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Defensive co-ordinator Noel Thorpe strives to raise standards and reduce number of missed tackles when Als face Elks.
Published Jun 18, 2026 • Last updated 10 minutes ago • 3 minute read
Alouettes defensive-back Arthur Hamlin brings down Toronto Argonauts receiver Tyler Kahmann during first half in Montreal on June 12.
Alouettes defensive-back Arthur Hamlin brings down Toronto Argonauts receiver Tyler Kahmann during first half in Montreal on June 12. Photo by Evan Buhler /Montreal Gazette
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There's perception and then there's reality, according to Alouettes defensive co-ordinator Noel Thorpe.
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"We won two games and we've come up with timely stops," Thorpe said after practice this week at Stade Hébert. "We created two big turnovers against Hamilton. That's something we pride ourselves on.
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"We don't chase stats. We chase standards."
While the Als are 2-0, their defence has been inconsistent, either allowing too many points or relinquishing too many yards.
Montreal defeated Hamilton 30-27 in overtime to open the season, although it held veteran quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell to 307 yards passing — a relatively modest total by CFL standards.
The tone of that game changed after an interception that was returned for a 54-yard touchdown during the third quarter by Robert Kennedy III, helping to erase a 14-point deficit.
But it was a different story last week at home against Toronto. While the Als prevailed 37-30, quarterback Chad Kelly — playing for the first time in 581 days after missing the entire 2025 season due to injury — passed for 445 yards and three touchdowns. However, 83 of those yards were produced on the Argonauts' final drive, ending in a meaningless nine-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Kahmann with six seconds left.
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Kelly was intercepted by newcomer Bubba Bolden during the second quarter and was nearly pilfered by Don Callis.
"We don't like to give up a score on the last play of the game," Thorpe said. "You see 445. That's what (Kelly) threw for. We hold ourselves to a high standard. There were plays for us to be made that we didn't make. Those things have been corrected. The last two games, they've proven their resiliency."
Alouettes defensive-back Lorenzo Burns tackles Toronto Argonauts running-back Samuel Hicks during first half in Montreal on June 12.
Alouettes defensive-back Lorenzo Burns tackles Toronto Argonauts running-back Samuel Hicks during first half in Montreal on June 12. Evan Buhler / Montreal Gazette
The Als were without injured field linebacker Najee Murray against Toronto. While Murray practised on Thursday, it appears the Als will be missing boundary linebacker Tyrice Beverette (neck) on Saturday, when they visit Edmonton. He will probably be replaced by Micah Awe, who blocked a punt by Toronto's John Haggerty last week, resulting in a touchdown by Arthur Hamlin.
One thing Thorpe would like to see is a reduction in the number of missed tackles, which have resulted in yards after the catch and big plays. Montreal has allowed a league-high 314 yards after the catch.
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And the Als are averaging 28.5 points against, meaning pressure is being placed on the offence to score. The Als have also allowed an average of nearly 410 yards per game.
"Tackling is a mindset and attitude," Thorpe said. "We give great chase to the ball. We don't want a missed tackle turning into an explosive play. If we miss a tackle, we've got to clean it up. Effort's going to erase errors for us."
Through two weeks of the regular season, CFL games are averaging 59 points. That means defences have yet to catch up with offences and there are many explosive plays being made.
Als head coach Jason Maas, a former CFL quarterback, believes the Als' defence is hard to play against.
"They give you multiple looks," he said. "They play physical. They hit the quarterback. I think it's very difficult to play against us. Do teams get plays against us? Sure. There's things to clean up, absolutely. Any time you're throwing for big yardage, there's usually things to clean up. Ultimately, I know what we have here.
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"There's a standard of play (expected). You can look at last week and say we didn't meet the standard on some plays. Not all of them. There was a great portion of that game I felt we did meet the standard (but) there are things to clean up. You're never perfect."
Als veteran defensive-back Wesley Sutton, in his sixth season with the team, said he'd like to see the unit get off the field more regularly when it has the opposition in a second-and-long bind.
"There are certain times we've won on first down," he said. "Now, it's our opportunity to win on second down.
"We're winning games," Sutton added. "Winning games leads to championships."
Meanwhile, the Als have signed veteran returner Mario Alford, who's expected to play against Edmonton despite having only one practice. Alford played for Montreal from 2019 to '22 and won a Grey Cup last season with Saskatchewan. Alford attended training camp with Hamilton, but was released after the first exhibition game.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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