CFL.ca
THE CANADIAN PRESS
HAMILTON, Ont. — Arland Bruce III has some bad news for the Toronto Argonauts.
The speedy receiver, who missed Hamilton’s final two regular-season games with a hamstring injury, said he will return to the lineup Sunday when the Tiger-Cats host the Toronto Argonauts in the East Division semifinal (TSN, 1 p.m. ET).
“I’ve been out two weeks and to come back and play a team we’ve beaten three times and have an opportunity to sweep them, it’s a great feeling,” an upbeat Bruce said. “And it’s the playoffs so I mean what more can you ask for.
“I’m ready, I feel like it’s June again and its training camp. I feel fresh. It’s going to be fun.”
Bruce, a former Argo, was a dominant offensive force this season for Hamilton (9-9), registering 86 catches for 1,303 yards and eight touchdowns. Despite missing the Ticats’ last two games, Bruce finished third in receiving behind Saskatchewan’s Andy Fantuz (87 catches, 1,380 yards, six TDs) and Winnipeg’s Terrence Edwards (78 catches, 1,372 yards, 12 TDs).
“That’s pretty big,” Ticats quarterback Kevin Glenn said of Bruce’s return. “He’s been out two weeks but the way this guy practises he won’t miss a beat once he gets into the game.”
In Hamilton’s three wins over Toronto in the regular season, the Ticats forced the Argos to turn the ball over 15 times. Quarterback Cleo Lemon surrendered five interceptions and had three fumbles.
But Ticats coach Marcel Bellefeuille said what happened in the regular season is irrelevant now.
“I think we’re making it (Hamilton going for a fourth win over Toronto) bigger than it really is,” he said. “I’ve said this to our team and believe this: It’s how you play, not necessarily the opponent you play.
“You have success when you play well. Toronto is an excellent football team and our players know that. They have the same record as us and have beaten the best teams in the league and all the respect they get they’ve earned and deserve.”
Bruce’s return could put even more pressure on a Toronto defence that will feature newcomer Sean Small in the secondary. Small spent most of the season on the practice roster and will make only his second CFL start at cornerback in place of injured veteran Willie Middlebrooks (career-threatening neck injury).
Conventional thinking would suggest Glenn, one of two CFL quarterbacks to throw for more than 5,000 yards this season, will look to take advantage of Small’s inexperience, a fact not lost upon the Argos defender.
“Most likely they probably will,” Small said when asked if he felt the Ticats would come after him. “That’s part of football.
“They’re always going to try but once you establish yourself out there then things change.”
Argos head coach Jim Barker isn’t the least bit concerned with starting Small.
“Sean got a chance to play last week and is showing a lot of composure,” Barker said. “He’s not your typical rookie.
“Usually you can look into a rookie’s eye and you see excitement but with this guy you just see a calm and confidence. I hope they go after him because I think he’s up to that task and I’m expecting him to play very well.”
Defensive tackle Adriano Belli will also suit up for Toronto despite having missed most of the year with a foot injury. The 10-year veteran Canadian said he’s looking forward to getting back out there.
“It’s been a frustrating season but it doesn’t get bigger than this,” Belli said. “We’re coming into a hostile environment and we’re going to try to get hostile with their quarterback.
“I’m not going to try to control the emotions, we want to be on fire. We’ve got to play that fine line of playing with emotion but not getting penalties. Kevin Glenn is on fire and we’re firemen and we’re going to put out that fire.”
Toronto will be without special teams captain Bryan Crawford (abductor) while fullback Jeff Johnson (leg), another important special-teams contributor, will be a game-time decision.
“It’s a huge hit, there’s no doubt about it,” Barker said. “But this is all about having guys step in and perform at a high level when they need to.”
A big reason for Hamilton’s success against Toronto has been its ability to keep tailback Cory Boyd and special-teams star Chad Owens in check. Both players have been integral to the success of the Argos (9-9) but each has struggled mightily against the Ticats.
Toronto’s recipe for success this season has been to make big plays on defence and special teams while ensuring the offence doesn’t turn the ball over. The Argos have been unable to do that against Hamilton this season. Toronto will also have to deal with a tenacious Ticats’ defence that’s anchored by defensive end Stevie Baggs, who has five sacks since arriving in Steeltown in September as a free agent.
Hamilton’s game plan against Toronto has been to take Boyd out of the picture and force Lemon to beat the Ticats through the air. That makes sense, considering the Argos finished last in the CFL in scoring (20.7 points per game), passing (221 yards per game), total yards (316 per game) and touchdowns (29) and surrendered the second-highest number of sacks (48).
“Stopping the run is big, especially with Boyd because he’s a good back and everyone has to put a licking on him,” said Ticats linebacker Otis Floyd. “It (passing) isn’t a strength of theirs but Lemon is new to the league and is going to struggle but he’s OK this year.
“But most definitely we want to stop the run and make then want to put it into the air.”
And the Ticats want to continue to force turnovers.
“Whenever you have a defence that forces turnovers and gives your offence more opportunities you tend to have success as a team,” Glenn said. “Our defence has done that especially against Toronto but this is a different game.
“It’s the playoffs, they’re going to come in here with some intensity and we’re going to have to match it.”
