Tiger-Cats going all-in for final three games
SCOUTING REPORT
The storyline for Hamilton: The Tiger-Cats were eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to Calgary last Friday and Ottawa’s last-second victory over Saskatchewan, and now face the prospect of three meaningless games to end 2017.
Head coach June Jones says the team will do its best to win all three, including playing a veteran-laden lineup, instead of using it as an opportunity to develop players with an eye to next season.
Key roster notes for Hamilton: Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli gets the start as the team will field a lineup very similar to the one that lost to Calgary last week. Centre Mike Filer and defensive end Adrian Tracy missed time at practice this week, but are expected to play, while receiver Jalen Saunders is a game-time decision.
The storyline for Montreal: The Alouettes are the only team with a worse record than the Ticats and have missed the playoffs for the second straight season. Owners Bob and Andrew Wettenhall have already decided to bring back general manager Kavis Reed for a second season; and he said this week they’ll use the last three games to get a look at some players who may be part of their future plans. Reed is also handling the coaching duties, having dismissed Jacques Chapdelaine on Sept. 13, but will not to return to the sidelines next season.
Key roster notes for Montreal: Quarterback Darian Durant gets the start and Reed has said the veteran needs to show he can continue to play at a high level as the team looks ahead to next season. Veteran linebacker Chip Cox suffered a knee injury last week against Edmonton and is done for the year.
Five funky stats about this game:
1. Three of Hamilton’s four wins have come on the road and the team is just 1-7 at Tim Hortons Field this season.
2. Ticat linebacker Larry Dean needs 18 tackles to reach 100 on the season. He would be the first Hamilton player to do so since Jamall Johnson in 2010.
3. Ticat receiver Jalen Saunders needs 23 yards receiving to reach 1,000 for the season, while Luke Tasker needs 142.
4. Montreal linebacker Kyries Hébert needs four defensive tackles to reach 100 for the first time in his career.
5. Veteran Alouette defensive end John Bowman can reach 200 games played by season’s end if he dresses for the final three weeks.
TSN play-by-play: Rod Smith and Duane Forde Referee: Dave Foxcroft Weather: Partly cloudy, 20 C, winds out of the East at 10 km/h.