Ticats.ca Staff
The Tiger-Cats will grace Tim Hortons Field in a rematch from week one on Sunday.
The Ticats play host to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who arrive with a new look on offence, as their new starting quarterback Tino Sunseri takes over the reigns from the injured Darian Durant.
Hamilton defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer is well prepared for a heavy ground and pound outing from Saskatchewan.
“They’re going to be who they are. They’re going to come out and establish the run and they’re going to take their shots to the end zone,” he said.
“I just think that they commit to it. A lot of teams experiment with it. But they try and they stick with it. In the fourth quarter, if you look at a lot of their yards have come in their wins late in the fourth quarter. They live by the run game and they will run you to the edges with their quick backs and then pound you with (Jerrome) Messam,” Steinauer added.
Messam, along with teammates Will Ford and Anthony Allen lead the league in total rushing yards per game with 1507. The running game will be the premier match up, as Hamilton comes into Sunday standing at first in the league with just 789 allowed.
Steinauer is excited to see what his unit will bring to against the Riders’ trio of running backs.
The Ticats’ special teams will also be sporting a new look. Terrell Sinkfield will take over return duties for his first time as a member of the Ticats after joining the team on September 4th. Head coach Kent Austin looks forward to seeing how the change can help the team.
“He will start as our main returner, and we will see how it goes. He’s a great athlete he has explosive speed but he’s also a guy that can change direction,” Austin said.
“He can dip, and cuts and changes direction without losing much speed. We’ll see, he has big play potential and we will see how that goes,” he said.
On offence Ticats’ quarterback Zach Collaros has taken notice on how his unit has improved since the team’s first contest with the Riders.
“I think we’ve improved in a lot of areas,” he said.
“I think the offensive line has done a great job just getting better and understanding schemes and just blocking better. I think between me and the receivers, just understand timing and space and me getting a feel for them and where they’re going to be a certain moments. And the running backs have done a great job all year, blocking, protections, rushing the ball and receiving as well,” Collaros added
The quarterback making his third straight start since returning from injury embraces his responsibility as the leader of the offence.
“I think any quarterback is a leader of the offence for sure. I think we have a good group of guys we all respect each other. I don’t know if there’s one guy that stands out in particular but we’re not the type of group to bicker with each other so if somebody says something we respect it,” Collaros said.
