Around the CFL this week
Struggling Tiger-Cats, record-setting Lulay and B.C. wildfire relief
WINNIPEG — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have been down this road before, starting slowly before scratching and clawing their way into contention.
That doesn’t make staring at an 0-3 record and three lopsided losses any easier.
While Hamilton has a history of slow starts that turn into strong seasons — they began 1-4 in 2013 and 1-6 in 2014 before making it to the Grey Cup in both years — they have shown very little promise so far in 2017.
The closest the Ticats came in any game so far was 15 points. The other two, they lost by 17. To put that in perspective, there have only been five CFL games this season decided by more than 11 points. The Tiger-Cats have lost three of them.
They’ve allowed 545, 474 and 517 yards of opposition offence in the first three games of the year under new defensive co-ordinator Jeff Reinebold. They have the lowest average net offence in the league at 280 yards — they’ve scored only four offensive touchdowns in three games — and by far the most average yards allowed at 492.
People are already calling for head coach Kent Austin, who has two years left on his reported $500,000-per-year contract, to be fired.
While most observers don’t believe that will happen, Austin’s relationship with quarterback Zach Collaros — often pegged to be the next big star in the CFL — has been questioned.
TSN analyst Glen Suitor, a former teammate of Austin’s, told a Vancouver radio station he thinks “there is some tension between Collaros and Austin.”
That comment was vehemently disputed by Austin.
“That’s absolutely ridiculous and completely made up by Glen and he ought to be ashamed of himself,” Austin told 3DownNation. “There’s absolutely zero tension. “Don’t even give my answer to Zach and ask him point-blank. There’s no tension between me and Zach. We’ve never had tension.”
No doubt everything is sunshine and daisies then?
Well, the Tiger-Cats are already in a deep hole and are staring at a very tough schedule. They host 3-0 Edmonton this week, then travel to 2-1-1 Calgary before heading north to face the Eskimos again. They’re going to have to figure out some way to cut down on the yards against, and do it against top quarterbacks Mike Reilly and Bo Levi Mitchell.
This thing could absolutely get to 0-6.
At that point, there will be plenty of tension to go around.
TURNING BACK THE CLOCK
Travis Lulay didn’t know if he would ever play a significant role in the CFL again.
He’d suffered through a serious shoulder injury for a third time and while he was rehabbing from a knee injury in 2015 he saw a young, athletic quarterback take his job with the B.C. Lions and run with it. With Jonathon Jennings emerging as a star, Lulay, the 2011 CFL Most Outstanding Player and Grey Cup MVP, had to take a backup role to stay with the Lions, and a pay cut.
He took it. He worked hard. He stayed ready. And when the call came last Saturday night in Hamilton, he made history.
With Jennings injured, Lulay came off the bench and led the Lions to a victory, throwing for 436 yards. It was both a career high and a CFL record for the most yards off the bench by a backup quarterback.
“Travis is an outstanding person,” Lions coach Wally Buono told CFL.ca. “Not only is he an excellent quarterback, he’s had a great career and he’s had to overcome a lot of injuries with his shoulder. He understands, puts his priorities in the right places, checks his ego when he comes into work. At the end of it, the success we have, a lot of it has to do with Jonathon Jennings. I think it’s also enhanced by how Travis deals with him, kind of big brothers him. He’s a great team player.”
Jennings had an MRI on his throwing shoulder Monday and the Lions say he is going to be okay, although Lulay is expected to start on Friday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
It’s not exactly a break for the Bombers. Lulay was named one of the CFL’s stars of the week on Tuesday.
WILDFIRE SUPPORT
The CFL announced Tuesday it will donate $50,000 to the Red Cross for wildfire relief in British Columbia. The donation will be split between the nine teams and the league’s head office.
“The B.C. Lions urged that we respond as one to help our fellow Canadians displaced by these wildfires,” CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said.
About 40,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in the B.C. interior and placed in shelters in Kamloops.
The Lions, who host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Friday night in Vancouver, are urging fans to further support this effort by texting FIRES to 30333. In doing so, a $10 donation will be made to victims of the BC wildfires via the Canadian Red Cross.
The Bombers have pledged to donate proceeds of their online 50/50 draw (available only to residents of Manitoba) from this week to the Red Cross.