Montreal Alouettes wide receiver Duron Carter sees hope with only six games left in the CFL season.

This despite the Als taking a 3-9 record against the visiting Toronto Argonauts (5-8) on Sunday (1 p.m., TSN).

Carter has been at the centre of controversy all season. He was suspended one game for bumping Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell on the sidelines, and he had a run-in with teammate Rakeem Cato.

Cato was led off the practice field two weeks ago after losing his temper and shouting at Carter and receiver Kenny Stafford about what the quarterback called a lack of respect.

Carter told the Star that he was trying to “defuse” what was going on.

“It sort of got out of hand,” he said. “Things were said about respect and everything that I don’t really condone. So I just leave it as a professional relationship,” Carter said.

Those troubles are all sorted out now, and Carter believes that new interim head coach Jacques Chapdelaine, a former collegiate bench boss who took over from Jim Popp last week, will be the answer to their problems.

Chapdelaine, who was not made available to the Star, has been emphasizing a getting-back-to-the basics approach. The Montreal Gazette reported he will call all the plays, with offensive co-ordinator Anthony Calvillo moving up to the spotter's booth.

“We’ve put ourselves in a bad position,” Carter said. “It started from training camp and, coming into the season thinking we were a good team. We have really great players.”

Carter got to build a solid relationship with Chapdelaine prior to his promotion when Chapelaine was the receivers coach. “Everything that’s gone on this season, he’s sort of been a mentor to me,” Carter said.

Carter’s numbers have fallen since Kevin Glenn was traded to Winnipeg earlier this month. “There was definitely frustration,” Carter said. “Especially with him being one of our supposed premier players and then get traded for a fourth-round pick. It raised eyebrows.”

In Montreal’s last game, a 20-17 loss to Hamilton, Carter was held to four catches for 39 yards. But he is still on track for a 1,000-yard season with 832 yards.

Carter said he has been doing his part to show he’s all about winning. After losing to B.C. on Sept. 9, he texted special teams coach Kavis Reed and told him he wanted to win so badly that he suggested that he could block a punt or field goal if he were given an assignment on special teams.

And against Hamilton, the six-foot-five Carter raced in from the edge and used his long arms to block a punt, scooped up the ball and took it 46 yards for the game’s first touchdown.

“I told Kavis Reed prior to that week that I could really affect the game on punt blocking. He designed a play for me. The first time it worked.”

He said he doesn’t know if he’ll get the same assignment against the Argos.

“Maybe. We really haven’t started game-planning for Toronto,” Carter said.

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WEEK 15 SCHEDULE

Edmonton (6-5) at Winnipeg (8-5)

Friday, 8:30 p.m.

Winnipeg’s seven-game winning streak was snapped last week in a loss to Calgary. Bombers RB Andrew Harris is still on the shelf with a lower-body injury. Edmonton is looking to solidify its chances of being a cross-over playoff team.

Calgary (11-1-1) at Hamilton (6-7)

Saturday, 4 p.m.

Bo Levi Mitchell, named one of the CFL’s top performers of the, has the Stampeders on a 10-game winning streak. And he is using different receivers to get the job done. Last week, Kamar Jorden caught nine passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. Hamilton is dealing with several injuries, including one to receiver Chad Owens, who is on the six-game injured list (foot).

Ottawa (6-5-1) at B.C. (8-4)

Saturday, 10 p.m.

The Redblacks are coming off a 29-12 victory over Toronto. In his first start at running back for Ottawa, Mossis Madu rumbled for 91 yards for an average carry of 5.7 yards. Trevor Harris continues to show trust in Brad Sinopoli, who was the top receiver with nine catches for 116 yards against Toronto. The Lions are coming off a loss to the Eskimos, with QB Jonathon Jennings throwing a crucial late-game interception.

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