Fraser Caldwell
Ticats.ca
A moment of inspiration to end practice
Head Coach George Cortez cued up a video to conclude the Ticats third day of practice on Wednesday, one that had various football icons – such as John Madden and Joe Namath – explaining their love of the game.
Cortez indicated that the video was one that he has enjoyed for several years, and felt was worth sharing with his players.
“I like it. It’s been out for a couple of years,” said the coach.
“It reminds me probably why most of us got involved in the game, because it was fun and we liked it. It grew into something else as life went on.”
“I did it as a reminder to the guys.”
Cortez hoped that the video served an inspirational purpose for his players, but said that one could never be sure of such things.
“You hope that they serve a purpose when you do those things, but you obviously never know because you can’t see into everybody’s head,” said the coach.
“I know that we had pretty good attention.”
A number of ratio options for Friday
Fluctuation in the lineup will once again force the Ticats to adjust their approach to the player ratio this week.
Cortez explained on Wednesday that he and his staff have yet to decide on the particular ratio they will employ on Friday, but said that they have narrowed their options.
“We’re looking at a whole bunch of different scenarios,” confirmed the coach of the ratio situation. “As of yesterday, we had as many as four possibilities and we’re probably down to two.”
“There are going to be some changes obviously. If we go the way that I think we’re going to go, it’ll give us the possibility – at least on one side of the ball – to play two different ways.”
Cross-over makes Friday’s game vital
Cortez addressed the cross-over scenario that makes Friday’s game in Edmonton that much more important for the Ticats.
The coach indicated that he did not have much experience with the phenomenon early in his career, but that both he and his players are aware of the implications on Friday.
“Right now, Edmonton and we have the same record,” said Cortez. “For both teams that puts a lot of value into winning this game.”
“When I first came into this game, there was no cross-over. For a long time, I thought that tiebreakers came into effect, but that’s only because I’d never been involved in a cross-over.”
Ticats hardly alone in dealing with key injuries
Cortez was quizzed on Wednesday as to the effect on his team’s performances by key injuries to starters such as Markeith Knowlton, Marwan Hage and Bo Smith, among others.
The coach admitted that such setbacks had hurt his team, but pointed out that no team in the CFL is without injuries to members of its starting lineup.
“When you break out of camp with the guys that you choose, you would like for them to be able to play for you for the entire season,” said Cortez.
“Sometimes it doesn’t work out that way. As I look around the league, it hasn’t worked out for pretty much any team this year. It affects everybody.”
“We keep guys around here who we hope that when they get the opportunity to play, that they step in and play well. Sometimes it works that way.”
“Continuity is an important thing in a team sport, and when you have guys go out, you do lose continuity.”
