Everyone agrees that Laval University Rouge et Or’s offense hasn’t hit its desired pace this season, but the key players aren’t worried as the playoffs begin.
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The reigning Vanier Cup winners Rouge et Or will host the Concordia Stingers in the semi-finals for the fourth time in a row on Saturday afternoon.
“We are ready to take off,” said slot back Kevin Mital. We say from home that we want to get started, but the last two weeks have been profitable. Everyone has to assume their responsibility and we have to make big plays from the start so that the game doesn’t stay close for long and the Stingers think they have a chance.
Mital believes there are still positive things to take away from the season. “We’re at the same level as we were last year except we suffered another loss,” said the author of 25 receptions for 305 yards and three touchdowns. Like last year, we face Concordia, who we have beaten twice this season, and we will try again on Saturday.
“It makes me laugh, the fixation of people ignoring our offensive problems,” the country’s 2022 MVP continues. Even though we allowed one fewer sack than last-place McGill in the RSEQ and we didn’t go full throttle, we ended up in second place.”
Desjardins wants to make us forget the season
Unlike Mital, quarterback Arnaud Desjardins wants to be successful in the playoffs so he can forget about the regular season. “We didn’t have the season we wanted and it’s an opportunity to get back together,” said the law student, who completed 155 of his 226 passes for 2,028 yards. With our baggage from last year we are in a position to start another winning streak.”
On Thursday, Glen Constantin said at a press conference that the handoff problems between the center and quarterback had been resolved and cohesion was better. Desjardins confirms that the situation has returned to normal. “We had two very good weeks of training and our recovery was back to normal. As for RPO [run pass action]I went through a period of adjustment. I had used this concept in college, but it was new at the university level.”
Read problems when Desjardins had to decide whether to give the ball to the carrier or opt for the pass led to a few sacks. “I also have a responsibility with the sacks,” explained the third-year center, who threw twelve touchdown passes and was the victim of eight interceptions. We looked in the mirror and [on a] made the corrections.”
Mital and Desjardins in health
In addition to refining their offensive strategies, the Rouge et Or took advantage of the break in the schedule to address injuries. Mital and Desjardins had injuries at times during the season.
“I’m in the best shape I’ve been in since the week of preparation for the first game of the year in Sherbrooke,” said Mital. In the first game against Montreal I had an ankle injury, followed by a calf injury. The week off was good.”
Desjardins is upset about a season-ending shoulder injury and assures everything is back to normal. “I am 100%.”
If the Rouge et Or offense can count on the 100 percent return of Mital and Desjardins and on the presence of guard Samuel Quevillon, who missed the last meeting against Sherbrooke, it will have its best receiver of the season, Isaac Gaillardetz, and the Balls deprived carrier Kalenga Muganda.
Star defender Cristopher Beaulieu, who was injured in training, will also be conspicuous by his absence.
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