GDT Ott at Mtl, Sun Jun 28, 6:00PM

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

for the moment.....Davis Alexander is a VG QB.   Schools still out on Maier yet Dinwiddie seems to like him

He's doing much better in the 2nd half, his O-line wasn't providing much protection in the first half.

[dd]

Maier is clearly not at Alexander's level, particularly in terms of being mobile and extending plays, as well as arm strength. But he is not getting much help from his O-line or receivers. Philpot is great, as is Snead and Hollins.

We don't really have a number 1 receiver like Philpot unfortunately, just 2's and 3's.

Alexander is at another level compared to 2026 Collaros.

I don't see us being competitive against Montreal unless we find some way to improve.

I don't know, Alexander didn't do much second half. Ottawa now within a field goal. Really, why does everyone say Montreal is so good. Philipot is good, everyone else is meh is my books.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Better game than expected.

[dd]

Hot take... Marshall Ferguson & Paul LaPolice talk too much. They need to let the play by play breathe. And stop talking over the penalty calls. Sometimes less is more.

Exactly. Can't stand boring lapolice on a broadcast. He's the worst. You need someone with a personality on colour, lapolice is brutal.

[bunker]

Ottawa to their credit kept it close and made Montreal look human in the second half. Maier looked much better getting a bit more protection. Alexander and the Montreal offense just too much to handle.
Very entertaining game in the end.

[bunker]

Exactly. Can't stand boring lapolice on a broadcast. He's the worst. You need someone with a personality on colour, lapolice is brutal.

I like LaPolice
But then I also like Duane Ford
I'm more interested in the content than the manufactured enthusiasm that someone like Dustin Nielson provides.
I loved Dunigan because he provided content and genuine enthusiasm

[Lincoln Locomotive]

Pimpleto  finally breaks one but it was too late.....the odds of recovering a short kickoff with 42 seconds remaining are poor....yet they made a game of it.    Alexander is a beast and hats off to Maier for hanging in there in the 2nd half.  Philpot is phenomenal with almost 200 yards receiving.   

[Tecno]

The Q1 Hollins TD was amazing.  Something the CFL has been missing for years.  Haven't seen flying moves like that since Burnham, Dressler & Flyin' Hawaiian.

That's what I'd love to see more of in the CFL.  Those types of RECs are mega-rare these days.

Yes, even the crazy Kenny circus grabs don't look like that, laying out for it.  What Kenny will try to do on an overthrow is climb the ladder and high-point it with 1 hand -- and he sometimes manages it!

[Tecno]

OL Vacarro may not be ready for prime time yet.  MTL D was picking on him and the C all 1st half.  He may be the best DP ev-a, but he's still raw.  I doubt Mafia would have started him week 1 if we had drafted him.

[Tecno]

Maier is clearly not at Alexander's level, particularly in terms of being mobile and extending plays, as well as arm strength.

I won't argue about Alexander - the best QB in the league (if legs hold up).  But Maier threw a couple of short/mid darts that were 2X the speed Zach can do.  That one walk-in TD and the White TD later only worked because he threw it 100mph.  Zach can't zip those and so DBs can close and disrupt or INT.

So whatever Maier's failings, short/mid-range arm strength is not lacking.

As for Zach, we need workarounds for the lack of speed or we're not going to win much of anything.

[Tecno]

Lauther missed the convert, lol.  Picking up where he left off after SSK.  The FG streak is an illusion.  He'll go back to sucking worse than Milo's final season.

[Tecno]

I'm not sure about the "is it IP or is it OS" call/change 3Q3:46.  In the closeup shot of the OL the LG snaps his head left before anyone is OS.  That causes OTT to jump.  Maybe they are saying it's allowed as teams do that when in PAS (for the noise), but there's no noise in MTL when MTL is on O!

Ok, even if it's allowed, when he jerks his head his hands move a bit on his knees -- you can't jerk your head that fast without something else wobbling a bit.

The LG did it on purpose to force an OS, and it shouldn't be allowed.  Not sure how you stop it, though, as you can't really write a rule that says "when playing O in a hostile stadium".

[Tecno]

I don't know, Alexander didn't do much second half.

Because he's always getting crippled.  He got nearly-Strev'd on a low illegal tackle in H1 and his shins must be killing him.  He was lightning before that, and then poof fell off completely.

He did recover somewhat and then got himself a twisted ankle on a scramble.

Most other QBs would be out at that stage.  But not Alexander.

Like I always add to "best QB" -- "when healthy".  Problem is, he's rarely very healthy.  His style means he'll take a ton of whacks.  Good to see the hammy seems unperturbed... so far.

[Tecno]

Is this the first time we've seen the new "victory ends it without hitting 0:00" rule apply?  Bit weird to see guys walking on the field.  OTT D looked a little confused.  Might be a touch too NFLish for my tastes.

What if a team's bench gets this wrong somehow, and they are all on the field and the refs have to send them back?

[Tecno]

Hardy is a baller.  I've said for years if he ever shows up in FA, you gotta take him.  He's exactly what we need -- a mid-range clutch bruising baller.

And did Maier look better than Zach in this game??  With probably a worse OL?  Yikes.  None of that game was garbage time.  In it all H2.  MTL fans sweating a little.