Around the CFL: Improvements up front a big reason for Als success

Football Betting Lines

11/15/2008 - Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There's a big reason for the Montreal Alouettes' turnaround this season.

The Alouettes posted an 11-7 record this year to finish atop the East Division standings and earn the right to host the conference final. Last season, Montreal finished third with an 8-10 record and appeared to many to be headed in a downward spiral.

But the club, under the veteran leadership of quarterback Anthony Calvillo, returned among the league's contenders. Calvillo certainly played a part in that, finishing second in the CFL in passing with 5,633 yards and a league- leading 43 touchdowns.

However, the other consideration is this. After giving up a CFL-high 68 sacks last year, the Alouettes' offensive line surrendered a league-low 22 this season.

As a result, four Alouettes offensive linemen were named to the East Division All-Star team, with center Bryan Chiu and guard Scott Flory also being voted to the CFL All-Star squad this week. They were two of five Alouettes selected, joining Calvillo and receivers Ben Cahoon and Jamel Richardson.

Flory is also a finalist for the CFL's outstanding lineman award, the fourth time he has been nominated. Flory, though, is looking for his first victory.

INTERESTING PICKUP: The Montreal Alouettes made an interesting pick up heading into their East Division final showdown with the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday at Olympic Stadium.

Montreal added Keith Williams, a defensive back from Florida A&M to its roster. What makes this noteworthy is that Williams was released by Edmonton earlier this season.

Williams was with Montreal in 2007, attending the club's training camp. He began the '08 campaign with the Eskimos before returning to the Alouettes once again.

ODDS AGAINST ALS: The odds aren't on the Montreal Alouettes side in their quest to reach the Grey Cup.

Montreal will host this year's CFL final, with the hometown Alouettes needing a win Saturday over Edmonton to be the East Division representative in the contest. But only eight times in the last 55 years has the host team qualified to play in the Grey Cup.

And the last team to win the Grey Cup as the host city was the B.C. Lions in '94 when they edged the Baltimore Stallions, 26-23, on Lui Passaglia's late field goal at B.C. Place.

WINDS OF CHANGE: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers fired heard coach Doug Berry this week after posting an 8-10 record and losing in the East Division semifinal to Edmonton.

But more changes are in store.

Not only will Winnipeg be looking for a new head coach, but to secure the right candidate the CFL club is prepared to dangle the dual post of coach and GM to that person. That's bad news for Brendan Taman, who is currently the Bombers GM and vice-president of football operations.

After Berry was fired, Taman admitted to reporters that he's well aware his job title will likely change heading into the 2009 season. Instead of being in charge of all football matters, he's going to be more of a director of player personnel for the Bombers.

The leading candidate for the Bombers' coach/GM post is Edmonton receivers coach Mike Kelly.

Kelly is a former Bombers offensive coordinator who held the same position with the XFL's Orlando Rage and has previous head coaching experience at Valdosta State. He also has spent time in the personnel departments of the NFL's Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.

Bombers president Lyle Bauer, a good friend of Kelly's, will spearhead the coaching search, with input from Taman.

PLAYOFF WOES: He led the Calgary Stampeders to first place in the West Division and the CFL's best regular season record at 13-5. He also set career highs for passing yards (5,094) and touchdowns (39) and is the Western nominee for the CFL's outstanding player award.

And yet it's easy to understand how there's a little apprehension surrounding Henry Burris heading into Calgary's West Division final game Saturday against B.C.

That's because given all of Burris' regular-season success, he hasn't won a playoff game for the Stampeders in three years.

Three years ago, Burris had two interceptions as Calgary lost a home playoff game to Edmonton. In 2006, he had four interceptions as the Stampeders dropped another home playoff contest to Saskatchewan.

Then last year in Regina, Burris fumbled twice and had an interception in a loss to the eventual Grey Cup-champion Roughriders.

But Burris arguably has his strongest supporting cast heading into Saturday's game. Calgary has the CFL's leading receiver in Ken-Yon Rambo, the league's top rusher in Joffrey Reynolds and its leading scorer in kicker Sandro DeAngelis.