Tiger-cats hoping to turn over a new leaf
HAMILTON Four games into the season, the Hamilton Tiger-cats are coming off a bye week with an even record and looking to make a run.
They are through probably the toughest stretch of their schedule, having started in Calgary and Edmonton, returned home for a game against Winnipeg and then headed back out west to take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
That’s three of the toughest road games the Tabbies will have all year already in their rear-view mirror.
The 2-2 record has to be considered encouraging with that stretch behind them, but what is more encouraging is that the team has yet to really hit its stride.
The defence has been solid. Only Calgary ’s defence has allowed fewer points or less yardage.
Jeremiah Masoli and the offence have moved the ball effectively and efficiently.
But for whatever reason, that stellar defence the Tabbies boast has not turned into the turnovers one would expect from such a solid group.
To date the Ticats’ defence has turned opponents over just five times in four games — twice on interceptions, twice on fumbles and once on downs.
That is dead last in the league with Toronto. They are also tied for last in turnover differential at minus-3 with Ottawa
But even the turnover-starved Argos have managed to turn their five into points. Hamilton holds the distinction of being the only team in the CFL not to have scored a single point off a turnover this year.
Head coach June Jones is at a bit of a loss to explain this. He knows he has good personnel on defence and, yes, while many in his secondary are extremely raw they have shown themselves to be good defenders through the early portion of the schedule.
“We have played good defence,” Jones, whose team is to play host to Saskatchewan on Thursday, said following practice on Monday. “But I remember Buddy Ryan saying this: They were No. 1 in the league in defence but he couldn’t stand it because they weren’t taking the ball away. What good does that do you? And he’s right and that’s a defensive guy saying that.
“We have had a couple of chances and we dropped it,” Jones added. “I think it becomes infectious. Once you start getting them, they come in droves. And I think our team has played good and we’re really coming together. Once we start doing those things — making the big plays in the passing game, making the interceptions and getting the sacks — those things just start to roll. They’re really contagious.”