Als at Argos GDT Sat 6:00PM CT

[gobombersgo]

[gobombersgo]

[gobombersgo]

All-CFL safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy returns for Alouettes
By 3Down Staff -September 27, 2024

The Montreal Alouettes will get their defensive leader and strongest francophone voice back in the fold on Saturday in Toronto.

Canadian safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy is poised to return to the lineup after missing the last two games with a head injury. In 11 games this year, the 30-year-old has made 22 defensive tackles, two interceptions, and forced a fumble.

The product of the Montreal Carabins was selected by the Alouettes in the second round of the 2020 CFL Draft and joined the team the following year after a stint with the Green Bay Packers. In 51 career CFL games, he has amassed 118 defensive tackles, 17 special teams tackles, 11 interceptions, five forced fumbles, and two defensive touchdowns. In 2023, he was named a CFL all-star and helped Montreal win the Grey Cup.

Offensive lineman Theo Grant has been demoted to the practice roster to make room for Dequoy but the lineup remains otherwise unchanged.

The Alouettes have 11 players on the six-game injured list, including receivers Austin Mack and Tyson Philpot. American offensive lineman Jamar McGloster is the only player on the one-game injured list.

The Montreal Alouettes (11-2-1) will visit the Toronto Argonauts (7-7) on Saturday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

https://3downnation.com/2024/09/27/all-cfl-safety-marc-antoine-dequoy-returns-for-alouettes/

[gobombersgo]

Electric returner Janarion Grant back healthy for Argos
By 3Down Staff -September 27, 2024

The Toronto Argonauts will have the CFL's most electric player back at their disposal this weekend.

Kick returner Janarion Grant, the front-runner for Most Outstanding Special Teams Player, will be in the lineup after missing last week with a chest injury. The 30-year-old currently sits second in the CFL for both kickoff and punt return average, while producing four combined return touchdowns.

Also back in action will be Canadian receiver Dejon Brissett, who recorded five catches for 72 yards and a touchdown in the first two games of the season before going out with a knee injury. The former first-round pick will slot right into the starting lineup, with Richie Sindani (ribs) headed to the six-game injured list.

The news is not so good along the offensive line, where left tackle Isiah Cage (oblique/hip) is also slated to be out long-term. Canadian Ryan Hunter will kick out to protect Chad Kelly's blindside, while Dylan Giffen steps in to start at left guard.

Defensively, strong-side linebacker Quincy Mauger (knee) is headed for the six-game and will be replaced by Robert Priester (adductor), who is a game-time decision in his own right. Mark Milton will play boundary halfback, with Kenneth George Jr. dressing as insurance.

The Toronto Argonauts (7-7) will host the Montreal Alouettes (11-2-1) on Saturday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

https://3downnation.com/2024/09/27/electric-returner-janarion-grant-back-healthy-for-argos/

[J5V]

What an embarrassment of riches on that Montreal team. Is there a weakness anywhere on that team? How in the world did they get so many great players at the same time on that team?

[DCM]

What an embarrassment of riches on that Montreal team. Is there a weakness anywhere on that team? How in the world did they get so many great players at the same time on that team?

Be bad long enough to slowly rebuild itself.

[J5V]

Be bad long enough to slowly rebuild itself.

In 2020 Sid Spiegel and Gary Stern bought the Als, who were a .500 team, and suddenly their lineup of players became exceptionally good. Quite a trick when you consider we have a salary cap.

2007: Salary cap era begins
2015: 6-12
2016: 7-11
2017: 3-15
2018: 5-13
2019: 10-8
2020: Covid
2021: 7-7
2022: 9-9
2023: 11-7 (win Grey Cup)
2024: 11-2 (are even better this year) 

[dd]

What an embarrassment of riches on that Montreal team. Is there a weakness anywhere on that team? How in the world did they get so many great players at the same time on that team?

They don't look so great vs Toronto tonight. The score flatters them, they've sucked most of the night except for the punt return. Fajardo is hardly MOP material based on tonights performance!! They look totally beatable

[J5V]

They don't look so great vs Toronto tonight. The score flatters them, they've sucked most of the night except for the punt return. Fajardo is hardly MOP material based on tonights performance!! They look totally beatable

When Ottawa lost to the Riders earlier today Montreal had 1st place locked up. They have absolutely nothing to play for.

Which brings up a question: Why would they take the chance of playing their best players and risk injury when they have nothing to play for but pride? Can you imagine if they lost their QB and/or other star players to injury in a nothing game? Why wouldn't they sub in some players that could use development time in real game situations like we used to do with Brown?

[GOLDMEMBER]

What an embarrassment of riches on that Montreal team. Is there a weakness anywhere on that team? How in the world did they get so many great players at the same time on that team?

Meh, you are pumping that team a little more than they deserve.

[Blueforlife]

Very good 2nd half.  More balanced.

[J5V]

I thought Jason Maas was supposed to be a gentler, calmer, more mature version of himself. He's acting like an unhinged psycho out there! Bizarre.

[J5V]

Meh, you are pumping that team a little more than they deserve.

Well, 11-2 (11-3 now) is a pretty good record after 13-14 games. This loss to the Argos is their first road game loss this year but I suspect that clinching first place earlier today likely affected their intensity in this game. The Argos needed the game much more than the Als did.

It's going to be tough for Toronto or Ottawa to go into Montreal and beat a rested Als team in the EF. They have a pretty good chance of playing in the Grey Cup again this year.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

When Ottawa lost to the Riders earlier today Montreal had 1st place locked up. They have absolutely nothing to play for.

Which brings up a question: Why would they take the chance of playing their best players and risk injury when they have nothing to play for but pride? Can you imagine if they lost their QB and/or other star players to injury in a nothing game? Why wouldn't they sub in some players that could use development time in real game situations like we used to do with Brown?

The Argos followed this line of thinking late last season and by the time the playoffs rolled around they were completely unprepared to perform at their highest level. Unless really banged up it's better to keep them mentally engaged and taking snaps leading up to the playoffs, everyone gets plenty of time in the off-season to rest and recover.

[TecnoGenius]

What an embarrassment of riches on that Montreal team. Is there a weakness anywhere on that team? How in the world did they get so many great players at the same time on that team?

Astounding scouting and drafting.  So many superstar '23 rookies still on ELC.  And a couple this year too including Rambo.  And a cheaper-ish QB and probably HC: 2 bums that were likely to go jobless had Maciocia not called them up!

And picking Thorpe off the unemployment scrap-heap too!  He probably came super cheap.

All of the ELC players let them splurge on game-changing couch-sitters late in '23, and they aren't afraid to power up for GC runs (cough cough).

MTL will get destroyed in '25 FA, especially if they make the cup, so there is a silver lining!

[TecnoGenius]

Carey doing his best '18-'21 AH33 impression: lid coming off every other play.

Normally it's a nothingburger, but this game command actually spotted his progress like 5Y back to the point his lid came off!!  That directly hurts your team.  Tighten those straps.

[TecnoGenius]

They don't look so great vs Toronto tonight. The score flatters them, they've sucked most of the night except for the punt return. Fajardo is hardly MOP material based on tonights performance!! They look totally beatable

They don't need to look great: they have 1st locked.  They need to stay warm and not get hurt, that's it.

I wonder if MTL is looking at the standings and doing a little "kingmaking"... they can directly influence who gets what of the other 3 home playoff spots!  They may directly determine who gets 1st in W because they'll play both WPG and SSK down the stretch.  Go hard on one, easy on the other, etc.

They also may or may not want TOR to make the playoffs.  There were a few plays that looked like MTL was throwing it intentionally...

A TOR win may eliminate HAM and a resurgent BLM.  That might prove advantageous for MTL.

[J5V]

They may directly determine who gets 1st in W because they'll play both WPG and SSK down the stretch. 

Unless I'm mistaken one more Bomber win and we clinch 1st place.

[TecnoGenius]

Unless I'm mistaken one more Bomber win and we clinch 1st place.

Nope, we need 2 if SSK wins all 3, because SSK has the extra tie point.  (Our season series with them doesn't factor in unless they tie again this season.)

This will probably go down to the wire and MTL can toy with both SSK and WPG in the final weeks.

[Jesse]

Well, 11-2 (11-3 now) is a pretty good record after 13-14 games. This loss to the Argos is their first road game loss this year but I suspect that clinching first place earlier today likely affected their intensity in this game. The Argos needed the game much more than the Als did.

It's going to be tough for Toronto or Ottawa to go into Montreal and beat a rested Als team in the EF. They have a pretty good chance of playing in the Grey Cup again this year.

I think it's more a case of Montreal being slightly above average at a time when the rest of the league is very inconsistent.

Kind of like when we just steam-rolled through the league in 2021.

Not all years are created equal.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Unless I'm mistaken one more Bomber win and we clinch 1st place.

One win and a Riders loss will do it. I'm pretty certain they're not going to win 5 in and row. They've essentially got Edmonton in Edmonton in a win or get eliminated scenario for the Elks and then they've got BC Lions at home which is essentially another playoff game. They round it out against the Stamps, and yeah, they'll win that one.

We've got Hamilton on the road which will be a tough game and then we've got a home game against the Argos and a game which will mean nothing to Montreal on the road.

Anything can happen but the chances are very good.

[dd]

I think it's more a case of Montreal being slightly above average at a time when the rest of the league is very inconsistent.

Kind of like when we just steam-rolled through the league in 2021.

Not all years are created equal.

Agree.Montreal got off to a hot start while others (like us) struggled. Now we've hit our groove and Montreal looks totally beatable--yes, they have injuries to Philipot and others, but heck, we went through that and every team goes through that. I am thinking Toronto upsets them this year and makes it to the GC

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Agree.Montreal got off to a hot start while others (like us) struggled. Now we've hit our groove and Montreal looks totally beatable--yes, they have injuries to Philipot and others, but heck, we went through that and every team goes through that. I am thinking Toronto upsets them this year and makes it to the GC

I wouldn't write the Als off they can still play some very good football, the season is long and has it's ebbs and flows, hard to maintain an excellent performance throughout, the same was true for the Bombers the last few seasons.

[J5V]

Nope, we need 2 if SSK wins all 3, because SSK has the extra tie point.  (Our season series with them doesn't factor in unless they tie again this season.)

This will probably go down to the wire and MTL can toy with both SSK and WPG in the final weeks.

Yes you're right. My bad. Thanks for pointing that out.

The Riders have Elks, Lions, Stamps left. We have Cats, Argos, Als. We have the tougher string of games, all against the East. Riders games are all against the West.

If we win one more game of the three remaining, Riders will have to run the table to take first away from us. If we win 2 of 3 or win, tie, loss, we clinch. IOW, we need 3 points to clinch. If Riders lose a game we need 1 point to clinch. If Riders lose 2, we clinch.

[TecnoGenius]

One win and a Riders loss will do it.

If we win one more game of the three remaining, Riders will have to run the table to take first away from us.

Yes.  I think we win all 3, or at worst 2.  But even 1 win is enough if Riders can't win 'em all.  The way Riders have been playing, every game is a toss up, not a blowout, so it seems unlikely they luck into 3 wins.  Even their fans seem resigned they won't get the home WDF.

We'll see what the standings look like just before they face BC so we can decide who to root for.  We'll also have to decide who we'd rather face in a WDF.  Beating SSK is always fun and great for destroying Greenie morale... but a loss would put the egg on our face for a year.

After blowing up the SMS rules, I don't see how BC fails to make it to at least the WDF.  Maybe they should bring in more high-priced couch sitters!      

[TecnoGenius]

Agree.Montreal got off to a hot start while others (like us) struggled. Now we've hit our groove and Montreal looks totally beatable--yes, they have injuries to Philipot and others, but heck, we went through that and every team goes through that. I am thinking Toronto upsets them this year and makes it to the GC

It's beautiful no matter what happens: either we get revenge on MTL for '23 or TOR for '22.  Our boys won't let either steal another cup from them.  Not a 3rd time.