Ticats Confidential: July 3
Welcome to the win column Hamilton. The Tiger-Cats got off to their best start after two games since 2004, with a 32-13 win over the rival Toronto Argonauts
– While the game was a battle, the stat sheet doesn’t favour the double Blue in any way. The Tabbies out gained them in total yards 480 to 238. Hamilton also held Toronto without a turnover or a sack.
– After the team fell behind early against Montreal, the offence was forced to open up and that meant less carries for star RB Jesse Lumsden. This week the Hamilton offence was impressive as it consistently moved the ball downfield thanks to a great push from their offensive line. Behind them Lumsden powered his way to 189 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
– After the first touchdown, scored by Casey Printers, head coach Charlie Taaffe went to every receiver and tapped them on the shoulder, congratulating them for the drive, both receiving and blocking.
– Helping the offence keep the Boatmen on their heels was the superb play actions between QB Casey Printers and RB Jesse Lumsden. The Ticats backfield duo fooled several pairs of eyes in the press box on more than one occasion.
– In order to balance the import/non-import ratio, when RB Tre Smith entered the game on offence the team trotted out OL Peter Dyakowski to take the place of OL Marko Cavka. In other formations the team brought out FB Robert Pavlovic and FB Jeff Piercy, who replaced receivers, making for a more powerful run package.
– Smith is a threat whenever he has the ball in his hands, and the coaching staff recognized that quickly making him the full-time kick returner and getting him touches on the offence as well.
– Argos DT Adriano Belli took a costly penalty at the end of the third quarter, which led to a K/P Nick Setta field goal. Belli was flagged for throwing a punch at Ticats C Marwan Hage, after Hage had pancaked him on the previous play. The two former teammates are often jovial off the field, but apparently not on this night.
– DE Nautyn McKay-Loescher was a late scratch for the game due to a back injury that bothered him during the week. Joining him on the four man inactive roster was fellow DE Charlton Keith, former Argo DB Jermaine Mays, and Canadian OL Jordan Rempel.
– On his final touchdown, Lumsden showed a tremendous amount of class by going with a very low-key celebration. Lumsden waved off teammates who wanted to rejoice in the moment. It’s a long season and Lumsden knew how to act like he had been there before.
-The game ball went to Caretaker Bob Young, who was on hand for the team’s first win at Toronto since he took control of the team. If Winnipeg wins tomorrow night, The Ticats will hold a share of first place in the East as they prepare to face the Grey Cup Champion Roughriders at Ivor Wynne Stadium next Saturday.
Ticats Confidential: June 30
The team was back at it over the weekend with rundown Friday morning and practice Sunday, and again today. It’s never easy after a defeat, but the veterans are keeping spirits up and using the loss as motivation for next week’s game at Toronto and beyond.
– OL Cedric Gagne-Marcoux and DB Dylan Barker have been watching practice from the sidelines, sporting a sling and a walking cast, respectively. Both players look disappointed to not be on the field helping the team prepare, but are remaining close to the team as they rehab.
– RB Tre Smith may have inherited the neon yellow shoes formerly worn by Willie Ponder, who was released on Sunday. With the shoes on, the normally fast Smith, looks even quicker.
– Danny McManus continues to work with the quarterbacks, along side offensive coordinator Marcel Bellefeuille. D-Mac seems like a perfect fit on the coaching staff and the team might be well served by dropping the “guest” off his coaching title and making him a full-time assistant.
– WR Tony Miles is setting the tone in practice, as he looks to beat down his old Argos teammates. Tony made several catches on Monday all over the field on short routes, finding holes over the middle, and hauling in deep passes.
– DB Rontarius Robinson made a very difficult interception, scooping up a low pass and taking it to the house for a touchdown. It’s the kind of game-changing play defensive coordinator Denny Creehan would like to see his players make in Toronto on Thursday.
– Showing that spirits are high in the locker room, OG George Hudson walked into the equipment manager’s office over the weekend and came out with a handsaw. He walked across the dressing room, picked up OG Peter Dyakowski’s good luck goose, pictured with him in the 2007 Cats Prints book, and began sawing it in half (For anyone who hasn’t seen the photos from the book, Peter’s goose is of the plastic variety). Peter did his best to stop George, but C Marwan Hage held him back playfully, and moments later the fake goose, along with whatever good or bad luck it brought, was no more. Sorry Pete.
Ticats Confidential: June 26
The Tabbies got a rude awakening on Thursday night, as they fell 33-10 to an experienced Montreal Alouettes club.
– The difference in the pedigree of the seasoned Als and the young Ticats showed early as Hamilton failed to convert a third and one, on a handoff, while Montreal faced a similar third and one on the next drive and made good on it with a QB sneak.
– Despite the loss, QB Casey Printers played well, completing 71 percent of his passes for 203 yards, adding another 33 yards on the ground. He relied on his athleticism several times as he evaded Montreal defenders, buying more time to make a throw.
– Printers favourite target on the night was WR Scott Mitchell who had his share of rookie mistakes early on, but showed an ability to get open on a consistent basis and finished the game as the Cats leading receiver with five catches for 72 yards.
– WR Pat Woodcock helped ignite the offence at the end of the first half hauling in three passes for 66 yards on one drive that resulted in a K/P Nick Setta field goal. Setta looked his usual all-star self completing his only field goal and averaging 45.6 yards on punts, with his longest being a 62-yard blast.
– Providing the rest of the Ticats offensive points on the night was RB Tre Smith, who broke a 75-yard run in the fourth quarter. It’s tough not to route for the undersized tailback as he continues to provide a spark when the ball is in his hands.
– The defence was characterized by strong coverage downfield, which often forced Als QB Anthony Calvillo to scramble, but the spry pivot found lanes and kept plays alive.
– Calvillo was chased by a defensive linemen Darrell Adams and Nautyn McKay-Loescher, who had a sack each.
– While last year’s tackle leader LB Zeke Moreno kept up his ballhawk ways with seven takedowns, it was LB Markeith Knowlton who stole the show on defence with 14 tackles, the second highest single game total in Ticats history.
