While Danny Maciocia admits he’d like to see more offensive consistency, the Alouettes’ general manager denied starting quarterback Cody Fajardo is the root of the problem.
“The reality is the two worst positions you can play in pro sports in Montreal is to be the starting quarterback for the Alouettes and the goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens,” Maciocia told The Gazette by telephone. “The reality is Anthony Calvillo went through it, Vernon Adams went through it, Trevor Harris went through it. Cody went through it last year.
“Grey Cup or no Grey Cup, MVP or no MVP, he’s going to go through it again this year. He’ll go through it as long as he’s the starting quarterback in Montreal, and when he’s no longer the starting quarterback, the next guy will go through it.”
The Als (11-2-1) have the CFL’s best record and can clinch first place in the East Division Saturday night at Toronto with a win or should Ottawa lose earlier that day at Saskatchewan. Montreal hasn’t finished first in the division since 2012.
Fajardo has played four games since returning from a July 11 hamstring injury against Toronto and has led the Als to a 2-1-1 record over that span after starting the season with a five-game winning streak. Montreal has scored 87 points since his return. Fajardo has passed for 1,006 yards and three touchdowns while being intercepted twice.
He has been playing behind an offensive line that has allowed 32 sacks — only B.C. and Toronto have surrendered more — and is without injured receivers Tyson Philpot and Austin Mack. Philpot remains the Als’ leading receiver. Mack, the leading receiver in 2023, played one game after his return from the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons before suffering an ankle injury in practice.
Nonetheless, there has been criticism of Fajardo in emails sent to The Gazette, people clamouring for backup Davis Alexander, who won four games — three as the starter — when he replaced Fajardo. The backup quarterback is always the most popular player on a football team.
“That’s just the reality and it’s OK. I get it,” Maciocia said of the critics. “There are no issues. If that’s the way people feel they’re entitled to those feelings. Internally, we feel pretty good about our quarterback situation, led by Cody Fajardo. Sometimes it doesn’t look sexy; I get it. I’d rather win and it doesn’t necessarily have to look sexy.”
Despite missing considerable playing time, Fajardo has completed a league-leading 73.5 per cent of his passes, while throwing for 2,642 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has been intercepted six times. Alexander completed 73 of 102 attempts (71.6 per cent) for 972 yards and six touchdowns. He was intercepted once.
The two quarterbacks have combined for 27 plays of 30 yards or longer.
“What we do enjoy about our offence now is the big-play capability that it has,” Maciocia said. “Sometimes we’ll go two-and-out, two-and-out again, then get stuffed on second-and-two. But the next series we’ll come out and throw one over the heads of two defenders. (Charleston) Rambo comes down with it and gets tackled at the 10.
“Is that the type of recipe you want to have week in and out? You can probably say not. Would you like to have a bit more consistency? I’d say so. We’re just having offensive breakdowns. It could be the offensive line, the backs, the quarterback. Sometimes it’s the receivers we’re waiting on because they don’t run the right route. Do we feel confident enough in the group of receivers we have? Absolutely. No ifs. No buts.”
The Als rode a stellar defence to a title last season. Nonetheless, Fajardo was named the Grey Cup’s most valuable player after passing for 290 yards and three touchdowns in Montreal’s come-from-behind victory against Winnipeg. He saved his best performance for last.
Maciocia can only hope for a similar scenario this season.
“We haven’t played a perfect game yet,” he said. “Are we going to? No. When you strive for perfection along the way you’ll find excellence. We’re not there yet.”