Alouettes head coach Jason Maas sounds the alarm

Since the arrival of Jason Maas at the helm of the Montreal Alouettes, the team had developed a reputation for performing well in close games. But in 2025, halfway through the season, the trend was reversed.

With a 5-4 record, the Sparrows could easily have posted a 7-2 record had it not been for two costly home losses to the British Columbia Lions and Edmonton Elks.

When asked about this, Jason Maas admitted that these breakaway games were also reminiscent of the 2024 season finale against Winnipeg. In his opinion, all three phases of the game are to blame: an attack that fails to close out games, costly penalties on special units, and a defense that struggles to hold on in critical moments.

Key mistakes on special units

The mistakes made against the Lions and Elks illustrate the problem. Pier-Olivier Lestage lacked discipline on a conversion, while Geoffrey Cantin-Arku committed a costly offside on a kick-off. Even the usually reliable Tyler Snead lost the ball near his own end zone on a botched field goal return.

For Maas, these mistakes are formative, especially if they occur before the playoffs. The coach stressed that the emotion of the moment can sometimes get the better of players, but he insists on the need to react with greater control in key moments.

Despite these setbacks, the team's morale remains intact. Byron Archambault, assistant to the head coach and coordinator of special units, believes that the Alouettes remain mentally sound. Cantin-Arku agrees, stressing that the team remains focused, win or lose, and is ready to bounce back.

With the theme “Grind for nine”, Maas wants every week to be approached as a new challenge. The arrival of quarterback Cameron Dukes, who has come to lend a hand while leaving his personal projects to one side, illustrates the collective commitment to this goal.

This content was created with the help of AI.