Alouettes' Davis Alexander will not play shy for Ticats rematch

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Quarterback took a hellacious hit in opposition to Hamilton final week, “but when we’d like an enormous first down, I am keen to sacrifice.”

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Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander units as much as throw in opposition to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Montreal on July 25, 2024. He will likely be be behind centre on Saturday, August 10, 2024, in opposition to the Tiger-Cats at Molson Stadium in Montreal. Picture by Graham Hughes /The Canadian Press

Davis Alexander was comfortable to get 5 hours sleep final Friday evening after lastly attending to mattress. However the Alouettes’ quarterback admitted to waking up sore Saturday morning — with good motive.

“I used to be hurting. It was onerous getting up,” Alexander stated Friday. “Perhaps after two or three years of not likely taking part in in a (regular-season) sport, it felt good to get hit a bit of bit once more. However I’ll attempt to not get hit an excessive amount of extra.”

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Alexander needed to quickly depart final week’s sport in opposition to Hamilton within the fourth quarter following a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit from nose-tackle Casey Sayles, who obtained a 25-yard penalty for spearing/roughing the passer.

It was wonderful Alexander arose, not to mention proceed taking part in on the Alouettes’ subsequent offensive collection. Maybe extra unbelievable was Alexander stating the accidents had been to his again and hip, not his head.

“I took the one huge hit from Sayles,” he stated. “In addition to that I don’t suppose I actually took any pointless pictures. That’s the place. Generally it’s a must to sacrifice your self for an enormous play. You all the time have to guard your self. On the identical time, I’m a gamer. If there’s a time I want to guard myself, sure. But when we’d like an enormous first down, I’m keen to sacrifice.”

However Montreal already is down one quarterback with Cody Fajardo recovering from a hamstring harm.

Alexander, now receiving his first official taking part in time in his third season with Montreal, vowed he has discovered and will likely be smarter in Saturday evening’s rematch in opposition to the Tiger-Cats at Molson Stadium (7 p.m., TSN1, TSN2, TSN5, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM).

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“I’m not going to alter my sport,” Alexander stated. “I’m instinctual. That’s how I play. I’m not going to be again there, actually conservative.”

The Alouettes, and particularly head coach Jason Maas, received’t complain about what Alexander, 25, has dropped at the group in restricted taking part in time. Alexander got here off the bench to start out the second half in opposition to Saskatchewan on July 25, rallying the group from a 16-3 halftime deficit to win 20-16.

Final week at Hamilton, Alexander fumbled within the first quarter, then threw an interception returned for a landing on the opening play of the second interval. Alexander and the Alouettes overcame that early adversity to triumph 33-16. Whereas the 6-foot, 200-pound Alexander is aware of ball safety can’t stay a difficulty, he did full 19 of 27 passes for 262 yards and a landing.

“Generally I can do an excessive amount of, moderately than take a sack,” Alexander stated. “It’ll come. I didn’t fumble that a lot in school. Perhaps it’s a bit of little bit of rust, however there’s no excuse. I do know farther down the highway a few of these errors may be very essential. It’s one thing I’m going to should handle.”

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Maas, himself a former CFL quarterback, realizes Alexander will evolve as he matures and good points expertise. However Maas additionally understands when a quarterback returns from a hellacious hit and shows his mettle, his teammates can’t assist however rally round him.

“He has finished an incredible job for us, stepping in,” Maas stated. “Is there room to develop? Completely. I don’t suppose a quarterback ever stops rising. Finally, each quarterback learns to guard himself the longer he performs. It’s one factor to go on the market and sacrifice your physique when you may select to not and make higher decisions so that you’re not getting hit. All people learns that otherwise.

“On the finish of the day, it’s the blokes which are powerful sufficient to sacrifice for the betterment of the group, you need to go and roll with these guys. On the identical time, it’s choosing your spots, your moments whenever you don’t want to do this.”

hzurkowsky@postmedia.com

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