Ticats won’t be a pushover

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This article was published 15/09/2023 (765 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HAMILTON — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have a tough act to follow — their own.

Winnipeg administered a 51-6 beatdown on the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders in last weekend’s Banjo Bowl to improve to 10-3.

The Bombers admitted they took a day to enjoy the lopsided win (and rightfully so, as it was a near-perfect performance) but they’ll need another solid showing Saturday (3 p.m. CT) when they face the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-7).

The Ticats were expected to be a contender in the East Division in 2023 but have been a major disappointment. That doesn’t mean this one will be a cakewalk for their western rivals.

Hamilton also had good reason to celebrate last week, knocking off the Ottawa Redblacks 27-24 on the road despite having a ridiculous schedule that left them with just three days to prepare. Ottawa, on the other hand, was coming off a bye and had 11 days to do its homework.

Although there isn’t a ton of hype heading into kickoff, it’s an important game for the Bombers as they have a challenging schedule ahead. After bye week, they host the Toronto Argonauts (10-1), featuring old friend Andrew Harris, on Sept. 29. After that, they pack their bags for Vancouver for a crucial road tilt against the B.C. Lions (8-4) that could ultimately decide the West Division.

Before we look too far ahead, let’s break down Saturday’s game with the latest edition of 5 Storylines.

Tougher than you think

Don’t assume the Bombers will leave Steeltown with a victory.

Outside of the 2021 Grey Cup, Tim Hortons Field hasn’t been kind to the Blue and Gold. It’s been six years since the Bombers escaped Hamilton with a regular-season victory — a 39-12 win on Aug. 12, 2017. Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros actually started that game for Hamilton.

Since then, the Ticats are 3-0 when the Bombers visit their building.

Last season, the Bombers stomped the Riders 54-20 in their Labour Day rematch only to follow it up with arguably their worst game of the season — a 48-31 loss in Hamilton. Ticats quarterback Dane Evans, now a backup with the Lions, shredded the Bombers for five touchdowns.

Winnipeg hasn’t forgotten about that one. Even without being asked about it, Collaros and wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky were quick to mention that disappointing defeat. It could be a tough afternoon for the Ticats, as Winnipeg’s veteran group has shown to be very good at learning from its mistakes.

Just ask the Lions and Riders.

 

Rookie QB in the Hamilton

Taylor Powell was supposed to sit back and learn the ropes from star quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell this season. Instead, injuries to Mitchell, as well as No. 2 pivot Matthew Shiltz, forced the Ticats to hit the fast-forward button on Powell’s career and hand him the keys.

It was a bit of a rocky start when the 24-year-old out of Eastern Michigan first took over in Week 7. He had three interceptions and zero touchdown passes in his first three games, however in his last three, Powell has completed 65 per cent of his passes for 844 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception. He’s coming off his best outing as he registered three touchdown passes and 326 yards in the air against Ottawa.

That’s not the only change Hamilton has made on offence. Offensive co-ordinator Tommy Condell called the plays for the first eight games before getting replaced by veteran coach Scott Milanovich — who was initially hired in May as a senior assistant. Under Condell, the Ticats were eighth in offensive points scored per game. Under Milanovich’s watch, they’re averaging 23.7 points which would be fourth best in the CFL if that was their season total.

Milanovich — a Grey Cup-winning head coach with Toronto in 2012 who went on to be the quarterbacks coach with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts — is one of the best offensive minds on the three-down circuit.

These Tiger-Cats are not the same team that lost 42-31 in Winnipeg in the season-opener June 9.

 

Collaros and Co. make history

You know you’ve done something special when you force the CFL stats department to dig through the archives.

We’ve talked all week about Collaros guiding the Bombers to six touchdowns on six first-half drives against Saskatchewan last Saturday, and the league has now recovered some information to put the amazing achievement into perspective.

Dating back to 1950, only eight teams have recorded six touchdown drives in the opening half. The Bombers stand out, though, as they’re the first club to hit pay dirt on all six of their drives in the first two quarters. The record for most overall touchdowns in the first half is eight (Montreal Alouettes on Oct. 20, 1956).

Should anyone who follows the CFL really be shocked? Led by the reigning, two-time Most Outstanding Player at the game’s most important position, one of top offensive lines in the league, and playmakers such as Kenny Lawler, Dalton Schoen, Nic Demski and Brady Oliveira, the sky’s the limit.

The Ticats are allowing opponents to score 27.2 points per game which puts their defence in eighth place in the nine-team league.

 

Running toward the record

We all need to be on Oliveira watch.

With a league-high 1,144 rushing yards in 13 games, the 26-year-old from Winnipeg has a shot at the record books.

It won’t be easy, but if he doesn’t miss any time and averages 134 yards in the team’s final five games, Oliveira will surpass Calgary Stampeders legend Jon Cornish’s 2013 record for most rushing yards in a season (1,813) by a Canadian ball carrier.

Cornish won the league’s Most Outstanding Player award that season.

The Tiger-Cats’ rushing attack might look different on Saturday as American running back James Butler is listed as a game-time decision. Butler has rushed for over 100 yards in three games this year, but he’s also had three games where he was bottled up for less than 20 yards. The 28-year-old has 736 rushing yards, six major scores and a 4.7 yards per carry average.

 

Hello, Liegghio

Marc Liegghio has to be feeling extra motivated this week.

After two up-and-down seasons with Winnipeg, the Bombers released the Canadian placekicker in favour of Sergio Castillo.

The kicking game was Winnipeg’s only weakness in 2022, and it cost them on the biggest stage as Liegghio’s struggles ultimately prevented the squad from hoisting the Grey Cup for a third straight time.

Two weeks after his release, the 26-year-old from Woodbridge, Ont., was scooped up by Hamilton. He was enjoying a bit of a resurgence until the wheels fell off in Week 11 when he missed three field goals and a convert in a 24-10 loss to the Edmonton Elks.

He has stretches where he looks like a reliable leg. But when he’s off, he’s off.

It’d be quite the story (not one that Bomberland would enjoy) if Liegghio can hit some crucial kicks to help Hamilton pull off an upset.

 

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31