FLAT CATS ARE IN FOR A FIGHT
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have been down this road before, starting slowly before scratching and clawing their way into contention, but 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 — the Ticats 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 been only 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 the website 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 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.
CHASING HISTORY
Montreal Alouettes slotback Nik Lewis will soon become the fourth player in CFL history to record 1,000 receptions.
After grabbing three passes for 42 yards in a surprising 30-23 win over the Calgary Stampeders on Friday, Lewis now has 995 receptions. Only Geroy Simon (1,029), Ben Cahoon (1,017) and Terry Vaughn (1,006) have more career receptions than Lewis, who spent most of his career with Calgary before moving to Montreal in 2015.
If he keeps up his current pace of 4.5 receptions per game this season, Lewis easily will pass Simon to become the league’s all-time reception leader. Lewis also can tie Vaughn’s record of 11 1,000-yard seasons by a receiver if he can get to that mark this year.
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.