  Montreal Alouettes Avon Cobourne scores a touchdown during second half CFL football action against the Toronto Argonauts in Montreal July 29, 2010 REUTERS/Christinne Muschi |
For Kevin Huntley and the rest of the Argonauts’ defence, the task at hand, on paper, seems pretty simple.
Stop Montreal Alouettes offensive whiz Avon Cobourne on Saturday night at the Rogers Centre, and in all likelihood, stand an excellent chance of beating the Als in the former SkyDome for the first time since Oct. 12, 2007.
It’s putting that theory into practice that will be the Argos’ largest obstacle. Cobourne played around with the Argos on July 29 in Montreal, rushing for 115 yards and catching eight passes for another 116 yards. Two of Cobourne’s rushes went for touchdowns, putting the exclamation mark on his most productive game in the Canadian Football League.
The Argos will plan to halt the 5-foot-8, 205-pound package of talent, but it won’t happen easily. Cobourne can burst through the smallest hole for yards, and when Anthony Calvillo finds him for a short reception, he has the ability to turn it into first downs.
“I will put it to you like this,” Huntley said. “We can’t have him setting records on us. We will pay special attention to him, do the things we are supposed to do. We have to make sure that he knows that whenever he touches the ball, he is going to have to fight for (yards).”
Every CFL offence knows the importance of spreading out opposing defences.
It’s just that the Alouettes do it better than anyone else, and if the Argos somehow can corral Cobourne to the point that he is not a major factor, quarterback Anthony Calvillo has plenty of other options.
Jamel Richardson is his favourite target, and though Ben Cahoon is not seeing the ball as much, Kerry Watkins and S.J. Green are threats.
Missed tackles by the Argos at McGill Stadium 15 days ago mounted into problems they couldn’t overcome in the second half. The Als had the football for much of the final 30 minutes, and the Argos were outscored 24-0 after trailing 17-10 at the half.
“I think, hopefully, we have learned from our mistakes,” cornerback Byron Parker said.
“We had a lot against them two weeks ago. Our focus is that we have to stop Cobourne, but we can’t let the receivers get going either.
“The challenge every week is fun. I don’t stress this game more than I would a game against the Lions or the Eskimos. It’s the game this week and I will take it as such.”
In head coach Jim Barker’s view, the Argos have to do a better job at recognizing what plays the Als will run with the snap of the ball.
There’s not enough time to react and adjust. It’s more about anticipation.
“They did some things schematically that we need to recognize better,” Barker said.
“And if they make some adjustments to that, we need to be able to adjust quickly. You have certain players who are responsible for the runs and they have to be able to make quick reads. We need to make some adjustments in gap control.”
As the Argos will make Cobourne their main attraction, the Als undoubtedly had Cory Boyd’s mugshot taped up during their defensive meetings this past week. The Argos running back had 648 yards on the ground, more than enough for first among CFL rushers through six weeks.
Against Montreal last month, he had 53 yards on nine carries.
“Anybody who has watched us knows that (keying on Boyd) is what they are going to do, and that is part of the question … you key on certain people, you will open up other things,” Barker said. “With Cory, the bottom line is as long as we are schematically sound, he is going to have his opportunities.”
terry.koshan@sunmedia.ca
