Point/Counterpoint: Can Montreal threepeat?
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Last year after Montreal had won their first Grey Cup we debated whether or not they would repeat (I was right, they did), so now we’re back again discussing whether or not they can threepeat.
Brandon:
So, Calvillo’s main target for so many years is gone in Ben Cahoon, so what? It’s like if Pippen was out for the season on the Bulls, Wade out on the Heat, Wainwright being out for the Cards. As long as they have, Jordan,Lebron, Pujols somebody else will gladly jump in there and seem to do a pretty good job. Thus, is the luxury of having the best players in the league to back them up.
Chris:
We’ve seen it time and time again when a star receiver retires, and their QB’s numbers drop off, simply because the man that he had grown so comfortable throwing to is no longer there. This means that he has Calvillo has to learn to gel with Cahoon’s replacement, as well as continue to build his chemistry with the other receivers on the team.
Not only did the Als lose Cahoon, but they let Cobourne go as a free agent. They didn’t trade him, he didn’t retire, they simply refused to resign one of the best running backs in the game. losing that calibre player is hard, and not only that, they lost a leader. They may be playing well thus far, but losing that much veteran leadership will hurt them later.
Brandon:
As good as Avon Cobourne is, when people say AC they aren’t referring to Avon, but, rather that it’s really hot and some one needs to turn the Air Conditioning on because Brandon Whitaker is on fire. not to mention they have a guy who is a back to back 1000 yard rusher as their backup in De’Andra Cobb… serious fire. But, honestly AC stands for Anthony Calvillo and as we witnessed last season in the NFL when you have the best QB (Peyton) in the league you barely need to run the ball. Not to mention that having the best QB also allows you to take risks and as glad as I am that Avon is in Hamilton having guys like Cahoon, Chiu, etc. retire and looking at the age of their main guys. They’re doing the smart thing in trying to stay competitive in the long-term like post Calvillo and instead of bringing in more veterans they’re mixing it up and inserting the young guys on a veteran team hoping to groom them into future stars, while still staying competitive short-term.
They’ve been doing it all along and are doing what they can to help ease through the eventual retirements of their key guys or in this case they felt the apprentice (Whitaker) was ready to become the master. Therefore the master (Cobourne) was no longer needed, could that backfire, it certainly could. The same goes for Duvall, they got rid of him and brought in a young guy, could very well back fire. The main thing here is to have a plan B and the Alouettes have that as you take a look at their depth chart where they have veterans like Cobb and Deangelis ready to step in when needed.
Chris:
While it’s always great to have a young guy come in and catch fire for a few games, a lot of times it doesn’t last, and then you are just left regretting your decision to release a proven star. Besides, I’d hardly say anyone or anything is on fire when the combined record of the opponents they’ve beat is 1-8, and have been outscored by a combined 107 points. It’s pretty easy to run when you’ve got holes big enough to drive tanks through.
Let’s see how the apprentices do when they play a team with a decent defence (Winnipeg), or one that seemingly score at will as they do (Edmonton). We’ll see in weeks 7 (EDM), and 12 (WPG), if the apprentice has really become the master in Montreal.
The great thing about the CFL is that it isn’t terribly common for teams to win in back to back years. It’s only happened three times since 1963. It’s even more rare for a team to win three, or more, times in a row, happening only twice since 1948, and both of those times it was Edmonton doing the winning. What it boils down to is that dynasties rarely last, especially when there are a few very good teams in the league.
Brandon:
…or you could just wait until next week when they face Hamilton and their nasty defence.
By the way, you don’t need holes when you’re driving a tank because you just obliterate whatever is in your way…
Anyway, although the Roughriders do suck (whoops), an 8+ YPC in your last two games is not something to be taken lightly and remember if Montreal gets that first seed. it only takes a two game hot streak to three-peat.
If the Celtics can win 8 straight titles in a 9 team league. you gotta believe Montreal can win three in an eight team league.
Chris:
“although the Roughriders do suck”
Thanks for making my point. Their last three opponents have been playing at the pee wee level rather than a professional level, hence the 8+ YPC stat you mentioned. Once they start playing real teams, that 8 will drop A LOT, as will their win count.
Brandon:
I go back to my point about Indianapolis having no run game last season and making the playoffs. A long as Calvillo has guys like SJ Green, Kerry Watkins (when he’s back), Jamel Richardson and even Brian Bratton to throw to, they’ll be alright. Hell, he could throw to five Prechae Rodriguez’s and still win games. Not to mention their back up QB is so damn fast he could be a running back for garsh sakes. As good as Cahoon was, you have to remember the receiver is only as good as his QB.
Calvillo makes somebody out of nobody’s and if Montreal management feel the need to get a top receiver, they’ll pick one up. I hope Hamilton isn’t this stupid, but, Arland Bruce has been a name floating around as available. Not to mention Marquay McDaniel is sitting on the bench after finishing just 2 yards shy of 1000 last season. B.C. doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Hi, Geroy!
As for the running game, if Whitaker struggles look no further than Calgary backup Jon Cornish as a potential target, not to mention the other decent backups in the league and Montreal’s backups themselves. They also apparently no longer have Cobb, which is a guy who, like I said, has back to back 1000+ yard rushing seasons.
After, allowing a combined 51 points the first two weeks that defence has seemed to calm down holding Toronto to just 17 points, not to mention what they could hold the Riders to. After they’re coming off just scoring a long field goal in Hamilton. Now let’s say they beat the Riders go 4-0, then drop their game, like you said against a decent defence in Hamilton, win against the Argos, and drop their game to the red-hot Esks. They go into the bye 5-2 and probably still atop the East, get some rest for the vets and possibly get Watkins back for week 9 or 10. that’s when we’re really going to see what Montreal is made of as their second half schedule is tougher facing Calgary twice, Hamilton three times, Winnipeg 3 times, and the Eskimos once. Making up 9 of their final 11 games, that’s when we see what this team is really made of and who was right about what and who was wrong.
Chris:
I love that you keep bringing up the Indianapolis Colts, because I’d like to point out that in Peyton Manning’s career they have won ONE Super Bowl. It’s still early in the season, but I don’t see Whitaker keeping this pace all year, putting that much more pressure on Calvillo, and with the second half of their schedule being so tough, Montreal won’t threepeat.
Brandon:
Yet, Peyton Manning is the reason they’re perennial favourites to win it each year. Same with Montreal they’re just one of those teams that even when people think they aren’t going to be there, they are. That’s because of Calvillo. Now Calvillo doesn’t have the best success record in the big game and recent history might suggest that the threepeat is over as the Lakers we’re eliminated in the second round last year, the Phillies failed to win the NL pennant for the third straight year, as did the Yankees with the AL pennant. But, Calvillo always seems to have no problem getting his team to the big game, whether they do threepeat remains to be seen. But, I can almost guarantee you they will be in Vancouver at the end of the season.
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About the Author
Chris and Brandon are two devout CFL fans who debate a particular point, and then it's up to YOU, the reader, to decide who won the debate.View Author Profile
guess who I voted for?
Montreal does have a very strong team. With Calvillo at QB and solid recievers in Jamel Richardson and S J Green they will definately be a contender (if not the favorite) when the playoffs come around, but winning three Grey Cups in a row is very difficult. I expect another team to take the title this year. I would like to see Montreal lose their first game of the year this week to Saskatchewan and then watch the wheels slowly fall off of Montreal's running game.
Marshalls Saskatchewan Roughriders picked up their first victory of the season on Sunday night with a 27-24 decision against a Montreal Alouettes team that was missing starting quarterback Anthony Calvillo for two and half quarters with an eye injury. Backup quarterback Adrian McPherson scored twice and threw a TD pass to Brian Bratton for Montreal 3-1 which hopes to have Calvillo back for a tough test Friday night in Hamilton.