By: Justin Boone
To have a member of the Tiger-Cats organization answer your questions, e-mail them to blackandgold@ticats.ca
Q: Although we have upgraded our receiving corps, and it’s still early in the season, we still don’t have an outside deep threat at receiver. With all the NFL cuts after their training camps there must be plenty of young, fast big receivers available soon, we should constantly be trying to improve, I’m sure Obie is aware of this?
Tom Zolis
First off, I don’t know that you’re 100 percent right about the Cats not having deep threats. There is plenty of speed in the receiving corps, but they did face a pair of talented secondaries in Montreal with guys like Davis Sanchez and Chip Cox, and Toronto with Byron Parker, Orlondo Steinhauer, and Kenny Wheaton. WR Scott Mitchell had a 43-yard catch agains the Argos, so he might want to content the deep threat issue with you, but the truth is the team’s scouts are always scouring the NFL ranks to see if there is anyone who could represent an improvement. As much as they wanted to stick with the group they went to camp with, there are players who become available and it would be foolish to let another team scoop them up. Also don’t forget that the Ticats drafted WR Samuel Giguere with the ninth overall pick and while he has stayed in the mix at the Indianapolis Colts training camp, he’s no guarantee to make the team down there. It wouldn’t be suprising to see Giguere drop the Blue and White for a Black and Gold jersey before the season is over.
Q: Between the NFL and the CFL, the CFL has the tougher game. It takes a better athlete to play in the CFL and we Americans are missing out. Your players should be loyal to their league and be proud of it. I work for a newspaper chain and media company based in Venice, Florida and got to talking with the former sports editor on the CFL/NFL differences and I wrote a few articles supporting your fine league, which is indeed better than the NFL. I would even support a CFL team in our area. Call me crazy, even insane, but I’m throwing this Hail Mary at you.
Johnny Dondero (60 years young)
It’s interesting to see that there are American fans out there that truly do love the Canadian game. I’ve never understood why the CFL isn’t more popular in the U.S., because after all, with a season that starts in June, football fans could essentially extend their football watching months by three. As far as athletes go, there are some amazingly gifted players in both leagues and it’s a testament to the unique qualities of each. A player like Cameron Wake can be considered too small for the NFL, but thrive in the CFL where speed is more valued in a defensive end. I think the folks at the league would be happy to hear your thoughts on the superiority of the CFL, Johnny. Unless of course Johnny Dondero is an alias for CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon.
Q: Has Jesse [Lumsden] done enough to get people to stop doubting him? The guy is one of the best Canadian players this league has ever seen and has gotten nothing but criticized outside of Hamilton. He almost broke the 200-yard mark for the second time, after his big game last year. By the end of his career he will be remembered as one of the greatest Canadians of all-time, and a legend in the Hammer.
Ryan McKay
Every time he’s stepped on the field, Jesse has shown he can carry the rock for the Black and Gold. While some experts have doubted his ability to stay healthy, very few have questioned his talent. He leads the league in rushing yards with 225 after two games, which does put him on pace to break 2,000 yards by season’s end, a lofty goal. I think Jesse would be much more excited to be playing meaningful football in November for the first time in his career, but I suppose if he is to become a legion like you’ve predicted he will need to combined individual and team goals. For now he’ll keep thanking his offensive line who are paving the way for his punishing runs.
Q: This is the first time the Tiger-Cats have had a reason to cheer this early in the season in a long time. My friend thinks the game in Toronto might just be a one game wonder, but I believe if the Cats keep playing that way they’ll make good on their playoff guarantee. Am I naive? Which game do you think was a better example of this year’s team.
Allison Barnes
In the opening game, I think all of TigerTown was stunned at how flat the team came out. If you had thrown them on the field against Montreal on the first day of training camp, I don’t think they would have played that poorly. May their bruised egos helped focus them, because the effort in Toronto was that of a completely different team. Crisp. Polished. Decisive. They controlled the game, and took it to the Boatmen on both sides of the line. That’s the team coaches saw in camp, and that’s closer to where the team is now. I think their actual position right now is slightly below their Toronto performance, but no where near the team that took the field in the first home game. Look for them to redeem themselves with a much better outing Saturday against the Roughriders. They can smell a winning record of 2-1.
