Kyle Myers
Ticats.ca
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will play their home opener this Sunday at Alumni Stadium in Guelph against the Edmonton Eskimos, and the excitement level of both players and coaches is obvious. The Ticats played once in Guelph during the preseason, and as great as the fans were then, quarterback Henry Burris says he expects even more on Sunday.
“The preseason game was exciting,” said Burris. “The fans were really into the game, they were loud and boisterous, but it’s all about us going out to do our jobs. The more success we have on the field, the easier it is for the fans to get after the Eskimos.”
Though it’ll be difficult for the Ticats to match their performance from the preseason – a 52–0 drubbing of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers – Hamilton is taking on an Eskimos team that struggled in their season opener, failing to score a touchdown until the fourth quarter. Still, Burris emphasized that Edmonton will come into Guelph hungry for their first win, and are likely to build off their successes against the Ticats in 2012.
“They had some success against us last year so they definitely think they can come in and do the same thing on Sunday,” Burris said. “We have to go out there and assert ourselves and maintain that home field advantage.”
One of the keys to success for the Ticats on offence will be dealing with a fearsome Eskimos front seven, who like to get after the quarterback and create pressure in the backfield.
“They’re really good up front on defence,” said Ticats Head Coach Kent Austin. Burris also praised the front four, calling them “as tenacious as any group in the league.”
Unfortunately for the Ticats, the CFL’s leading receiver, Andy Fantuz, has been sidelined with an injury, and won’t suit up for Sunday’s game. But Burris has confidence in the depth of the Ticats receiving corps, and believes that whoever is tasked with replacing Fantuz will step up and do just fine.
“Obviously not having Andy is a big loss for us,” said Burris. “I know that whoever fills into his spot is going to step up and make some plays for us.”
On the Eskimos offence, the Ticats will be dealing with a team who likes to run the ball, both out of the backfield, and with the feet of quarterback Mike Reilly.
“They’re probably going to run the ball on us, and we need to stop them and put them in some second and long situations,” said Austin.
Brian Bulcke, a defensive end signed by the Ticats in the offseason, spent three years in Calgary, and so he’s familiar with both Reilly and the Eskimos offence.
“I’ve had a chance to play against him a couple times when he was in BC. He’s a good quarterback, he’s accurate, and he can run,” said Bulcke. “We need to get off the ball and rock those offensive linemen, try to collapse the pocket.”
With both the Tiger-Cats and the Eskimos seeking their first victories of the 2013 season, fans can expect Sunday’s game to be hard-fought battle. With two gunslingers at quarterback, the pressure will be on the defences to keep the game from becoming a shootout.
In their first regular-season in Guelph, the Ticats will look to solidify Alumni Stadium as their definitive home field, and build on their success there in the preseason.
“If we handle our business,” said Burris, “we know the Ticats faithful will handle theirs.”
