Ticats earn their stripes

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/07/2009 (5926 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FIVE storylines that jumped out while observing the past week of Canadian Football League action:

1 The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have been an easy target during the 10 seasons of The Huddle page, so they’re due more than a little slap on the back when the organization isn’t playing its regular role of loser with a “Kick Me” sign taped to its backside.

So let’s tell it like it is: We saw a marked improvement in this crew from their season-opening embarrassing loss to the Toronto Argonauts, head coach Marcel Bellefeuille has got the troops believing, and defensive co-ordinator Greg Marshall has put together a bunch that flies around and punches people in the mouth.

Most importantly for all those faithful in Steeltown, this has become — if nothing else — an entertaining team.

“I saw a metamorphosis taking place,” Bellefeuille told the Hamilton Spectator after Saturday’s win over Winnipeg. “The players were getting the crowd into it. They kind of reminded them: ‘OK, this is where you pitch in.’ Then the crowd got the players going. It was a really interesting give and take. It was almost like now we remember what this is supposed to be like.”

2 And while we’re tossing out bouquets, how ’bout those Alouettes? Many were surprised at how little the roster was massaged in the off-season, but we should have known better than to doubt GM Jim Popp. Most impressively, head coach Marc Trestman’s adjustment to the Canadian game is now so complete he’s evolved from brilliant tactician to innovator.

The Als have Hamilton, Toronto and Saskatchewan at home and are in Edmonton and here in Winnipeg before Labour Day. Nobody goes unbeaten in pro football anymore, but this juggernaut looks vastly improved from last year’s Grey Cup runner-up side.

“We’re finding ways to win on the road against historically solid teams,” quarterback Anthony Calvillo told The Montreal Gazette. “To go 3-0, and 2-0 on the road, against the West is a great sign.”

3 This won’t make Bomber fans cursing their squad’s struggling passing game feel any better, but it’s certainly worth noting: Winnipeg has had just one pass completion longer than 20 yards through three games this season, but B.C. Lions quarterback Jarious Jackson, who was brilliant in relief of Buck Pierce last week, accomplished that and then some in just three-plus quarters of work.

Of Jackson’s 19 completions, seven — SEVEN — were 25 yards or longer, including three touchdown strikes to Geroy Simon (33 and 40) and Emmanuel Arcenaux.

“That (deep ball) gets me on a roll,” Jackson told The Province in Vancouver. “We have the guys to stretch the field. I was just reading the defence.”

Lions boss Wally Buono, meanwhile, squelched any sort of QB debate: Pierce will continue to start, while Jackson seems more comfy coming off the bench.

“The quarterback with the strongest arm doesn’t always win,” Buono said. “It’s been that way all through CFL history. Look at Ron Lancaster, Doug Flutie or Damon Allen. Throwing the ball down the field is high-reward, high-risk. You’ve got to be careful. What wins is first downs and staying on the field.”

4 We’re in damn fine mood, so more praise here to one of our favourite people in the CFL: Alouette centre Bryan Chiu.

A solid, durable player in the trenches for 13 seasons, Chiu played in his 204th career game last Saturday in Regina, surpassing Glen Weir as the franchise leader.

“Things have a funny way of working out,” Chiu told The Montreal Gazette. “I can’t believe it. If you had told me 13 seasons in Montreal, I would have figured you were crazy.”

Oh, and get this: Chiu has had six operations on his knees, his right shoulder has screws in it and he’s had elbow and finger surgery. And he wouldn’t trade it in for a nanosecond.

“It’s like a train wreck. My whole body aches after games. I can’t put it into words,” Chiu said. “I have parts where I didn’t even know I had muscles that are in pain. But it’s the camaraderie and feeling of victory after a game that you can never replicate. The feeling you get from winning a game and accomplishing your goal — through the blood, sweat and tears. My fondest memories are from my time in the locker-room. I have no regrets.”

5Finally, it’s about the Retro Week thing… absolutely love the idea, especially for a league that long ignored its history instead of celebrating it.

But we thought the whole idea of having fans vote for the Most Outstanding Player of the ’60s for each team was lost last week.

Again, not a bad idea, but announcing it during the game — instead of the days before it — meant that the celebration became just a footnote to all the action on the field.

And that’s a shame.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Power rankings

One man’s totally subjective rankings of the eight CFL teams after Week 3 of the season (last week’s rank in parenthesis):

1. (1) MONTREAL ALOUETTES (3-0) — Rolling through the league like a tank through a field of daisies.

2. (2) SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (2-1) — Got stomped on pretty good at home by the Als. Time to regroup.

3. (4) CALGARY STAMPEDERS (1-2) — Now THAT’s more like it. Dominant in win over Argos.

4. (6) HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (2-1) — Something solid being built in Steeltown.

5. (8) B.C. LIONS (1-2) — Jarious Jackson provided a huge spark… and a critical ‘W.’

6. (3) WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (1-2) — Huge step back in loss to the Ticats. Back under the microscope.

7. (5) EDMONTON ESKIMOS (1-2) — Richie Hall has to get that defence right again.

8. (7) TORONTO ARGONAUTS (1-2) — Just plain awful two weeks running.

Juicy number — 333

Career passing TD total for Alouettes QB Anthony Calvillo, tying him for second on the CFL’s all-time list with the late, great Ron Lancaster. Damon Allen is the all-time leader at 394.

FYI

Talk about one-dimensional — the Eskimos’ leading rusher in last week’s loss to B.C. was Arkee Whitlock (six carries for 39 yards). Edmonton has just one 100-yard rushing performance from a running back in its last 40 games… Some scary-good numbers put up by the Stamps defence in mauling Toronto: six sacks of Argo QB Kerry Joseph, three defensive touchdowns scored and just 36 rushing yards against… A reminder to Bomber fans: The seventh annual Purolator Tackle Hunger food drive will be at the game in support of Winnipeg Harvest. Fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item or cash donation and, in return, can have their picture taken with the Grey Cup. Last year, Bomber fans helped raise more than 27,560 pounds of food and organizers are hoping to eclipse that number this week… The East was a lousy 6-26 in games against the West a year ago. This year, thanks to the Als’ three wins — all over West opponents — the East is 5-3… Stay classy, Montreal: The Als flew Regina native Stan van Sichem out to their game against the Roughriders, even though he wasn’t on the team’s 46-man travel roster, so he could experience life on the road and return to his hometown… The Riders have signed former Texas Tech star QB Graham Harrell for two years plus an option. Interestingly, Harrell — who set a NCAA record with 134 TD passes — was on the Bombers’ neg list as recently as last December before being removed.

Say what?!

“West, east, north or south, it doesn’t matter. We just want to win every game.”

— Alouettes running back Avon Cobourne. Montreal has outscored Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatchewan 133-53 and is the CFL’s only unbeaten team.