Bert Faibish
Ticats.ca
In the midst of a late-season winning streak, the Tiger-Cats are in a position to make a significant run at the Grey Cup. When a team experiences success as a unit, it’s usually accompanied by a number of players who are experiencing very successful seasons on a personal level.
This season there are a number of players that should and will be considered for All-Star nods and league-wide awards.
Offensive line:
No team in the CFL has protected their quarterback like the Ticats offensive line. As a unit, they’ve given up a league-low 24 sacks, five sacks better than the second place team. Led by veteran centre Marwan Hage, the team has opened holes for running back DeAndra’ Cobb and helped him reach the 1,000 yard mark for the second season in a row, just the fourth running back to reach that milestone this season. While it could be argued that all five deserve All-Star consideration, Hage, left tackle Alexandre Gauthier and left guard Peter Dyakowski have played every game at their positions from the beginning of the season.
All-Stars: Hage (C), Gauthier (LT), Dyakowski (LG)
Awards: Hage as Most Outstanding Lineman
Receivers:
For the first time in franchise history, the Ticats could boast three receivers withover 1,000 yards in a season. Led by Arland Bruce III, who has led the league in receiving for most of the season, Hamilton’s receivers have struck fear into the hearts of opposing defensive backs since Week 1. Bruce is one pace to surpass his personal-best of 1,370 yards and continues to show why he is regarded as one of the best receivers to play the game. His stellar play should earn him some consideration for the Most Outstanding Player award. Sophomore Marquay McDaniel has shown that his impressive rookie numbers were no fluke and is on pace to break the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his young career. McDaniel has caught seven touchdowns so far and is making a reputation for himself as a fearless receiver who does his best work going over the middle. Canadian Dave Stala has continued the rejuvenation of his career by becoming Kevin Glenn’s go-to target on second down. When a big play is needed, you can bet that “Sticky” will be involved. The veteran receiver needs just five receptions and 82 yards to match his career-highs he established with Montreal in 2005. In the East Division, there has been no Canadian that has performed at as high a level this season.
All-Stars: Bruce, Stala, McDaniel
Awards: Bruce as Most Outstanding Player, Stala as Most Outstanding Canadian
Quarterback:
It is no coincidence that the resurgence of Tiger-Cat football coincided with Kevin Glenn arriving in town. The veteran signal-caller has thrown for the most yards in the East this year and is rewriting the Ticat record books along the way. On Friday night Glenn tied Danny McManus’ single-season touchdown record and is on pace to break several more.
Glenn is set to become only the second 5,000-yard passer in Ticat history and should be strongly considered for Most Outstanding Player in the East.
All-Stars: Glenn
Awards: Glenn as Most Outstanding Player
Linebackers:
No team boasts a trio of dangerous playmakers like the linebacking corps of the Tiger-Cats, which features veteran Otis Floyd, feared tackler Jamall Johnson and turnover machine Markeith Knowlton. The group has earned the reputation as the best unit in the league for a reason.
The hard-hitting Floyd has already broken his personal best in tackles with 71 while adding four sacks and three fumble recoveries.
With speed to burn and a relentless mind-set, Johnson is able to chase down opponents from sideline to sideline. Johnson’s 85 tackles are good enough for third in the league and his five sacks are one away from his personal best.
Patrolling the wide side of the field is Knowlton, who is soft-spoken but deadly. Often asked to cover the best receiver on opposing teams, Knowlton has the ability to cover like a defensive back and tackle like a linebacker. Knowlton has the ability to change a game with one play and has done so countless times this season. Knowlton’s 65 tackles, three sacks, three interceptions, four forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and two blocked punts are perfect examples of the way he plays. He can do anything you ask of him. Add the fact that he has only been penalized twice this season and you can see why so many regard him as the best defensive player in the CFL and certainly worthy of this year’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player award. Other linebackers may have more tackles and attract more attention to themselves, but absolutely no one can offer a resume of game-changing plays like Knowlton.
All-Stars: Floyd, Johnson, Knowlton
Awards: Knowlton as Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Defensive Backs:
This season no player has been as dangerous in the Tiger-Cats secondary as Geoff Tisdale. After starting the season at corner, Tisdale hasn’t missed a beat since moving inside to halfback. His four interceptions are tops on the team and he’s added a career-high 46 tackles. Quarterbacks around the league think twice before throwing in the direction of Geoff Tisdale.
All-Stars: Tisdale
Special Teams:
Since arriving after training camp this season, Ticats running back Marcus Thigpen wasted no time in making a name for himself. Only six games into the season, Thigpen became the first player in CFL history to score five different ways in one season. The ultra-speedy Thigpen is dangerous as a returner, runner and receiver, and has 1,782 combined yards this season, third in the league. Thigpen is a threat to score from anywhere on the field, from any position. When game-planning for Hamilton opposing coaches now need to find ways to keep the ball away from #8.
Awards: Thigpen as
Most Outstanding Rookie
