Kyle Myers
Ticats.ca
One thing a CFL team can never have enough of is Canadian depth, especially at a position as important as receiver.
In Andy Fantuz, the Tiger-Cats have one of the best homegrown receivers in the CFL, but he is far from the only reliable non-import option on offence.
Sam Giguere was a 2008 CFL draft pick by the Ticats, and is now almost midway through his second CFL season. Giguere enjoyed some success in 2012 – over 500 receiving yards and a touchdown – but his play in 2013 has been nothing short of a breakthrough.
Through seven games in 2013, the Sherbrooke, Quebec native has 404 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown, putting him on pace to double his statistics from his rookie season.
“It’s good to be involved in the offensive system right now, and it’s good to be able to help the team get wins,” said Giguere. “Whatever the coaching staff has asked me to do I’m trying to do the best that I can.”
A highly-touted recruit out of Sherbrooke, Giguere has long been thought of as the next great Canadian receiver. His potential is sky-high, and this season he’s been given the opportunity to succeed under a new coaching staff and in a new offensive system.
“Sometimes the football just comes your way more often,” he said. “Maybe it’s the fact that this coaching staff trusts me a little more and want to involve me more in the passing game.”
Regardless of the reasons why, Giguere has truly taken his opportunity and run with it this season. He’s now led the Ticats in receiving yards two weeks in a row, and was named the Most Valuable Canadian of week three, when he recorded 94 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Giguere is on pace to be one of the productive Canadian receivers in the CFL this season, but he’s not ready to take on the praise just yet.
“The last two weeks I’ve gotten a lot of footballs thrown my way” he said. “But at the same time, this offence is built to be able to move guys around and spread the football, and I think we’ve done a good job of that so far.”
Despite the fact that the Ticats offence has focused on involving everyone this season, there is no doubt that Giguere is beginning to separate himself from the pack with some strong performances in the past few weeks. The second year receiver is beginning to deliver on the immense potential that many around the CFL believe he has, and if he can continue to grow and improve, the Ticats will have invaluable non-import depth at receiver for years to come.
