Sep
Tiger Cats passing the grade at mid point in season
Courtesy Hamilton Spectator:
Quarterbacks: C+
Quinton Porter was supposed to be The Man but he’s been dinged up and, even before that, he was inconsistent. Kevin Glenn has been solid and sometimes spectacular in a backup role. But they both must do a much better job cashing in from the red zone. Too many points are being left on the field right now.
Running Back: B
DeAndra’ Cobb has held things together so well in the absence of Terry Caulley and Kenton Keith he’s almost certainly stolen their job. If this grade was for games against B.C. alone, he’d be an A++. But he’s been somewhat less effective — as used far less — against everyone else.
Receivers: C
This is a unit with the potential to be an A or A+. However, until Arland Bruce arrived, it was a D-. Dave Stala has been solid. Chris Davis has been fearless but afflicted with the dropsies a little too often. Prechae Rodriguez hasn’t been the big play guy everyone expected. And Chris Bauman has been a flat-out disappointment.
Offensive Line: B
With the addition of Dan Goodspeed and Alex Gauthier, this was supposed to be the strength of the team. While the unit’s been pretty good in clearing paths for a 5.9-yards-per-rush average, it has given up 21 sacks, which is still too many. However, in recent weeks, it has shown signs of solidifying and the potential remains for it to be among the best in the league.
Defensive Line: B+
Despite some injuries that’s cut into the depth, this group is generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks. No, the sacks aren’t where everyone would like, but that may come with the return of the wounded players. Exceeding a complete lack of expectations gives them a higher grade than their offensive counterparts who have more tools.
Linebackers: A-
These guys are fast and have made the entire defence so much better. Jamall Johnson leads the league in tackles and right now would have to be in the mix for defensive player of the year. Things are going so well that Markeith Knowlton is having a spectacular season and he’s being overshadowed.
Secondary: B-
On the one hand, this group has been susceptible to big plays and doesn’t have the speed at safety you might want. However, the goal of a defensive squad is to keep the ball out of the end zone and they’ve done that with some proficiency. It’s a little scary how they go about it sometimes, but they’ve held their ground when they’ve had to.
Special Teams: B-
This is a tale of two entities. Generally, kickoff coverage has been solid and earns an A. Kick and punt returning remains weak and grabs a D. Saw it off in the middle and we’ll call it a B-.
Kicker: C+
Nick Setta can be the best kicker and has been the best kicker in the league. Whether he admits it or not, something is clearly wrong. On Labour Day, his usually booming punts were ordinary and he missed a 15-yard chip shot he never misses. When he’s right, he’s an A+. Right now, he’s not right.
Coaches: A
Head coach Marcel Bellefeuille has brought a sense of calm and direction to the franchise. Hiring Greg Marshall as defensive co- ordinator and assistant head coach was a stroke of genius. The most impressive work done so far has been the adjustments made at halftime that were sorely lacking in previous years.
