Fraser Caldwell
Ticats.ca
New addition Torrey Davis is “a big guy with some quickness”
A day after the Tiger-Cats dealt for Calgary defensive lineman Torrey Davis, Head Coach George Cortez described the new acquisition to the assembled media at Ivor Wynne Stadium.
“He’s a big guy with some quickness, and it looks like he’s got really good lateral movement,” said Cortez. “In the games I watched, when he doesn’t want to be blocked, he’s pretty much not been blocked.
“We’re trying to improve ourselves, and we think that he gives us an opportunity to do that.”
Defence needs to make more “big plays”
Cortez was asked on Thursday which area of his defence’s performance he would like to see improve most as it prepares to face the Argos’ attackers once again on Saturday.
The Ticats coach argued that the group must secure more plays of the drive-killing and momentum-shifting variety if it is to succeed.
“If we could pick an area to improve, we’d like to make more big plays,” said Cortez. “We actually made a few in this past game. I think the defensive linemen got their hands on three or four passes.”
“Those are big plays, because any number of times that those balls are thrown, they are going to be completions. But they never get out there.”
“A big play sometimes is as simple as making a tackle for a three yard gain when they needed five.”
Slotbacks are drawing a lot of attention
When asked to assess the production of individual receivers, Cortez explained that the distribution of the football is determined not by the offence’s preferences, but by the openings presented by an opposing defence.
Rather than intending for one recipient to get hold of the ball, the Ticats’ offence – like any other – adjusts its approach as a play develops.
“When we call plays, it’s not 65 protection to Andy (Fantuz) or 65 protection to Chris (Williams),” said Cortez. “It depends on how the defence reacts.
“Sometimes we call plays and think that the ball’s going to a guy, but [the defence] plays differently or does a good job in coverage.”
The coach explained that slotbacks such as Andy Fantuz attract added defensive attention because of their typical status as a team’s leading receiver. Their closeness to the quarterback makes the slots a quicker – and often easier – passing option.
“Our slots get a lot of attention, just like all of the slots in this league,” said Cortez. “The slots catch most of the balls, or tend to in this league be the leading receivers because they’re closest to the quarterback. Everybody wants to do a good job on the slots.”
“When we scored our convert the other day, [the Argos] doubled both of our slots. That’s why they didn’t get the ball. But they had to single somebody in zero coverage and it was a pretty easy catch.”
Players should still be confident
Cortez was asked on Thursday whether he believed that his team’s recent losing streak had affected the morale among his players.
The coach indicated that his players must continue to believe in their abilities as they move forward, regardless of the results they leave behind.
“It doesn’t affect me, but for each individual player, that’s hard to say,” said Cortez of the Ticats’ current losing skid.
“I hope that they have confidence in their abilities and that they know that they have the ability to make plays.”
