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Uncategorized July 13, 2013

Pre-Game Breakdown: Ticats vs. Blue Bombers

Ticats.ca Staff

The Tiger-Cats host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in their second regular season game at Alumni Stadium on Saturday (6:30 p.m., TSN / AM900 CHML) at 6:30 p.m.

The Tiger-Cats will look to notch their first victory of the season, and build off their success against the Bombers in the pre-season. Winnipeg arrives in Guelph fresh off their first win of the season with a 19–11 victory in the second of two straight games against the Montreal Alouettes, while the Tiger-Cats will look to bounce back from a disappointing, rain-soaked 30–20 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos in their home opener.


TIGER-CATS HISTORY vs. WINNIPEG

  WINS LOSSES TIES PTS FOR PTS AGAINST
ALL-TIME  46 59   2,436 2,691
LAST 10 (TOTAL) 4 6   256 277
LAST 10 (vs. WPG at Home) 5 5   241 236
IN 2012: 1 2   65 84

 
HEAD-TO-HEAD

TIGER-CATS O-LINE
   BLUE BOMBERS D-LINE

1Veterans Peter Dyakowski, Marwan Hage and Brian Simmons anchor the offensive line, which has provided quarterback Henry Burris with valuable time to go through his progressions so far this season.

After week two, the Ticats offence leads the league in passing with 595 yards, ranks second in the CFL in first downs (47), time of possession per game (32:37), and has only gone two-and-out total of 9 times in two games – second least in the league to Saskatchewan (8). On the ground, the Ticats are currently averaging 84.5 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry.

The offensive line has given up a total of six sacks in 73 passing attempts, which works out to be one sack for every 13.3 drop backs by Burris.

This week, veteran Greg Wojt will move to right tackle, while Tim O’Neil will get his first start of 2013 at left guard.

 

In week 2, the Bombers defence displayed why they are ranked one of best defensive units in the league, holding Montreal to 122 yards of net offence. 

With two weeks in the books, the highlight of the Bombers defence has been the defensive line, who have recorded nine of Winnipeg’s league-best 11 quarterback sacks. 81.2-percent of the Bombers sacks have been registered by four players: Bryant Turner (3), Alex Hall (2), Kenny Mainor (2) and Zach Alexander (2).  

In 2012, Hall, Mainor and Turner compiled 12 defensive tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble vs. the Ticats.

This week the Bombers will be without CFL sack leader and last week’s Defensive Player of the Week, Bryant Turner, who has been ruled out after suffering a chest injury vs. Montreal last week.

 

SATURDAY’S MATCHUP

How do the Tiger-Cats and Bombers match up after two weeks of play?

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

WR Ed Gant
After signing with the Tiger-Cats on July 2, Gant made his CFL debut against the Eskimos in week 2, finishing third on the team with 54 yards receiving and a touchdown. Gant heads into Saturday’s matchup with another week of experience to build a rapport with quarterback Henry Burris and get familiar with the Ticats dynamic offensive playbook.

DB Raymond Brown
Rookie defensive back Raymond Brown will make his CFL debut against the Blue Bombers on Saturday night. In the Ticats pre-season finale vs. Winnipeg, Brown returned one of his three interceptions on the night 114-yards for a touchdown in the dying seconds of the first half.

RB Chevon Walker
Dynamic running back Chevon Walker will make his first appearance of the season against Winnipeg after beings scrached in each of the two previous weeks.  Walker flashed plenty of big-play ability while scoring eight touchdowns in his rookie season.

GAME NOTES

  • Henry Burris leads the CFL in passing with 595 yards and four touchdowns on 43 of 73 passing attempts.
  • Luca Congi needs six points to pass Dean Dorsey (951 points) for the 22nd spot on the CFL’s All-Time Scorers list. 
  • After last weekend’s home opener was plagued by a relently rainstorm, Saturday’s forecast calls for 26*C, sunny skies and a 10% chance of rain.
  • Lindsey Lamar leads the league in combined yards with 437 after two weeks and his total includes a league-best 315 kickoff return yards.
  • Burris needs two touchdown passes to tie Matt Dunigan (306) for the 5th most TD passes in CFL history.
  • Winnipeg ranks #1 in the CFL in net yards allowed (218) along with both run and pass defence averages, QB sacks (11), fewest first downs (29) and opponent completion percentage.

 

GETTING SOCIAL