Bennett's Breakdown: Tale of the Tape

By Donnovan Bennett - Sportsnet TV Personality

Follow Donnovan on Twitter: @donnovanbennett

Previous Vanier Cup Wins
Montreal - 1
UBC - 3

Winning Streak Heading into Vanier Cup
Montreal - 6
UBC - 7

QUARTERBACKS

This is a matchup of freshman versus a 5th year senior. O'Connor isn't a true freshman though as he transfered from Penn State. Cousineau is the less heralded of the two but his continuity in the offense and elite decision making mean he's just as valuable to his team. O'Connor became the face of the UBC rebuild under Blake Nill. His leadership and infectious attitude is a big reason why the Thunderbirds have had such a dramatic turn around. If you were starting your program you'd want O'Connor but for one game in a big spot you'd want the player more familiar with the pressure and more familiar with his teammates.
Advantage: Montreal

OFFENSIVE LINE

Montreal is a big, physical football team. Yet the biggest members of their team, the offensive line, are incredibly mobile. The Carabins o-line does a great job getting to the second level on run plays and getting out to the perimeter to spring blocks. The offensive line is the last thing to come when rebuilding a program. UBc has made strides but haven't reached a championship level yet. Their inconsistency in assignment and technique is why they were inconsistent throughout the year. In a year or two the answer might be different but this weekend he Montreal lineman are further ahead.
Advantage: Montreal

DEFENSIVE LINE

This comparison isn't close. Montreal has depth players on the line that would probably start for UBC. That's no disrespect to the Thunderbirds that's probably the case for most CIS teams in relation to the Carabins. What the fact affords Montreal to do is roll through pass rushers and keep their front fresh. A luxury UBC doesn't yet have as they are not as deep. Montreal's line might be better this year than it was a year ago when they won the Vanier.
Advantage: Montreal

LINEBACKERS

Terrell Davis and Mitch Barnett might be the best linebacking pair in the country. They are experienced and multi-faceted. Montreal however has the best trio. When you add their half backs who play often in the box and their depth of linebackers who are monsters on special teams you see why Montreal is quickly being referred to as "Linebacker U". Both teams LB's impact the run game but Montreal does a great job with it's backers disrupting the pass game by blitzing from depth, rerouting receivers, and helping in pass overage.
Advantage: Montreal

RECEIVERS

The Thunderbirds group is more balanced. Marcus Davis, Alex Morrison, Will Watson, and freshman Trivel Pinto can all make plays. Montreal's group is more interchangeable. They'll find crafty ways to use pre-snap motion to dictate coverage and get leverage on the defence. Regis Cibasu of Montreal may have the longest pro career out of this group. If I need one catch in a big spot I'd throw it to Phil Enchill as he is fearless over the middle. But the depth in UBC's receiving core wins out.
Advantage: UBC

RUNNING BACKS

Two totally different styles. Brandon Deschamps is a powerful runner that bruised his way to 7 yards per carry this year. UBC has a thunder and lightning element when they employ Marcus Davis in the backfield. In the days of running back by committee it is rare you see an every down back in the CIS. That's exactly what Sean Thomas-Erlington is. More of a slasher in relation to Deschamps. Erlington is well rounded in his ability to run, block and catch out of the backfield. The thing I like the most about Sean's game is his patience. "STE" is slow to the hole but fast through the hole with great acceleration to get up to the second level of a defence.
Advantage: Push

SECONDARY

Taylor Loffler is the best football player in this game on either side of the ball. If he had to he's athletic and smart enough to play 5-6 positions on this defence and be able to compete. As good as the Carabins secondary is they are the beneficiaries of a great front 4. UBC's back end however dictates what they do defensively.
Advantage: UBC

SPECIAL TEAMS

This is tough. Special teams won Montreal the Vanier in 2014 and the Dunsmore Cup in 2015. Hard to say the Carabins aren't better but UBC has a better place kicker and returners. If it comes down to needing a blocked FG to win the game no program arguably ever is better than Montreal. Yet in the other phases UBC has the superior athletes. Both coaches take active roles in their special teams and allot significant practice time to them so we should see some great plays made on specials in what is shaping up to be a special game on Saturday.
Advantage: UBC

Follow Donnovan on Twitter: @donnovanbennett