6 on O and 3 on D to start, you do not have to finish with 6O and 3D, and at any time you drop to 5 on O, you can still drop to 2 on D, but you cannot go below 5 and 2. Or 6O and 1D, or 4O and 3D. 

You can't go to 4 on O, and then back up to 5 on O, and drop to 2 on D...

But there is no way you are forced to continue with 9 NAT starters the entire game if you declare them first.

But you can't go below 7 total.

[Blueforlife]

Montreal is going with a 7 Canadians, 3 on defense, 4 on offense and they're going to use the designated rules to limit snaps by them regardless of if Ugawak plays or not. Lots of free snaps for Shawn Lemon therefore.

On the other hand, we're showing 9 starting Canadians, refusing to use the designated rule, and by this roster are affirming:

A) Corcoran, Clercius and Cobb are better than Dillon Mitchell (who would have to be rostered at the expense of Lawson Jr, Woodbey, Ayers).
B) Dexter Lawson Jr. is better than Jaworski, Jenkins and Adams, and Person.
C) The best we can come up with on defense is a interior defensive rotation of: Thomas, Lawson and Woods,
D) Vaughters and Jefferson can deliver enough pressure and contain to make a difference.

Call me skeptical.

A) Yes those guys are better than Mitchell who's attitude sucks also
B) Lawson needed to help pass D as a backup and rotational guy, nothing to do with if he is better than players on the DL.  Gotta shut down the pass O imo.  Lawson very versatile and decent.
C) Woods is good.  Lawson is decent.  Thomas is reliable.  Good enough
D)both beasts non issue

Call me cautiously optimistic, confident if Mr Demski can play and 75%+

All on the OL imo and ability to run ball down their throat

I am expecting a carbon copy of the same gameplans and execution we have trotted out...we won some games with it but MOS doesn't strike me as a HC who would be challenging his coordinators to come up with anything new...we have the gameplan and our "system" so just execute on the plays that are called.

We are vanilla on offense and on defense apparently it is so complex guys have a hard time learning it...

This game will be won or lost on the backs of Collaros, Castillo and our secondary

I'm expecting all coaches to have a well laid out plan based on our opponent.  Our OC will struggle at times.  Your suggestion in this regard is over generalizing imo.

Our D is #1 in pts allowed.  It's good because its complex.  Complaing about its complexity makes no sense imo.  It's been our pillar of success because its unique and variable.

I disagree about you comment on MOS and our coordinators.  Pure speculation with zero backing.  Our defense has evolved consistently under MOS's rule.  Our OC is new, learning and has had a rough time adjusting.

Game is won in the trenches.  Yes Zach is key.

An incredible challenge but we got the horses if they can show up and run well Sat.

[theaardvark]

Re-signing our FA's has always been a priority, but we are also known to be frugal in those signings.  And players know that for the last 5 years, post season cheques we pretty good.

When we have someone in the pipe, it means re-signing a FA looking for a payday becomes less of an issue, and that's been the case for many years.  Since the departures of Rigmaiden and and Goviea, the pipe is not as full.

Hamilton bought a lot of talent this year, a lot of it from us. 

We will see where each team ends up on the $SMS. 

[Waffler]

confident if Mr Demski can play and 75%+

I don't think that's the way hamstrings work, he can run or he can't. Nothing in between. It's not a matter of pain, it's a muscle tear and if it is not 100% he will just tear it further by stressing it.

[Waffler]

Some trash talking going on. 
https://3downnation.com/2025/10/31/come-on-down-to-montreal-davis-alexander-responds-to-willie-jefferson/

[Sir Blue and Gold]

You declare at the start what your ratio is, but you are committed to 7 total starters.

If you declare 6 on O and 3 on D to start, you do not have to finish with 6O and 3D, and at any time you drop to 5 on O, you can still drop to 2 on D, but you cannot go below 5 and 2. Or 6O and 1D, or 4O and 3D. 

You can't go to 4 on O, and then back up to 5 on O, and drop to 2 on D...

But there is no way you are forced to continue with 9 NAT starters the entire game if you declare them first.

But you can't go below 7 total.

No.

If you start nine because that's your choice you must keep nine and must keep them in the exact deployment of offense and defense as you specified.

Prior to the game: Each club must formally identify to the game officials and the opposing team precisely how many National players will be starting on offense and on defense. This number must adhere to the league's ratio rules (a minimum of eight National starters, one of whom may be a Nationalized American) and cannot be changed during the game.

Side note: for a whole lot of people on here who love the ratio you guys don't really know how it works very well.

[The Zipp]

Massive news: CFL announces they've suspended Alouettes defensive lineman Shawn Oakman for Saturday's Eastern Semifinal.

The league says Oakman breached its Gender-Based Violence and Harassment Policy.

above is from DT

guy needs to rot is all i will say - what he did was terrible

[Jesse]

Re-signing our FA's has always been a priority, but we are also known to be frugal in those signings.  And players know that for the last 5 years, post season cheques we pretty good.

When we have someone in the pipe, it means re-signing a FA looking for a payday becomes less of an issue, and that's been the case for many years.  Since the departures of Rigmaiden and and Goviea, the pipe is not as full.

Hamilton bought a lot of talent this year, a lot of it from us. 

We will see where each team ends up on the $SMS.

We pay what the player is worth. We've made Zach, Willie, Biggie, Oliveria, Kenny, and more the highest paid players at their respective positions. Hardly examples of being frugal.