The Montreal Alouettes lost on the road against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by a score of 17-47 on Thursday. Montreal will face another difficult opponent on Saturday when they host the BC Lions.

Other Articles:

Mike Mitchell’s Week 13 Power Rankings

Midseason All-Star Team, Awards

Week 11 Team of the Week

Week 11 QB Weekly, Week 11 RB Weekly Week 11 WR Weekly

Week 10 Stars of the Week (1st and 2nd Team)

CFL First Period All-Star Team (Weeks 1-7)

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Previous Alouettes Takeaways:

Week 11/Mid Season Takeaways, Week 10, Week 9, Week 8, Week 6, Week 5, Week 4, Week 3

Simple Crossing Routes Were Highly Effective For Winnipeg’s Offense

This was a huge test for Montreal’s defense coming into a game against a volatile Winnipeg passing offense. Both of Montreal’s starting cornerbacks in this game are rookies to the CFL this season and began the season on the practice roster. Kabion Ento and Kordell Rodgers have both played very well since being elevated to starting roles as Montreal has weathered injuries, but this game had some tough lessons for them and the Alouettes’ defensive backs.

Kabion Ento did not switch to Lawler who was running a slant to cover Dalton Schoen running a corner route in the 2nd quarter and Schoen was wide open for a 22-yard touchdown. Later in the game, the coverage was too loose on Lawler in the endzone who scored a 25-yard touchdown.

Aside from some miscommunications Wesley Sutton and Reggie Stubblefield both played well at halfback and did not have any plays that stood out as letting their man get open.

In the 2nd quarter, Kordell Rodgers switched off of Lawler running a go route to cover the inside receiver running an out route but Wesley Sutton was positioned too far to the middle of the field to be able to switch to Lawler.

The same type of crossing route combinations had great success on the sidelines in Winnipeg’s week 9 win over the BC Lions such as the first play in which Schoen ran an out route from the interior and Lawler ran a go route and the cornerback switched off to cover Schoen.

Teams Should Consider More Man Coverage Against Winnipeg (If they Have Raw Talent)

There have been a few different games in which Winnipeg has exploited simple crossing routes against zone defenses. Winnipeg has had many deep passes in which there is a miscommunication made in the cornerback switching who they are covering and the halfback not picking up the man who they are switching off of when running zone defenses. Especially in instances of teams with newer players to their system, teams struggling with injuries, and CFL rookies who before this season have never played on this size of field or 12 on 12 football. Man coverage would mitigate these miscommunications that Winnipeg has been able to exploit to find space on crossing routes down the sidelines.

Man coverage presents its own challenges if you don’t have the talent to keep up in the defensive back department. It’s a simpler defense that’s more physically tiring.

For Montreal, I think cover 1 and cover 2 man could be successful against Winnipeg. You have 2 CFL rookie cornerbacks who are young and have shown a lot of talent. Then you have another rookie at halfback in Reggie Stubblefield who has been great with Wesley Sutton on the other side. 

Tyrice Beverette and J.R. Reed who have been starting at outside linebacker both played defensive back in college and can both be effective in different pass coverage schemes.