Montreal Alouettes penalties are a main occurrence in the team’s young CFL season. In four games already this season, the Als have been flagged 53 times – over 13 times a game – and have given up almost 500 yards due to penalties. Are the Montreal Alouettes penalties the reason for their losses?
Montreal Alouettes Penalties: Reason for Losses?
Offensive penalties
The Als offence has struggled so far this season with throwing and running the football. However, the huge area of concern has been the Montreal Alouettes penalties when it comes to offence. The offence has been flagged 18 times for 162 yards. A majority of these calls have been holding by the offensive line.
Against Toronto Argonauts, the offensive line were victims of all three penalties for a loss of 30 yards. Veteran lineman, Jeff Perrett was called twice for holding. One of Perrett’s holding calls saw a 24-yard passing play between Als quarterback Kevin Glenn and running back Brandon Rutley called back.
Second-year lineman, Jacob Ruby did not have a better day as the officials got him for an illegal block. Perrett is the leader on this young and inexperienced offensive line with center, Luc Brodeur-Jourdain out for another few more weeks.
The Als offence has decreased their penalties totals since their first two games of the season against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Ottawa Redblacks. They had seven penalties in the Bombers game and six in the Redblacks game. In their last two games, they had three penalties against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and two against the Argos.
Defensive Penalties
The Als defence has been horrendous when it comes to penalties. The officials have flagged them 18 times for 172 yards. The defence has averaged about six penalties a game. A majority of the Montreal Alouettes penalties on the defensive side of the ball have been illegal contact on receivers and pass interference.
On Monday night, the officials handed out five yellow flags for 55 yards on the Als defense. They had two major roughing penalties, one by safety, Marc-Olivier Brouillette and another one by defensive end, John Bowman. The two penalties led to a missed field goal by Argos kicker, Lirim Hajrullahu and an Argos five-yard receiving touchdown by Anthony Coombs.
The Montreal Alouettes penalties on defensive side picked up in the second quarter, when they had back-to -back illegal contact on the receiver calls in the red zone. The two calls resulted in a five-yard touchdown catch by Argos wideout, Devon Wylie. Rookie defense-back, Jonathon Mincy had his first interception in the end zone, unfortunately it was called back because defensive back,Billy Parker was caught by the officials for illegal contact on the receiver. albeit questionable.
The Als defence, like most of the CFL teams this season, have struggled with what illegal contact really is. In the second quarter of their game against the Argos, the officials called illegal contact on receiver by Als linebacker, Chip Cox. On the replay, it is visible that Cox was actually the one who was contacted by the Argos receiver . Unfortunately, Als head coach, Jim Popp was not able to challenge it because he challenged the previous play.
Special Teams Penalties
The special teams even joined the Als yellow flag party this season. The special teams have been flagged 17 times by the officials and have given up 160 yards. They have averaged seven penalties a game. A majority of the penalties this season have been related to no-yards calls.
In Monday’s game, they were called for four penalties which resulted in 45 yards. Als backup wideout, Alex Charette, was called twice in the game, once for no yards and another time for an illegal block.The perfect example of the horrible special teams played this season by the Als was on display during the third quarter of Monday’s game. Charette was called for no yards and backup linebacker, Nick Shortill was called for tripping.
The Montreal Alouettes penalties will look to end in Montreal’s upcoming game against Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday night. If the Als do not stop committing dumb penalties, it could be a long season for the team.
Main Photo.
