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Uncategorized October 25, 2014

Pre-Game Breakdown: Ticats at Argos

Ticats.ca Staff

With a potential playoff spot at stake, the Tiger-Cats get set to conclude their 2014 season series with their  East Division rival, the Toronto Argonauts. The Tiger-Cats enter their week 18 tilt with the Argos, following a defensive 16-6 victory over the expansion Ottawa REDBLACKS to extend their five-game win streak at Tim Hortons Field.

The Argonauts look to stay in the playoff race with a win on Saturday, after dropping the first of two games with the Montreal Alouettes last week in Toronto. 

TIGER-CATS HISTORY vs. the TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Dating back to 2008, the Tiger-Cats have won four of the last six season series against the Toronto Argonauts – the 2009 season-series ended in a 2-2 tie. Heading into Saturday’s game in Toronto, the Ticats have won 13 of the last 21 meetings between the rivals. Here is a breakdown of the matchup history: 

  WINS LOSSES TIES PTS FOR PTS AGAINST
ALL-TIME  126 92  2 4,851 4,676
LAST 10 (TOTAL) 5 5  0 290 303
LAST 10 (at Rogers Centre) 5 5 0 286 257
IN 2013: 2 1 0 91 76
IN 2014: 1 1 0 46 46

 
HEAD-TO-HEAD

ERIC NORWOOD
TIGER-CATS DEFENCE

  

 

ARGONAUTS OFFENSIVE LINE

 

Eric Norwood has been on a tear since returning to the Ticats lineup in week 12 vs. the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The second-year Ticat has recorded 23 tackles and 10 quarterback sacks since his return. After registering three tackles and a sack in last week’s 16-6 victory over Ottawa, he now leads the East Division and is tied for third in the CFL with a total of 12 sacks.

In six of his last seven starts, Norwood has record a quarterback sacks.

Looking back at the week 15 matchup between the two teams, the Ticats leader in sacks managed to pull Ricky Ray down to the turf on three occassions, recording his second career multi-sack game.

 

 

  

 

Toronto Argonauts head coach Scott Milanovich has often credited the success of their offence and future hall of fame quarterback, Ricky Ray, to the performance of Argos offensive line.

Toronto’s offensive line has assisted in producing one of the league’s best passing offences this season, allowing an average of 2.46 sacks per game. The Argos, who have thrown the ball a total of 868 times this season, are allowing a quarterback sack once every 16.7 times that Ricky Ray drops back.

Additionally, the Argonauts have also found success on first down. In first down situations, the Argonauts rank second in the CFL in average yards gain with 6.8. 

Despite giving up four quarterback sacks in their last meeting with the Ticats, the Argos still recorded 27 first downs and had 476 net yards.

 

 

THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE 2014 RIVALRY:

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

RB Nic Grigsby: Newly acquired running back Nic Grigsby has been the talk of TigerTown since his arrival earlier this week. Grigsby, who was released by the Blue Bombers on October 7, will make his Ticats debut on Saturday afternoon vs. the Argonauts. Prior to his release, Grigsby compiled 744 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 162 carries, while adding 55 receptions for 444 yards and one touchdown with the Bombers. As shown through his 2014 stats, he has the ability to be a versatile asset in the Ticats backfield.

WR/KR Terrell Sinkfield:  Kick return/receiver Terrell Sinkfield has been featured in a number of unique ways since arriving in Hamilton. The first-year Ticat has compiled a total of 642 combined yards on 25 touches – an average of 25.7 yards per touch. In his four appearances in Black & Gold, he has averaged a total of 160.5 combined yards per game and recorded atleast one play of 40+ yards in each game – 57-yard punt return TD in week 12, 52-yard kickoff return in week 15, 51-yard punt return in week 16 and a 43-yard carry in week 17.

RB Mossis Madu: The Tiger-Cats will have a two headed monster in their backfield this week; three if you count Terrell Sinkfield’s potential contribution. After sitting out of the Ticats 16-6 victory over Ottawa last week, Mossis Madu will return to the Ticats lineup. Madu, who was knocked out of the week 16 matchup with the Argonauts with a shoulder injury,  had 75 combined yards in the first half. 

GAME NOTES:

  • Last week vs. Ottawa, LB/DB Rico Murray recorded 5+ tackles for the fifth consecutive game.
  • In week 17, the Tiger-Cats rushed for a total of 207 yards, the team’s highest rushing total of the 2014 season.
  • The Tiger-Cats offence has averaged 309.2 passing yards and 71.5 rushing yards in two games vs. Toronto.
  • In two games vs. Toronto, Zach Collaros has completed 71.4% of his passing attempts for a total of 619 yards and three touchdowns. He has also added 79 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
  • The Tiger-Cats have outscored the Argonauts in both the first (20-3) and third (10-5) quarters in each of their two meetings, yet both games have been decided by 1-point. 
  • Offensive lineman
    Tim O’Neill will appear in his 120th career game this weekend in Toronto, while Justin Medlock and Sam Giguere will make their 55th and 45th CFL appearances, respectively.
  • The season series is as close as possible with one win each and 46 points apiece; each game was decided by just one point. These were the latest in a long rivalry of close encounters – since 1950 they have played 13 games decided by one point.