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Uncategorized August 24, 2013

Pre-Game Breakdown: Tiger-Cats vs. Blue Bombers

Ticats.ca Staff

The Tiger-Cats will be looking to secure their third consecutive win when they host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the second half of a home-and-home series this weekend at Alumni Stadium. Looking to build some momentum before heading West next weekend, the Ticats will play their first home game in the month of August at 1 p.m. on Saturday (AM 900/TSN).

The Cats are fresh off what was perhaps their most dominating performance of the 2013 season in week eight, scoring 37 points and allowing only 11 on defence en route to their second victory over the Bombers this season. With a win Saturday, Hamilton would move to 4–4 and put even more space between themselves and Winnipeg in the East Division.

TIGER-CATS HISTORY vs. WINNIPEG

  WINS LOSSES TIES PTS FOR PTS AGAINST
ALL-TIME  48 59  0 2,498 2,729
LAST 10 (TOTAL) 5 5 0  255 259
LAST 10 (at Home) 5 5 0  223 234
IN 2012: 1 2 0  65 84
IN 2013 2 0 0  62 38

 
HEAD-TO-HEAD

EVAN MCCOLLOUGH
TIGER-CATS DEFENSIVE BACK		   TERRENCE EDWARDS
BLUE BOMBERS RECEIVER

After missing the last three games due to injury, veteran defensive back Evan McCollough is set to make his return to the Tiger-Cats secondary on Saturday.

Prior to his injury, McCollough started all four games in 2013, making 14 defensive tackles as one of the Ticats most consistent defensive performers.

 McCollough’s return to the line-up should further energize a Ticats defensive unit which has allowed acompletion percentage of only 62.6 percent and a total of 142 yards on the ground over their two game win streak.

  

TEThe Tiger-Cats will likely keep a close eye on Bombers slotback Terrence Edwards at Alumni Stadium on Saturday after the nine-year veteran exploded for eight catches and 172 receiving yards in last week’s meeting.

Friday night’s performance was the fifth time in 22 career games versus the Ticats that Edwards has eclipsed the 100-yard mark.  Edwards’ 179 yards on Friday was the second-best performance of his career.

Edwards, who has only played in five of seven games for the Bombers in 2013, has hauled in 20 passes for 290 yards this year.

TARGET PRACTICE

Tiger-Cats QB Henry Burris hasn’t been afraid to spread the ball around in his last nine games…

 targets

PLAYERS TO WATCH

K Luca Congi
After sitting out the Ticats week 4 game in Saskatchewan, kicker Luca Congi has recaptured the form which made him an East Division all-star in 2012.  Since returning to action against Saskatchewan on July 27, Congi has converted 8/9 field goal attempts (88.9%).

LB Rico Murray
After making his debut on July 21 in Saskatchewan, Rico Murray has been a steady performer on the Ticats defence. Murray finished Friday night’s victory in Winnipeg with four tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and an interception.  Head coach Kent Austin commented earlier this week saying that the versatile Murray has the ability to play a variety of positions within the Ticats defence at any given time.

OL Joel Figueroa
In the three games that Figueroa has been active this season, the Ticats have allowed an average of only three sacks per game (2.75 fewer than in games he has missed) and have posted a 2-1 record. The Ticats have also rushed for over 100 yards in their past two games — a sure sign of an effective offensive line.

RB/KR Tavoy Moore
Since being signed on June 24th, Tavoy Moore has spent his time with the Tiger-Cats on the injured list after suffering a knee injury in the pre-season in his time with the Edmonton Eskimos. Moore will make his debut on Ticats active roster this week versus Winnipeg to serve as the team’s return man and the second running back.


GAME NOTES

  • In week 8, the Tiger-Cats defence limited the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to 3.9 yards per carry – the Ticats best effort against an opposing offence in 2013.

  • C.J. Gable had a season-high 147 all-purpose yards (75 rushing, 72 receiving) last week in Winnipeg.

  • Linebacker Simoni Lawrence led the Ticats with a total of seven tackles (six defensive tackles and one special teams tackle) in his first start with the Black and Gold last week.

  • In his last five games against Winnipeg, Jamall Johnson has amassed 28 defensive tackles.  

  • The Ticats have held the Blue Bombers to a completion percentage of 59 percent in 2013.  The average completion percentage allowed across the league is 65.1 percent.

  • In his last eight games versus Winnipeg, Henry Burris has not thrown an interception. His last interception vs. Winnipeg was on August 8, 2009. 


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