MTL Gazette - Bad play calls cost us: Trestman

[XGamer]

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/p ... story.html

Bad play calls cost us: Trestman

By HERB ZURKOWSKY, The Gazette
September 18, 2011

MONTREAL - On a day filled with miscues - fumbles, dropped passes and shoddy tackling - it was poor play selection at a critical time that might have provided the dagger through the Alouettes’ heart, according to head coach Marc Trestman.

With barely more than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter and the Als trailing Winnipeg by two points, two ill-advised passing plays were called when Montreal, at its own 49, required only two yards for a first down.

Both attempts went to Jamel Richardson, and both were incomplete. The Als turned the ball over on downs, never regained possession and lost, 25-23, to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Sunday afternoon before 24,642 Molson Stadium spectators.

“That’s my disappointment,” Trestman admitted. “One play. One time I can look back and say, ‘man, if we would have called a run there’. We had two downs to get a first down and then three more shots. I’d like to have that one back.

“It became a game-defining moment.”

Moments earlier, the Als, who truly didn’t deserve to win, had an opportunity to tie the game, potentially sending it to overtime.

An 11-play, 85-yard drive ended in an 11-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Calvillo to Jamel Richardson at 12:30. Montreal attempted a two-point convert, but Calvillo’s pass for Eric Deslauriers was overthrown. Calvillo would later admit he rushed the throw.

The Als’ only other touchdown, almost nine minutes into the second quarter, came about only following a fumble by Tim Brown on a kickoff. The ball was recovered by Brandon London at the Bombers’ 26. The drive should have stalled, but Odell Willis was penalized for roughing the passer on second down.

One play later, Calvillo connected with Brian Bratton for a 13-yard score, Bratton leaping over a defender into the end zone.

Other than that, Montreal settled for three Sean Whyte field goals and a single off a 53-yard punt when field position was more paramount. Four minutes into the fourth quarter, the Als couldn’t score from the Winnipeg 9, following an interception by rookie safety Jeff Hecht, and settled for a 15-yard chip-shot field goal.

Whyte’s other kicks came from 39 and 26 yards.

“We had a lot of opportunities, but didn’t execute to our capabilities, and didn’t make plays when we needed to make them,” Trestman said. “We weren’t focused early, offensively.

“It’s endless, the amount of opportunities that we did have ... to make plays and score points. And we didn’t do it. We just didn’t play well enough.”

The Als, who generally strike first, had the unenviable task of playing catch-up all game, falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter. And they’re not a team that’s accustomed to overcoming deficits.

Three big plays killed Montreal. A 92-yard pass-and-run play to Cory Watson, the former Concordia Stinger, set up a nine-yard touchdown pass from Buck Pierce to Greg Carr. Fred Reid ran 47 yards up the middle for another score on a second-and-one play. And on the final play of the third quarter, Pierce passed 39 yards to Terrence Edwards, the former Alouette, for a touchdown.

Pierce passed for 312 yards, adding 24 more on three runs, and displayed no side-effects from the bruised ribs he suffered last weekend.

“We’re a team that’s trying to find ourselves,” said Trestman, although Montreal has played nearly two-thirds of its schedule. “It’s very apparent we’ve got some work to do to be able to play consistently, at a high level, week in and out. We’re going to learn a lot about ourselves in the next 10 or 12 days.”

The Als, now 6-5 and four points behind the East Division-leading Bombers, travel to Edmonton this Friday. One week later, they’re in Winnipeg. Montreal’s 2-3 on the road and 4-2 at home. Not since 2007, when Montreal went 5-4 at home, has it lost twice this early at the McGill University venue.

hzurkowsky@montrealgazette.com

© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

[cliffyd]

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/play+calls+cost+Trestman/5422037/story.html

With barely more than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter and the Als trailing Winnipeg by two points, two ill-advised passing plays were called when Montreal, at its own 49, required only two yards for a first down.

Both attempts went to Jamel Richardson, and both were incomplete. The Als turned the ball over on downs, never regained possession and lost, 25-23, to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Sunday afternoon before 24,642 Molson Stadium spectators.

You know, if we had a crappy RB, I'd understand wanting to pass. But when you have the league leader in rushing and you only need 2 yards for a first down with more than a minute left to play....well, http://youtu.be/GU1w3pXuYkg

[sectionu2]

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/play+calls+cost+Trestman/5422037/story.html

With barely more than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter and the Als trailing Winnipeg by two points, two ill-advised passing plays were called when Montreal, at its own 49, required only two yards for a first down.

Both attempts went to Jamel Richardson, and both were incomplete. The Als turned the ball over on downs, never regained possession and lost, 25-23, to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Sunday afternoon before 24,642 Molson Stadium spectators.

You know, if we had a crappy RB, I'd understand wanting to pass. But when you have the league leader in rushing and you only need 2 yards for a first down with more than a minute left to play....well, http://youtu.be/GU1w3pXuYkg

That is the one that bugged me the most.

[ro1313]

Ya I was scratcing my head at the play calls as well

[Mum Yash La Légende!]

Well... that's football! Only one play can cost you the game and it happened. Still a terrible call, i feel sad for Marc. He is probably getting all the blame for himself! But in a way, it can be a kind of wake up call for him. We could easily won the game whit a field goal after getting a few yard, so don't worry everybody. I just hope Marc took the lesson's and will bounce back in Edmonton!! GoAlsGo!!!

[cliffyd]

I just hope Marc took the lesson's and will bounce back in Edmonton!! GoAlsGo!!!

I think he will....and I'll be there in Edmonton with my brother to bring the good energy!

[West Coast Als Fan]

Yes, I agree. Bad play calls cost them. But the defence not being able to tackle also cost them. If I see another feeble arm tackle move I'm going to lose it. Stop the guy's feet from moving and he'll fall down. Works every time it's done properly. Tackling a guy's arm does nothing. If you're close enough to do that you're close enough to actually tackle him.

End of rant.

[cliffyd]

Bowman was brutal when it came to not finishing tackles. I counted at least three missed tackles that would have iced the Bombers dead.

[ro1313]

I agree on the bad tackling
That first posession 5 yard pass that ran for 92 yards cost us the game
It should have been 3rd down with Wpg prob giving up a safety

[sectionu2]

Bad tackling is a sign that your team is not focused, it is basic and it should improve as the season goes. You're correct that single play cost us bad.