Follow CFL

© 2025 CFL. All rights reserved.

Uncategorized July 13, 2014

Back to work

Isaac Owusu
Ticats.ca

It was day zero in Hamilton for the Tiger Cats on Sunday as the team resumed practice after their bye week ahead of this week’s McMahon Stadium to take on the Stampeders.

Playmakers on both sides of the ball can agree that while having a bye week this early into the season is unfamiliar it is still very helpful for the team at this point in the season.

“It’s nice to get off the legs for a while and its especially nice to have the extra day coming back in because you don’t want to have that day one practice off that week’s break,” receiver Luke Tasker said.

“It was good to get a good warm up again, get some reps on the field. I think the bye week is great for our bodies. It’s a little early in the season, and you’d kind of like it in October but still it’s good,” he added.

After two games Tasker ranks second on the team in receptions (seven), yards (91) and tied for the lead in touchdowns with one.

He admits to taking a short amount break time away from the game, by venturing out and enjoying Niagara-on-the-Lake. When it was time to get himself back in the workout grove he made some tweaks to his training regiment.

“I kept lifting and did some straight line running, but no cutting. I really wanted to get the ankles and knees some rest, nothing with high impact on the joints,” he said.

Defensive back Craig Butler has six tackles through his first two games in Black and Gold. This season also marks the first time in his career where he experienced a bye at week three of the season.

A new concept, but he has no gripes with it.

“It helps to refocus yourself, especially when you come off two losses. But, we’re not focused on that. We’re only focused on the next week,” he said.

“The bye week is always good to get your legs back, get everything back in tuned and it’s just one of those things that you have to take advantage of when you have it because it’s a long season and the time that you get off is time that you have to use to get better,” he added.

Looking ahead at Friday’s matchup is a priority for both Tasker and Butler, and having a ‘day zero’ makes it easier for the players to understand the game plan.

“Calgary wants to win the game in the trenches so it’s going to be up to our big guys to be making places and stopping them at the line. They want to punish and bully you. It’s a challenge for us, but you want a challenge every week. We look forward to it.”