Bert Faibish
Ticats.ca
As exciting as the outlook is for the Ticats defence in 2011, it is the offence that should have fans and players eager for training camp to begin.
QUARTERBACKING
No quarterback in Tiger-Cats history has ever had quite the season that Kevin Glenn did in 2010.
While Danny McManus put together a masterful campaign in 1999 that culminated in a Grey Cup championship, as far as personal statistics go it wasn’t quite the same. After coming less than a percentage point and a couple hundred yards short of the all-time completion percentage and yardage records, Glenn still set new marks in completions, attempts and touchdown passes.
With one more year in the system and another season of CFL experience to draw from, Glenn could be looking at a monster year in 2011. With all of his weapons returning and the number one offensive line in the league protecting him once again, the sky is the limit for Glenn next season.
PRODUCTIVE RECEIVERS
It’s no coincidence that with Kevin Glenn’s stellar year, the Ticats receiving corps also put up huge numbers. After finishing just four yards short of having three 1,000-yard receivers for the first time in team history, the Ticats receiving corps is in great shape.
Marquay McDaniel went from 688 yards in his rookie season to 994 this year and could be looking at another major improvement for next season.
In fact if you add in the fact that Maurice Mann struggled with an injury suffered in training camp while adapting to a new offence and new teammates at the beginning of the year and still finished with 787 yards and five touchdowns, this current offence has the potential to have four receivers go for over 1,000 yards.
Arland Bruce III and Dave Stala are both in the prime of their careers and there’s nothing to suggest that they will suffer a decline of any kind, in fact another year with Kevin Glenn at quarterback could see them each improve on their impressive years.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Perhaps equal parts the cause and effect of the success of Kevin Glenn this year was the five men who were charged with protecting him.
No offensive line allowed fewer sacks this year and coupled with an impressive 1,173 yards rushing from sophomore DeAndra’ Cobb, this was one heck of a year for Hamilton’s big boys up front.
Marwan Hage was recognized as the East Division’s Most Outstanding Lineman and could very well take home the top prize at next week’s Most Outstanding Player Awards.
