Ticats.ca
Justin Dunk
At the beginning of the season much was expected out of the Ticats linebacking corps and they have certainly lived up to their early season billing.
Renauld Williams was signed in the off-season to anchor the defence in the middle. He has provided leadership and consistent sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability not seen in a Ticats uniform for a number of years.
Williams has made 35 stops through seven games this season, to go along with one interception and one quarterback takedown. Number nine sits 7th in the CFL among all tacklers, three tackles behind fellow Ticat and team leader Jamall Johnson.
Johnson has 38 tackles, good for 5th in the CFL after seven weeks, and three sacks, one of which was an early candidate for hit of the year. In week one against Winnipeg Johnson was left unblocked blitzing off the weak side. Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce didn’t even see Johnson coming from his blindside, as number 28 picked up Pierce and drove him into the Ivor Wynne turf, dislodging the pivots helmet. The crowd erupted and Johnson brought out his patented air guitar sack celebration in honour of his massive hit.
Last, but not least in the Cats talented trio of starting linebackers is Markeith Knowlton. The 2010 CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player has been steady to this point in 2011, registering 21 tackles, one sack and a blocked punt. Knowlton usually saves his best performances for big games so look for Markeith to make an even greater impact as the season moves along.
Up front all Ticat fans and pundits expected bookends, Stevie Baggs and Justin Hickman to play at a high level and they have. Combined the two have made 39 tackles and gotten to the quarterback five times.
Young defensive tackles Eddie Steele and Albert Smith have played beyond their years while controlling the middle of the trenches so far in 2011. Smith and Steele have wreaked havoc from their respective tackle positions, forcing opponents to focus more of their blocking scheme on slowing down the inside penetration the two have been able to create, keeping lineman from getting up to the second level, which allows the trio of linebackers to roam free and make plays.
31 tackles and two sacks provides statistical evidence that the two CFL rookies have been disruptive forces. Although, Smith and Steele have pushed the pocket from the inside, forcing opposing quarterbacks to try and escape, which doesn’t show up in the stats. They have forced opposition pivots to try and escape outside, where they have fallen into the waiting arms of Baggs, Hickman or a free blitzer off the edge.
Much of the talk during training camp was about the Ticats defensive backfield. With new defensive coordinator Corey Chamblin and his high-pressure, man coverage scheme in tow, the Black and Gold were looking for defensive backs who could survive while being left on an island.
Marcell Young, Bo Smith, Jason Shivers and ratio buster Ryan Hinds have been fixtures, providing steady play in the Hamilton secondary this season. Young, the CFL rookie, is tied with Smith for the team lead in interceptions – each has grabbed two through seven weeks.
Young and Smith have been paired together as starters, locking down the weak side. Young was an unknown rookie coming into training camp this year and earned the right to start at the beginning of the regular season. Smith, who suffered a torn achilles during the Ticats stretch drive in 2010, made a full recovery and got back in back into the lineup in week two against Edmonton.
Hinds continues to get better in coverage at his field corner position, while chipping in 20 tackles to lead all of his secondary mates.
Shivers has been the vocal veteran leader on the back end of the Ticats defence. He spends lots of time teaching and tutoring his fellow young defensive backs. Meanwhile, his versatility has been an asset with strong side halfback Carlos Thomas missing two games after having his appendix removed, Shivers kicked down from his starting safety spot to play at halfback in Thomas’ absence.
As the members of the Ticats defence continue to evolve and become more comfortable in Chamblin’s scheme, the unit will only get better moving forward and that could spell trouble for offences across the league.
