BY PERRY LEFKO
sportsnet.ca
Sportsnet’s CFL guru Perry Lefko presents the five keys to victory for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes in the Grey Cup.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
1. Will some of their key starters on defence – middle linebacker Barrin Simpson and cornerback Omarr Morgan, in particular – be able to start and play the whole game? Mike McCullough backs up Simpson and he can do the job, albeit not with the same proficiency because Simpson led the league in tackles. If Morgan is out, a raw rookie starts in his place. Riders’ defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry loves to use a pressure defence, but he may have to sacrifice blitzes for zone coverage to protect against one-on-one coverage in the back end.
2. Will Leron Mitchell handle the wide cornerback spot? He’s a Canadian and the Riders have opted to employ a non-import in a traditional import spot, notwithstanding Davis Sanchez in B.C. Opposing teams targeted the Riders’ wideside Canuck cornerbacks.
3. Will the Riders’ combined kicking/punting duo do the job? Warren Kean is playing in the biggest game of his life and he’s had a spotty career, having been cut by Edmonton and Winnipeg. He joined the Riders’ late in the season and field-goal kicking is paramount for any team. Punter Eddie Johnson is off the wall wacko, but he can punt. Then again, he failed to hoof the ball out of the end zone in a play this year that almost came back to haunt the Eskimos.
4. Will the Riders’ get any production out of their return game? They haven’t had a return for a touchdown all season and have caused numerous fumbles. Their best returner is Weston Dressler, but he’s too valuable as a starting wideout to be the prime returner. But if Ryan Grice-Mullen can’t do the job, Dressler will have to go in or rookie Cary Koch.
5. Will the Riders’ receivers get nailed for offside penalties? Is there any team that does it more than Saskatchewan
Montreal Alouettes
1. Will the Als handle the crowd noise? It’s going to be heavily tilted in Saskatchewan’s favour. That means the Als will have to go with a silent snap count and that could lead to procedure penalties, which is quite common. The pressure will be on the Als’ first-year centre Luc Brodeur Jordain.
2. Will the Als go after the Roughriders’ wideouts in a hurry? Quarterback Anthony Calvillo and his receiver posse know how to exploit an opposing weakness. They simply cannot dink and dunk with plays over the middle. Their wideouts are too good not to try against the cornerbacks, unless Saskatchewan opts to play zone and leave the underneath routes open.
3. Will Montreal try to run the ball as much as they throw it? Saskatchewan gives up yards on the grounds, and if Simpson is out that will be a factor. Avon Cobourne chewed up the Argos last Sunday and he is underrated because he’s not as flashy as other tailbacks. He just physically wears down teams with his running and receiving.
4. Will the Als try to isolate a man on Riders’ receiver Andy Fantuz, voted the Most Outstanding Canadian this year? The Calgary Stampeders did this and threw him off his game. Don’t know if Montreal has the same types of defenders to physically wear down Fantuz.
5. Will the Als get consistent pressure from their ends? Both Anwar Stewart and John Bowman need to be much better, in particular Bowman, who was strong earlier in the year but has faded badly in the stretch.
