Ticats could be Beast of the East

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This article was published 08/07/2021 (1529 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats dominated the CFL in 2019 — that is, until it mattered most.

After finishing atop the CFL standings with a 15-3 record and a perfect 10-0 at home (including playoffs), the Tiger-Cats saved their worst for last. In what was a lopsided game from start to finish, Hamilton was outclassed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, falling 33-12 at McMahon Stadium in what was the most recent CFL game to be played.

Fast-forward to today and much of that 2019 team has returned, minus a few notable exceptions. But even the holes that were created over the last nearly two years have been filled and the Tiger-Cats once again look primed to come out atop the East Division.

While Hamilton will certainly be a team to take seriously again, as we saw in 2019 it takes more than a strong regular season to claim glory. There are a few areas on the club that need to be smoothed out, all of which should be taken care of in training camp.

Here is an early season preview of the Tiger-Cats, in what is the seventh installment of a Free Press series titled, Around the CFL.

Three training camp stories

QB RICH: The quarterback is the most important position on the team and while most CFL clubs have a bona fide starter, the Tiger-Cats have two.

Jeremiah Masoli is one of the best quarterbacks in the entire league, something he’s proven over his seven years in Hamilton. Dane Evans, however, showed in 2019, after Masoli went down with a season-ending injury early in the year, that he’s also destined for greatness. Evans went 10-3 as a starter, throwing for 3,754 yards and 21 touchdowns compared to 13 interceptions.

It’s expected to be a battle, but with Masoli earning a sizeable signing bonus of $125,000, one would have to think he’s got the edge. But there are a lot of unanswered questions as the result of a prolonged offseason, so it should be interesting to find how each player progressed during their time away. Remember, Masoli is 33 this year, while Evans is 27.

MANNING THE MIDDLE: The Tiger-Cats are expecting another big season from Simoni Lawrence, who is the pulse of the defence and a lock at weakside linebacker. It’s the other two linebacker spots — middle and strongside — that are going to see some new faces.

Larry Dean had re-signed with Hamilton in 2020 after taking off to Edmonton in 2019, only to then reach a deal with Saskatchewan this year. That leaves the spot up to Jovan Santos-Knox. Santos-Knox was injured almost the entirety of 2019, while playing for the Elks, but was a wrecking ball in Winnipeg for two seasons before that. If he can stay healthy, and that’s a big if, Hamilton should be fine there.

Rico Murray retired over the offseason, so that means Tyrice Beverette becomes the front-runner for the strongside linebacker spot. Beverette is only 26 and has just 13 CFL games on his resume, making it likely another contested battle here for who starts.

GROUND GAME: The running game and who is available to fill it is arguably the weakest part of an overall strong Tiger-Cats team. Hamilton can go a couple of different ways, but health is a risk in whatever direction they choose.

The Tiger-Cats signed Don Jackson as a free agent, after Jackson spent two seasons with Calgary. The 27-year-old has impressed at times, but his health has been in question since he arrived in the CFL in 2018, including playing just six games in 2019 owing to injury. He was often injured while playing in the NFL, too.

The other option is to go Canadian, with a trio of Sean Thomas-Erlington, Jackson Bennett and Maleek Irons all getting a chance to run the ball. Thomas-Erlington suffered a gruesome knee injury in 2019 that knocked him out of the season, while Bennett and Irons combined for just 355 rushing yards that season.

Three players to watch

1) QB Jeremiah Masoli — before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that ended his 2019 season, Masoli was one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the CFL. But he hasn’t played in a game in more 700 days since that injury. He’s turning 33 in August but if he’s anything like he was before, the Tiger-Cats offence is going to be dangerous.

2) WR DeVier Posey — Brandon Banks and Bralon Addison are not only the two best receivers in Hamilton, but they might also just be the two best in the entire CFL. It’s for that very reason DeVier Posey could be in line for an insanely productive year. With defensive coverage focused on those two other guys, could this be the season Posey finally hits 1,000 receiving yards?

3) DB Frankie Williams — he led the CFL in punt return yards, with 949, which was nearly 300 yards better than the next player. He also scored one punt return touchdown and added another on kickoff. Williams will once again be handling a majority of the return duties, while also playing field corner.

X-FACTOR: Head coach Orlondo Steinauer

He’s the guy with the big smile and an ability to get the best out of his players. He’s got a stacked team in front of him, and it will be up to Steinhauer to make sure health protocols and other inevitable obstacles owing to COVID-19 aren’t the great equalizer for a club that is favoured to win the Grey Cup in Hamilton this year.

Final word

“I’d be lying to you if I said our team doesn’t look different. Our identity — we’ll see. I’d love to sit here and say that we’re going to air it out and put up points and we’re going to shut people out. Those are all guesses. Every year is different and that’s why I’m excited to get to work.”

— Ticats head coach Orlondo Steinauer

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton