Cornered Ticats put season on the line
Despite the lopsided score line July 29 at McMahon Stadium, the Calgary Stampeders are not taking anything for granted in Friday’s rematch with the Tiger-Cats at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. Here are five things to watch,
1. REVENGE?
When the Tiger-Cats visited Calgary at the end of July, it was embarrassing. The 60-1 score line was the most lopsided the CFL has seen this season and it prompted major changes in Hamilton.
Ticats vice-president of football operations Kent Austin fired himself as head coach and was replaced by June Jones, who has the Ticats playing at a considerably higher level.
Beating the Stampeders would not only be huge for their playoff hopes, but it would also draw a line in the sand separating the Ticats of today from the team that got obliterated by the Stampeders in the summer.
2. MUST WIN
The Stampeders know it’s going to take a once-in-a-lifetime meltdown to keep them from winning the West Division.
For the Ticats, nothing is certain.
If the Ticats lose this weekend and the Ottawa Redblacks win, the reigning Grey Cup champions will have clinched second place in the East. A loss would also guarantee that a West Division team will crossover and take one of the East’s playoff spots, so the season in Hamilton would be essentially over. For the Tabbies, this game is must win in the purest sense of the term.
3. SACK CITY
The Stampeders’ defensive line is scary good.
Micah Johnson, Charleston Hughes and Ja’Gared Davis have eight sacks each, one behind the Toronto Argonauts’ Victor Butler for the CFL lead. Rookie-of-the-year candidate James Vaughters isn’t far behind, either, with six.
It’s possible they’ll sweep the top four at season’s end.
In the Ticats’ surprise win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last weekend — they did a huge favour for the Stamps, by the way — quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was sacked only twice, but you can bet the Stamps won’t give him nearly as friendly a night.
If the Ticats are going to have any chance at all on Friday night, they need to find a way to limit the damage the Stamps D-line can do.
4. LOT OF OPTIONS
The story out of McMahon Stadium this week has been all about the receivers.
Kamar Jorden has been out of action for 10 weeks, but was leading the CFL in receiving TDs when he got hurt against the Ticats in the teams’ first meeting.
Last season’s rookie of the year DaVaris Daniels hasn’t been out as long, but is one of the most dangerous deep-ball threats in the entire league.
With both of them expected to be back in the lineup, high-flying rookie Marken Michel may be placed in a reduced role, but he’ll still be dangerous anytime he’s on the field.
The Ticats defensive backs are going to have their hands full.
5. BACK AT IT
With Jerome Messam out for the Stampeders’ blowout win over the Montreal Alouettes a couple weeks ago, Terry Williams stepped up with a monster 156yard, three-touchdown performance at running back.
Nobody in the stadium was happier for Williams than Messam, but the Stamps starting running back will be back in the lineup against the Ticats. Expect a big night.
Messam is leading the CFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns and if the Stamps get out to an early lead, you can expect them to smash the ball down the middle with their big running back.