Family Reunion Themed Preview: Montreal

“Snooty Rich Aunt With an Affinity For Antiques”

Like that rich aunt you have who is always subtly insulting you for being poor, Montreal has an air of arrogance around them. They are not overtly rude (well at least not by French standards) but you can always tell they think they are better than you. This rich aunt also loves antiques, they just don’t make things like they used to you know. And while all her antiques are very nice and valuable, all it takes is one person to bump into them the wrong way and they are going to break. Then she will be left with nothing and be forced to spend the next few years slowly rebuilding her collection.

Biggest Acquisition: Jerome Haywood
Biggest Loss: Jerome Haywood (well that worked out well)
Biggest Strength: Calvillo and the passing game
Biggest Weakness: Pass Defense
Question Mark: How long can their old folks hold on?

Calvillo, Chui, Cahoon and Sanchez… all arguably among the best in the league. All also the wrong side of 35. And it’s not like any of Montreal’s other star’s are young pups either (with the exception of Jamal Richardson and Keron Williams). At some point age will catch up to the team.

They are pretty much fielding the same offense as last year which should mean a very potent attack yet again. Their weakness is pass defense. Last year they were second only to Hamilton is most passing yards allowed. Jim Popp and Marc Trestman elected to make very little changes so it’s up to the players and coaches to improve if they don’t want to celebrate Calvillo’s 5th straight Grey Cup choke.

Verdict: Pretty sure the old guys have one more season left in them before they trade in their football cleats for orthopedic velcro shoes and their signing bonuses for old age security cheques. As long as the old guys hold up they should cruise through a weak set of eastern opponents en route to another first place finish…
1st in the East at 11-7