CFL.ca
Bert Faibish
Ticats.ca
Since the retirement of Danny McManus the quarterback position for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats has been a carousel of unknown imports, journeyman pivots and unproven youngsters.
After becoming the team’s full-time signal caller during the 2009 season, Kevin Glenn has given the fans in Steeltown something they had grown unaccustomed to; hope.
In 1999, Danny McManus put together arguably his greatest season, throwing for a Ticat record of 5,334 yards and adding 28 touchdown passes en route to the team’s 15th Grey Cup.
With four games left in the season, Glenn and the dynamic Ticat offence have a shot to set new bench-marks in a number of categories.
Glenn sits just four touchdown passes and 47 completions behind McManus’ team records of 29 and 365. He’s also currently 1.5% above the single season mark for completion percentage.
“I’m fortunate enough to have been with Kevin for two years in Winnipeg and I know him well,” said Offensive Coordinator Mike Gibson.
“He’s a student of the game, he’s a calming influence in the huddle and he gets the ball out of his hand very quickly, and if you can do those things then you’ll always give yourself a chance,” he said.
Both a byproduct and a contributing factor of Glenn’s success is the performance of the talented receiving corps that he has at his disposal.
If the season’s trend continues, the Ticats will boast three 1,000-yard receivers for the first time ever in Dave Stala, Arland Bruce III and Marquay McDaniel. Bruce already has eclipsed that mark while Stala and McDaniel need 147 and 165 yards respectively over the next four games — attainable, but certainly not guaranteed.
“It certainly means something when you can be mentioned in the same group with Danny Mac as far things that he has accomplished,” said Glenn.
In fact Glenn was surprised to learn that the Ticats had never had a trio of 1,000 yard receivers.
“Not even with Danny Mac? Wow,” said Glenn.
One of the things that give the receivers in Hamilton an advantage is a solid mix of veteran knowledge that compliments a stable of youthful talent.
“That’s one of the best things, when you have guys that are willing to learn from their peers there’s no limit to how good that group can be,” said Glenn.
To go along with Hamilton’s potent air assault, running back DeAndra’ Cobb is well on his way to his second consecutive season with over 1,000 yards rushing and is already 8th on the Ticats list of all-time rushers and is averaging 5.2 yards per carry this season.
“It’s good when you have two-headed monster on offense, especially with a guy like DeAndra’ who can catch the ball as well,” said Glenn. “It puts the defensive players on alert and when you have linebackers stepping up and paying attention to him, you can get routes behind them.”
Not surprisingly, McManus’ 1999 season also led to a Grey Cup victory. It is the goal and hope of every player on this year’s version of the Black and Gold to see history repeat itself come November.
