Aug
Numbers favoured Esks in loss to Ticats
Courtesy Edmonton Journal:
Statistically speaking, it was difficult figuring out how the Edmonton Eskimos let it all slip away.
The numbers were heavily slanted in their favour, but it was the final score that said it all: Hamilton Tiger-Cats 28, Edmonton Eskimos 21.
Saturday’s result came despite the Esks pounding out 422 yards of net offence to the Ticats’ 299 and a time-possession advantage of about 10 minutes. Edmonton also had 22 first downs to Hamilton’s 19 and outpassed the Tiger-Cats 335 yards to 211.
The Esks even outran the Ticats 107 yards to 93. Tiger-Cats star running back DeAndra’ Cobb managed 75 yards on 12 carries, but most of it came off his late 40-yard scamper that set up the winning points.
“They weren’t running on us. There was a lot of play action because they weren’t getting much on the ground,” said Esks linebacker Tim St. Pierre, who filled in after Maurice Lloyd suffered a hamstring injury late in the first quarter.
“They were going to the air a lot in the game. They hit us with that one (run) at a poor time.”
“We kept Cobb in check the whole game, until the last (play),” added defensive tackle Dario Romero, who was upset after the play.
“There were a couple of calls that could have been made on that last run, but nobody saw it.”
Romero felt he was held by Peter Dyakowski on the play, and replays suggest he was right.
Hits just keep on coming
There were several big hits in the game. Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray took a solid pop from Ticats linebacker Jamall Johnson on his first of two interceptions.
This one ended up as a 69-yard touchdown return, the first 21 yards by Chris Thompson, who made the pick and then lateralled the ball to Sandy Beveridge, who took it the rest of the 48 yards for the score.
“That was one of those: ‘No, no, no, no, yes, yes, yes, yes(plays),’ ” Ticats head coach Marcel Bellefeuille said of the flip by Thompson.
“I think that our players are intelligent enough to know when you can be aggressive and when not to be aggressive.”
Esks defensive back Kelly Malveaux also nailed Ticats receiver Chris Bauman in the third quarter with a teeth-rocker that could be heard all the way to nearby Burlington.
Put a hold on that
Patrick Kabongo’s second of three holding calls killed a 26-yard touchdown toss from Ray to Graeme Bell midway through the third quarter that would have put the Esks up 25-14. Instead, Edmonton settled for a 20-yard field goal by Noel Prefontaine and a 21-14 edge.
This ‘n’ that
-Lost in the defeat was another strong performance by the Eskimos kick-return team.
Arkee Whitlock had 76 yards on two kickoff returns, while Tristan Jackson contributed 68 yards on three kickoff returns and another 27 yards on five punts.
-Esks receiver Kevin Wuthrich is go-ing back to the Edmonton Wildcats of the Prairie Football Conference.
-Ray and Kamau Peterson miscommunicated several times in the game, which is strange for the twosome. Wrong reads or wrong patterns?
-The Green and Gold may have also relied on the run too much in the second half. Yes, it was wet, but they left themselves in a lot of second-and-seven situations.
Injuries on defence
Replacing Lloyd and Lenny Williams, who also went down with a leg injury, will be a tough task.
“I don’t know the extent of the injuries,” said head coach Richie Hall. “They’re tough because it is a short week. We’ll see where we’re at. We’ll get a better indication tomorrow.”
The Eskimos play the Stampeders on Thursday at Commonwealth Stadium, so they have a short week before a much-needed bye.
“We have two short modified practices,” said Hall. “Our biggest concern going into this week is no different from going into the (short) Montreal week. It’s getting our health and rest.”
If Lloyd can’t go, which is probable, Hall will likely turn to backup linebacker Rod Davis. Defensive back Bradley Robinson is also close to returning from injury to replace Williams.
“That’s where we have to go, that’s why they’re there. I’m not sure of Lenny’s situation. I know he didn’t finish the game and especially with it being a leg injury on a short week, that’s tough,” said Hall.
