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“It’s very disappointing (to lose after having a 24-point lead) and a tough one to get over, but obviously there’s a lot of football left to be played so we need to make sure we move forward.”

It looks like the Redblacks will have a couple of new starters on defence for Saturday’s home game (8 p.m.) against the Montreal Alouettes. SAM linebacker Anthony Cioffi is likely out. Justin Howell, a rookie out of Carleton University, could get into the lineup at safety, with Antoine Pruneau shifting to SAM. Sherrod Baltimore will play, taking over for Loucheiz Purifoy, who was released on Monday.

Speaking about Howell, Thorpe said: “He’s done a real nice job for us, coming in and learning the defence, along with the style and tempo we play with. This game moves a little faster and he’s really caught up with it. He spends time after practice with the coaches, reviewing and getting up to speed. He’s really matured quickly.”

The Redblacks defence will be lined up this week against former Heisman Trophy winner and first-round NFL draft pick Johnny Manziel, who will start his second game for the Alouettes after being picked up in a trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats three weeks ago. While Manziel’s mobility is a strength, it doesn’t mean the Redblacks defence will change much.

“The quarterbacks we’ve faced, going back to (the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’) Jeremiah Masoli, these are guys that can be elusive with the legs, extend plays in the pocket,” Thorpe said. “The job’s the same: We have to stop Montreal’s offence. We have to continue to do what we do. We look at how we need to be disruptive, whether that happens in the pocket with the quarterback or in front of the line of scrimmage with our coverage.”