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However can the staff stay aggressive with out injured QB Cody Fajardo?
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Caleb Evans would possibly solely be retaining the seat heat till Cody Fajardo regains his well being, however the Alouettes have now develop into his staff as he assumes the beginning quarterback position.
And now Evans should show to his teammates, the teaching workers and, certainly, your entire CFL, that the sky’s not falling in on the defending Gray Cup champions.
Definitely that’s not an excessive amount of to ask?
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“The beginning quarterback is often who you see on the market,” Evans stated Wednesday at Olympic Stadium. “Experiencing that and seeing that first-hand after I was youthful in school, I perceive the severity of it, particularly within the skilled ranks. I’ve to be calm, cool and picked up. Get a few drives going, so the staff can breathe and chill out (and consider) we will nonetheless get it rolling. It’s nearly getting on the market and executing at this level.
“I had a very good week of follow,” added the 6-foot-3, 212-pounder. “Trusting my guys, that’s the principle factor. And them trusting me.”
Life with out Fajardo begins in earnest Thursday night time (7:30 p.m., TSN3, TSN4, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM) when the Als host the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Molson Stadium. With Fajardo out indefinitely with a hamstring harm, suffered on the finish of the primary quarter July 11 towards Toronto, administration is aware of this situation — with or with out Evans — might need an prolonged run.
There’s hypothesis Fajardo might miss as many as 5 video games. Coincidentally, that’s the variety of matches Montreal performs earlier than its subsequent bye week within the schedule on the finish of August. Following Saskatchewan, the Als play Hamilton twice consecutively, then journey to Regina earlier than internet hosting Edmonton. Solely the Riders have a profitable report.
Highway to the Cup
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Montreal (5-1) leads the East Division, the loss towards the Argonauts ending a 13-game profitable streak, together with playoffs and the Cup, courting again to Sept. 15. The burning query now turns into: What is going to the Als’ report be upon Fajardo’s return?
Fajardo missed two video games final August, and the Als gained each with Evans at quarterback. He accomplished eight of 13 passes for 149 yards and a landing towards Saskatchewan. One week later, at Ottawa, Evans linked on 24 of 36 makes an attempt for 333 yards and two touchdowns, main Montreal to a comeback victory. However ball safety additionally has been a problem with Evans, who was intercepted thrice in these two contests.
Coming off the bench two weeks in the past, with little time to react or put together, Evans struggled. He accomplished 12 of twenty-two throws for 127 yards. Whereas he handed for 2 touchdowns, he additionally was intercepted twice — one returned for a rating. Evans remained in Montreal throughout the bye week and has had two weeks to organize whereas getting mentally centered.
“I used to be speaking to all of them week, simply so they may hear my voice,” stated Evans, 26, now in his fourth CFL season and a former starter with the Redblacks. “The largest factor for me this week was speaking from Day 1, so we might get on the identical web page. They will really feel me out and I can really feel them out, as gamers and leaders. We did a very good job of that this week.
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“The bye week occurring, it gave me time to chill out, get into the mindset of what’s going to occur. Now with the sport plan in, it feels much more snug.”
Tyson Philpot, the Als’ main receiver, can perceive the sense of panic that has arisen from the surface. However the vibe contained in the room, he shortly added, is completely completely different.
“The idea is in Caleb,” Philpot stated. “Anybody who watched follow this week noticed that we didn’t skip a beat. You’ll have by no means guessed that Caleb hasn’t been the starter. That reveals the idea and belief we’ve got in him. He’s going to point out and put the league on discover. He can do some various things than Cody. He’s very elusive together with his legs. He does have a little bit of a deep ball, too. Groups haven’t seen that but. We’re going to trip it doesn’t matter what.
“Caleb has proven that he can win video games and produce.”
The Als clearly will attempt to play to Evans’s strengths, and he labored exhausting final winter bettering the rate of his throws together with what’s thought of an ungainly passing movement. Head coach Jason Maas, himself a former CFL quarterback, stated Evans has developed. Maas stated the Als’ offence gained’t significantly change.
Davis Alexander, who now turns into Montreal’s backup, is accessible if vital. Maas stated he’ll depend on a intestine really feel ought to a change develop into vital. In the meantime, veteran guard Kristian Matte, who misplaced his beginning job to Philippe Gagnon this season, has been placed on the six-game injured checklist.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
twitter.com/HerbZurkowsky1
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