Inside the CFL: Alouettes are mishmash of good and bad at one-third mark

Montreal Gazette

3 days ago

Montreal Alouettes
By
The CFL season is a marathon, not a sprint.
While the Alouettes (4-2) sit atop the East Division at the one-third mark of the season, it might prove to be meaningless once the weather turns cold in October and November — especially if starting quarterback Davis Alexander, sidelined yet again with a hamstring injury, is out for another prolonged period.
Montreal was 5-1 at this point last season and finished with the league's best record (12-5-1). Yet its players were sitting at home when Toronto defeated Winnipeg in the Grey Cup.
Nonetheless, six games into an 18-game season is a good time to sit back and reflect on what we've seen and what we'd like to see moving forward — not that Als management necessarily will listen.
Positive: We should no longer wonder whether Alexander is the real deal. He might have been third on the depth chart last season, but seized his opportunity when Cody Fajardo suffered — coincidentally — a hamstring injury. Alexander has won all eight games he has started, dating to last season, tying a CFL record held by Danny McManus.
But it's more than that. Montreal's offence has a different feel to it when Alexander — unpredictable, mobile and explosive — is on the field. He rallied the Als from an 18-point third-quarter deficit against the Argonauts on Thursday night, passing for 196 yards during the second half.
However, Alexander only lasted one game before reinjuring his left hamstring — something that forced him to miss two full games over a month. We can't imagine his recovery will be any shorter this time.
Negative: While it's unfair to put all the blame on McLeod Bethel-Thompson, the Als lost two games when he replaced Alexander. Bethel-Thompson is accurate in practice, but not so much in games. And while he can still move at age 37, he lacks Alexander's mobility and moxie.
Bethel-Thompson passed for 3,748 yards with Edmonton last season, but the Elks' record was 3-10 when he played. While third-string QB Caleb Evans is mobile, we don't believe he's the solution, either. With coming games at Calgary, against Saskatchewan and Edmonton, and at B.C. during the next month, the Als' 4-2 record could quickly change for the worse.
Positive: Much like the Canadiens under head coach Martin St. Louis, there's no quit in the Als under Jason Maas.
We had the Als written off in the third quarter against Toronto while trailing 25-7. But Montreal scored 19 unanswered points, a total that would have been higher except for two unsuccessful two-point conversion attempts. It was the largest comeback by the Als since Sept. 21, 2019, when the team overcame a 24-point deficit against Winnipeg.
Negative: We have familiarized ourselves this season with the run-pass option play, except there seems to be no 'R' in RPO.
The Als didn't run the ball against Toronto for the first time until more than 27 minutes had elapsed. The team passed 16 consecutive times, with the last attempt intercepted by Tarvarus McFadden and returned 38 yards to the Montreal 15. The Argos scored a touchdown three plays later. This season at Hamilton, Als tailbacks again were underused.
Alexander, or Bethel-Thompson, must quickly decide whether to pass or run, based on the defence. But in Sean Thomas-Erlington, the Als have a talented Canadian tailback. Rookie Travis Theis has impressed us with his bulldozing, north-south running style. Use them, because you're going to require a workhorse tailback when it's cold.
Positive: The Als' five starting receivers might be the most talented and deepest group the team has possessed in years. Tyson Philpot is a potential most outstanding Canadian candidate. Austin Mack and Charleston Rambo have deep-play ability, while Cole Spieker — replacing the injured Philpot against Toronto — caught nine passes for 129 yards and a touchdown.
Negative: Rambo dropped a certain touchdown pass from Bethel-Thompson against B.C. on July 5, while Spieker nearly cost the Als the game when he fumbled at the Toronto 1 — despite Maas's pleas to 'chin-it' after November's division final debacle. Mistakes at crucial times. And will we ever actually see Mack and Philpot in uniform at the same time? They make the Als far more dangerous.
Positive: Defensive-end Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund was good last season, but he's better in 2025. Rookie linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku was good last season, but he's also better in 2025. Defensive-back Wesley Sutton is good. Period. Return-specialist James Letcher Jr. constantly provides the Als with good field position. Cornerback Kabion Ento already has three interceptions, tying a career high. And if rush-end Shawn Lemon regains a fraction of his form after a year-long suspension, he'll prove invaluable — on and off the field.
Negative: The Als' three-man defensive front and zone defence in general. At one point, the Als made Toronto QB Nick Arbuckle look like the second coming of Patrick Mahomes. But then Arbuckle quickly realized who he was — fumbling and throwing a late-game interception.
Positive: Jose Maltos had a streak of 20 consecutive field goals last season. He made 12 straight this season before a 44-yard attempt against B.C. struck an upright.