Find out what players and coaches from both teams have had to say, leading up to tonight’s big game:
“As disappointing as it was, The fact that we finished out with drives is encouraging and heartening because we came off the field feeling like if we get on the field again we would have scored no matter what.”
-Ticats Lineman Peter Dyakowski on the positives of the teams loss in B.C., Toronto Sun
“We know that it’s a very big game for us, because the last thing that we want to do is put ourselves in a hole at 0-3. So that’s what we’re focused on: getting ready to go for a big game. We’re looking forward to the future, because we know that the future is bright for us. We want to make sure that we’re focusing on that and taking advantage of it.”
-Ticats quarterback Henry Burris on the importance of the Saturday matchup, Ticats.ca
“We took it into the second half and did a lot better with it, but now we want to take the momentum from the way that we finished that game into this one. We’re going to need that, because Toronto’s been playing some good football. They did a great job against Calgary and that defence that they have there. We’re going to have to come out well, because (Toronto Defensive Coordinator) Chris Jones is going to have his guys flying around and making plays.”
-Henry Burris explaining the importance of using the momentum from the second half of last game and transferring that to Saturday’s game, Ticats.ca
“It’s definitely a must-win for us. You don’t want to start 0-3.””There’s a little sense of urgency, more than last week. Any time we play Toronto, it’s a big game regardless of if we were 2-0 or 0-2. This is the game we want to win, we always want to beat Toronto.”
-Ticats receiver Chris Williams on the importance of winning on Saturday, TSN
“How do I stop him? We just have to get him before he gets going. Everybody in Canada knows he’s a bit of a runner and he can really fly. There are no ifs or buts about it, we have to stop him before he gets going. He’s a very big threat.”
-Argos linebacker Marcus Ball on containing Ticats runningback Chevon Walker, Toronto Star
“He’s an explosive player. Our guys are going to have to fill the gaps and make tackles. He has the ability to turn plays into a 90-yard play in a matter of seconds. We have to use our speed and have great pursuit angles if he gets outside.”
-Argos Head Coach Scott Milanovich on Walker’s ability to make plays out of nothing, Toronto Star
“One of the things that’s different about him is that he’s not as much of a scrambler as the guys we’ve played for the last couple of weeks. One thing about Ricky is that we have to mess up his timing. If we can get at them up front and mess up his timing with his receivers, I think we’ve going to have a good night up front.”
Ticats defensive lineman Jermaine McElveen on how Argos quarterback Ricky Ray plays and how understanding that will lead to an effective night, Ticats.ca
“It’s all about getting better. It’s the same focus that we have every week, to continue getting better and working on our craft. We know that we’re a big part of what this team is trying to do, and we’re here to make big plays every time whether it’s in the running game or the passing game. We keep grinding. We feel like we’re definitely a very talented group and if we can get the consistency to go along with that talent, it’s just going to make us that much better.
-Chris Williams on how consistency is the key to success, Ticats.ca
“Every defence I’ve been a part of, and every defence [Cohen] has been a part of, we’re not just going to let anybody come in and run the ball on us. That is something that we can control by our effort and our want to stop them.”
-Argos rookie defensive tackle Armond Armstead on shutting down Chevon Walker, National Post
“Guys went down during camp and when your number is called, you have to be ready to go. I was the next guy in line, so I just have to pick up the slack.”
-Ticats running back Chevon Walker on getting an opportunity to play this season, National Post
“There is no need for us to panic. Obviously, you hate losing, and we want to go out and win every time we step on the filed, but it doesn’t always happen that way. We have an opportunity this week to go out, play better and make it right.”
-Ticats linebacker Jamall Johnson on the team’s opportunity for a victory on Saturday, National Post
“They say a lot of crazy things about you. You need to have a thick skin. they research you, they know stuff about your family, they know your friends. You have two choices. You either go in there and have something prepared to say back to them or just tune them out. But I hope they talk as crazy as they can about me. I love the boos. They motivate me. I love hearing cheers but I also love hearing silence when you make a big play.”
– Argos defensive end Ricky Foley on the intimidating atmosphere at Ivor Wynne, Toronto Star
“Hamilton hates us and we hate them. The crowd there is amazingly against us. They still boo (Mike) O’Shea (the Argos’ special teams coach) and it’s been 15 years since he left there to play for us.”
-Argos defensive back Jordan Younger on the atmosphere at Ivor Wynne and the long memories of Ticats fans, Toronto Star
“I love playing this game and now that I’m on the other side I get the chance to actually have fans who are supporting me and not getting booed as I run out onto the field. It’s a huge rivalry, man. I’m surprised nobody gets kicked out of the game. There’s usually a brawl. There’s usually a fight. We don’t like one another and that’s just the way it’s been for 90 or a hundred years.”
-Ex-Argo and current Ticats linebacker on the rivalry between Toronto and Hamilton, Toronto Star
“Our guys are pretty jacked up. I understand it’s special for fans in southern Ontario. But we know it’s basically a four-point game, our first divisional game. We’re going to see them a lot. I have sensed a heightened level of intensity this week. Maybe it’s because it’s Hamilton. Maybe it’s because it’s a divisional game. I do believe the guys understand the importance of winning games within your division.”
-Argos Head Coach Scott Milanovich on the feeling around his team this week, Toronto Star
“All of us new guys to Toronto have got to learn what it’s like and this is a good step. We’ll get used to it quickly because we’ll be playing them four times and that’s when you start to hate a team. It’s huge. We talk about them being four-pointers. If we win, we get two and that’s two they don’t get. It’s very important. It’s still early in the season, but you jockey all year and when you get down to the wire, these two early-season points mean a lot.”
-Argos quarterback Ricky Ray on being new to the QEW rivalry, and the importance of divisional games, Toronto Sun
