Through two games, the Montreal Alouettes collected 26 penalties for 235 yards. They ran 121 plays for 786 yards. 21.4% of their plays amounted to penalties, and it costed them 29.9% of their total yards. So, for every five plays, they lost three-tenths of their progress. Yes, the Alouettes have a discipline issue, and it was highlighted by Duron Carter‘s lack of discipline and immaturity against the Ottawa Redblacks. Moving forward, the team will need to fix this issue.
Discipline Issues Need to be Fixed for Duron Carter, Alouettes
In the third quarter of their week two match-up, Carter caught a touchdown pass from Kevin Glenn and was rocked by Jermaine Robinson after the catch. Instead of getting up and celebrating with his teammates, the 25-year-old Carter proceeded to take his celebration to the Redblacks bench. He walked with swagger in front of his opponents – but did not say anything – before colliding with head coach Rick Campbell. Campbell may have also been in the wrong for being on the field, shouldering Carter and flopping, but it does not deny the fact that Carter took his celebrations too far.
After S.J. Green went down with an injury earlier in the game – which would cost him his season – Carter was left to carry the team to a second win on the year. Head coach Jim Popp told Carter that the team can’t afford to lose him because Green was done. Unfortunately for Montreal, Carter was disqualified for the game, and was handed a one-game suspension by the league.
The whole situation reminded football fans why Carter’s discipline may keep him playing in the NFL for a long time. He needed multiple teammates to calm him down, including veterans Nik Lewis, Billy Parker and Kyries Hebert, who escorted Carter to the locker room. Carter even told teammates to leave him alone and stop telling him to calm down.
Without Green, Montreal’s offence is left to rely on Carter for the big catches and the timely touchdowns. Kenny Stafford now has to back-up Carter on the depth chart, but Glenn cannot rely on veterans Sam Giguère and Lewis to fill the void, week-in and week-out. Carter has to put this offence on his back if they want to succeed.
For a player with his emotional instability, that is a lot to ask for, but he needs to keep his emotions, and his discipline, in check. He has to use his emotions to pump the crowd up, as he does at times, and get results on the field. Popp, offensive coordinator Anthony Calvillo and wide receivers coach Jacques Chapdelaine need to sit down with Carter and let him know that he cannot act out like that again.
Popp took a good initiative by fining Carter, but the young receiver will need much more than a simple slap in the wrist to improve his discipline. Until then, the Alouettes offence might be in a bit of trouble.
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