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Uncategorized September 13, 2013

Pre-Game Breakdown: Tiger-Cats at Stampders

Ticats.ca Staff

After a big win at home last weekend against the B.C. Lions, the Ticats now head west where they’ll take on the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium.

At 8–2 on the season and boasting a three game winning streak, the Stamps are arguably the hottest team in the CFL right now, but the Ticats enter the game riding their own wave of momentum and are eager to continue their strong run of late. Having won four of their last five, the Ticats face a stiff test in Calgary, but have a great chance to prove they’re among the league’s elite.

 

TIGER-CATS HISTORY at CALGARY STAMPEDERS

  WINS LOSSES TIES PTS FOR PTS AGAINST
ALL-TIME  30 53  0 1,855 2,342
LAST 10 (TOTAL) 2 8 0  244 314
LAST 10 (in CGY) 1 9 0  207 339
IN 2012: 0 2 0  52 65

 HEAD-TO-HEAD

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
DEFENSIVE LINE		   CALGARY STAMPEDERS
OFFENSIVE LINE

At the root of the Tiger-Cats rececnt success are a string of strong performances from the defensive line.

Hamilton has been particularly stout against the rush in recent weeks, holding opponents under 100 yards rushing in each of the last five games while allowing only four touchdowns on the ground during that span.

In the past two contests against the B.C. Lions, the Ticats D-line shut down Andrew Harris, holding the former all-star to just 48 yards on the ground with no scores on 14 carries – an average of just 3.4 yards per rush.

They’ve been equally tough on quarterbacks. The defensive line has compiled six sacks over the past five games, but their impact has been felt in ways that don’t show up on the score sheet as well. The Tiger-Cats were relentless in their pursuit of Travis Lulay, making life uncomfortable for the Lions pivot with some big hits and heavy pressure.

Stopping the Stamps run game at the line of scrimmage and pressuring Bo Levi Mitchell will be at the top of Kent Austin’s agenda.

  

OPP

 The Stampeders offence is looking dangerous as ever this year and much of that credit is due to the stellar play of their offensive line.

Calgary’s O-Line has been dynamite in pass protection this season, allowing only 22 sacks through 10 games, the fewest of any team in the CFL.

That they’ve done so while protecting three different quarterbacks with three entirely different skill-sets is a further testament to their strength.

But they don’t just know how to pass-protect. The Stamps also feature a dynamic rushing attack featuring 2012’s Most Outstanding Canadian Jon Cornish, which leads the CFL in rushing first downs (60) and ranks second in the league in total rushing yards (1,373) and rushing majors (11).

Explosive off the ball, Calgary’s offensive line has played a large role in Cornish’s success this season.

The big boys up front in Calgary have made like easier for Bo Levi Mitchell and Jon Cornish this season, and much of Friday’s matchup between the Ticats and the Stamps will hinge on their ability to protect Bo Levi Mitchell and open up holes for Cornish.

 

ELLINGSON’S ROOKIE CAMPAIGN

Tiger-Cats receiver Greg Ellingson has had quite the rookie campaign through 10 games. Take a look at what he has done in those 10 games and what he’s on pace to accomplish…

PLAYERS TO WATCH

DB Delvin Breaux
After missing the last two games due to injury, Delvin Breaux is set to make his return to the field as the Ticats take on the Stampeders.  In seven starts, the rookie has recorded 24 defensive tackles and has only had one game with less than three defensive tackles.  

DT Brian Bulcke
“There’s something awesome about having practiced against a guy for so long and finally getting to go against him,” said  Bulcke earlier this week when asked about facing Stamps RB Jon Cornish. Defensive tackle Brian Bulcke returns to Calgary on Friday night after spending two seasons with the Stampeders. In 22 regular seaosn games, Bulcke made 29 tackles an three sacks. 

WR Andy Fantuz
Last week vs. B.C., Andy Fantuz led the Ticats in receiving with six catches for 112 yards and a touchdown, his second 100-yard game of the season. Since his return in week 8, Fantuz has at least catches in each game. In 2012, Fantuz had 10 catches for 118 yards vs. the Stampeders.       

 

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES

  • Henry Burris completed 24-of-33 passing attempts for 354 yards and two touchdowns in his last visit to McMahon Stadium.
  • Burris needs just 217 yards to become the fifth quarterback in Canadian Football League history to hit the 50,000 passing yards mark.
  • The Tiger-Cats offence has had 400+ net yards in the last four games.
  • Since the bye week, rookie running back C.J. Gable has compiled a total of 655 combined yards – an average of 131 yard per game.
  • Henry Burris has thrown for 300+ yards in each of the Tiger-Cats last four games, post
    ing a record of 3-1 when he has done so.
  • Canadian LB Marc Beswick is currently ranks second all-time in Ticats history in special teams tackles with 102. Beswick currently leads the CFL with 15 special teams tackles and needs 13 to set a new career high.
  • Over the last four games, the Ticats defence has given up a total of 333 yards rushing on 81 attempts, which works out to an average of 4.1 yards per carry.
  • Last week vs. B.C., the Ticats had three receivers record 6+ catches and 100+ yards receiving [Andy Fantuz (6-112), Greg Ellingson (7-111) and C.J. Gable (6-108)] for the first time since September 19,2004 [DJ Flick (10-143), Archie Amerson (4-118) and Craig Yeast (6-100)].

 

GETTING SOCIAL