Kyle Myers
Ticats.ca
The Tiger-Cats lineup for Saturday’s regular season finale will feature by far the most roster moves in any two-game stretch this season – but for once, it’s by choice.
Head Coach Kent Austin has elected to give many usual starters the day off for Saturday’s no-consequences game in Winnipeg, ensuring they’ll be at their healthiest when the Tiger-Cats host the Alouettes in the Eastern Semi-Finals.
“Yeah, we’re going to rest some guys,” said Austin. “Most of that group is guys that need rest because of where they’re at physically.”
Among the missing on defence are linebackers Jamall Johnson, Simoni Lawrence and Brandon Isaac, defensive backs Evan McCollough, Emanuel Davis, and Rico Murray, all of whom will take some much needed rest ahead of the biggest game of the season.
Their absences will provide opportunities for other defenders to see increased playing time.
Marcellus Bowman will be one of those who benefit with extra field time, filling in for Lawrence at weak-side linebacker, and the fact that his first defensive start will come against his former team certainly isn’t lost on the third year pro.
“It is a little ironic,” Bowman laughed after the team’s final practice on Thursday. “But I don’t want to put any more emphasis on this game, because that’d be selfish. I want to go out there and just play within the scheme and within my responsibility, and make some plays.”
Though Saturday’s game is inconsequential to the Ticats or the Bombers as the playoff picture has already been set in stone, Bowman made it clear that there is still much to be gained with a hard fought victory in Winnipeg.
“You don’t want to end on a bad note before you go into the playoffs,” he continued. “It’s all about maintaining that high standard of excellence before you go into a really big situation. We just can’t afford to go out there and lay an egg.”
Austin elaborated on the importance of a strong effort on Saturday.
“The goal is to get our team prepared to play in a playoff game,” Austin said. “Obviously we want to win the football game, every time we take the field our guys understand that’s the end goal. The backdrop though is we need to be playing well going into the playoffs. And part of that answer is getting guys back who have missed a lot of time.”
One of those players is Brian Simmons, an offensive lineman who has been sidelined for a month with a lower-body injury. The left tackle has taken first team reps all week and is slated to start on Saturday, giving him a chance to get into a groove before the playoffs.
“Personally, I’d like to get back in my rhythm, get back to my technique,” Simmons said. “I’m not really worried about the injury at all, more just getting the timing back. I don’t want to mess up the flow, I want to come in and keep up with the pace they’re in.”
And though a victory on Saturday would be of the moral variety rather than one of necessity, for Simmons, it’s the symbolic nature of a winning season which could have a positive effect on the team.
“It’s very important to me,” said Simmons. “I think it’s been since 2001 that the Ticats had a ten win season, and that’s important to me. I came from a school where we were used to winning. It’s nice to say I had a winning season instead of even a .500 season.”
