Aug
Ticat Notebook
Courtesy Hamilton Spectator:
Ticat Dylan Barker (pictured) vs. Edmonton’s Tristan Jackson
Jackson is second in the league in both punt return yards and kickoff returns and burned the Ticats for a 58-yarder when the teams met in Week 6. Second-year man Barker – he missed all of last season with a broken leg – leads the team in special teams tackles with 12, good enough for fourth in the CFL. Along with other kicking game stalwarts like Yannick Carter and Jordan Matechuk, Barker will have to help contain Jackson or risk setting up Edmonton pivot Ricky Ray with good field position – a recipe for disaster.
3 THINGS TO WATCH
1. Can the Cats get pressure on Ricky Ray?
With two starting defensive lineman on the shelf – both Garrett McIntyre and Darrell Adams will miss the game due to injury – the Ticats will need to get a pass rush from defensive end Khari Long who had two sacks before going down with injury. Or defensive co-ordinator Greg Marshall could opt to blitz his linebackers, something he did with success in the first game against Edmonton – hits on Ray led to turnovers in that game.
2. Air it out
The Edmonton defence allows the most passing yards per game at over 301, something the Cats weren’t able to take advantage of at rainy Ivor Wynne the last time these two teams met. But with Arland Bruce coming on – he’s led the team in catches the last two games – and good weather forecast the Ticats may be able to take to the skies – no matter who is at quarterback.
3. New faces, new places
The Cats will have two new starters on the defensive line, Long and Montez Murphy, a new wideout as Drisan James replaces Chris Davis, a new corner as Jykine Bradley replaces Lawrence Gordon and quite possibly a new QB as Kevin Glenn takes over for the injured Quinton Porter. How those new players perform in their expanded roles could have an effect on the outcome – and their status with the Ticats.
THE NUMBERS
28.6
Ticats percentage of first down conversions when facing second down and more than seven yards. The league average is 33.8 per cent.
3
Number of times the Ticats have fumbled this season, by far the least in the league – Calgary is second with 10.
-7
Percentage decline in scoring in the CFL this season compared to 2008.
THEY SAID IT
“Our focus is making sure that we do what we’re supposed to do. There are certain adjustments that you have because Glenn is a different-style quarterback than Porter. But the bottom line is, if we do what we need to do, then that gives us a chance to win the game.”
– Eskimos head coach Richie Hall on facing Kevin Glenn or Quinton Porter, to the Edmonton Sun
“He’s pretty relaxed in the huddle, focused on what he has to do. He really lets us handle the stuff up front and he deals with the receivers. He exudes confidence, which is nice in a quarterback.”
– Ticat tackle Dan Goodspeed on playing in front of Kevin Glenn
“Quinton has played well. We’ve won four games with Quinton starting – I can’t point any of the games we’ve lost and say he was the reason. He’s still our quarterback.”
– Ticat head coach Marcel Bellefeuille on Quinton Porter
