Steve Milton: Ticats need wins, especially this one
Game 11
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-7)
at Toronto Argonauts (4-5)
Friday, Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m.
BMO Field, Toronto
The storyline:
As if there weren't already enough stress on southern Ontario's medical system, here come the Argonauts and Tiger-Cats with a combined total of 26 - count 'em, 26 - players on the six-game injury list ...
Both teams are coming off hard-to-digest losses: Hamilton 29-28 to Montreal on a last-second field goal which dropped them out of a playoff spot for now; and Toronto 22-19 to Calgary in a game that was theirs to win before their offence went completely dry ...
Despite 13 of the last 20 CFL games being won by the visiting team, Hamilton has yet to win on the road. And other than a victory over Toronto two weeks ago, have not won" a fourth quarter this season. In their seven losses they've scored 64 points fewer in the fourth quarter than their opponents have ...
After missing a game with a throwing shoulder injury and being dressed but not really available last week, Dane Evans returns to pilot the Ticat offence but expect Matt Shiltz, who was solid in his two starts, to see some time, especially to add some vigour and unpredictability to the running game ... Neither team is a rushing juggernaut and the Argos' future Hall of Famer Andrew Harris is done for the season.
The Ticats are committed to getting the ball to playmakers like Don Jackson, Tim White and Steven Dunbar in creative ways but, simply put, need to make more plays in the final quarter, particularly by the defence which has otherwise been a strong point ...
Some of the more vehement Ticat Nation types are calling for Orlondo Steinauer's firing but he didn't forget how to coach in the first nine games after making the Grey Cup in successive seasons. Still, it's up to the coaching staff, with the buck stopping at Steinauer, to get the fourth-quarter messes turned around. It's been too much of a broken record ...
The Ticats and Argos rank 2-3 in the league in passing yards but both teams lose a lot of fumbles and have dropped way too many catchable balls ...
Hamilton needs to exert pressure on McLeod Bethel-Thompson and force him into the hurried throws which can lead to poor decisions on his part, and that means getting to him for 60 minutes, not just the first 45 ...
Friday's game and the Labour Day Classic are slightly more critical to the Ticats than to the Argos, because they are a game back of Toronto, and the Argos have one in hand. After Labour Day there are only six games left for the Cats, none against Toronto and only one against Montreal, so even with a split against the Argos their fate would not be completely in their own hands.
Key Hamilton roster notes
Dane Evans starts at QB, with Matt Shiltz and Jalen Morton in reserve. QB Jamie Newman is on injured list ... Receiver/returner Papi White comes off six-game injury to start ... CFL-leading returner Lawrence Woods (knee) is injured, DB Alden Darby Jr. is also out with injury ... FB/TE Jake Burt (knee) is on the six-game injury list ... CB Jumal Rolle returns to lineup ... newly-signed Rodney Randle Jr. starts at CB ... C Alex Fontana is on six-game injured list, RG Coulter Woodmansey moves to C, Kyle Saxelid starts at RG ... LB Simoni Lawrence (knee) and CB Ciante Evans (hand) remain on six-game injury.
Key Toronto roster notes
Former Ticat DE Ja'Gared Davis (six-game,) is only defensive Argo starter from game vs. Calgary game not playing ... RB Andrew Harris (torn pectoral muscle) is out for season and AJ Oullette starts again at RB as starting offence remains intact from last week ... Argos have 15 players on six-game injured list including WRs Eric Rogers and Cam Phillips and DB Shaq Richardson.
They said it
I think they'll have some adjustments and I'm sure we'll have some. We know them, they know us, it'll come down this week and next week to who executes better." - Ticat QB Dane Evans on another back-to-back against the Argos, making four games in five weeks against Toronto.
They have good vets (in the secondary) I can learn from. They're teaching me everything about the defence. Having those guys I'll be fine. I had a dream I had black and gold on, the day before I got released. And now I'm here." - Ticats' CB Rodney Randle Jr., who starts against Toronto after being signed by the Ticats on Tuesday, to Ticats.ca after Montreal cut him after parts of two seasons (19 games) with the Als.
Chad, like most rookies, isn't quite there yet. But he has taken positive steps. Mac gives us our best chance and we'll continue to give him that opportunity." - Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie to the Toronto Sun's Frank Zicarelli on starting quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson and backup Chad Kelly (former Buffalo Bill Jim Kelly's nephew) who may see some playing time.
We just played a great team in Calgary and took them to the wire. We've just got to finish. It's just details we have to really hone in on. It's not like a pressure situation thing, but everyone wants to win and we feel like we need to win right now." - Argo receiver DaVaris Daniels to Zicarelli about last week's late 22-19 loss to Calgary and this home-and-home with the Ticats.
He just makes the game easier. You talk about a guy who can eat up double teams like it's nothing. He's still one of the most powerful interiors in the game. When he hits, guys go backwards. - Ticat Micah Johnson on fellow DT Ted Laurent, who has played very well lately and recorded his first two 2022 sacks in the last three games.
Tell him to bring his inhaler. Be ready to go. He's battled injury bug and he's healthy now and we're excited to watch him play." - Orlondo Steinauer on return to the lineup after six games by Papi White who will play receiver and also return some, if not all, of the punts and kicks.
The Numbers Game
1 Fumble recovered this year by Hamilton.
1 CFL rank (11th overall) of Argos Kurleigh Gittens Jr. among Canadian receivers in receptions and yardage.
2 Ticats have been named among the CFL's three players of the week this season. Dane Evans in week 3 and Tim White for his 145 reception yards and two TDs vs. Montreal last week.
4 Interceptions by Ticats LB Kam Kelly, to lead the CFL.
7 The number of times, including this game, the Argos and Ticats have faced each other in within the calendar year. It's nine counting the 2021 East Final and a 2022 pre-season game.
11 Pass knock-downs by now-injured Ticat DB Ciante Evans to lead the league by 3.
16 Sacks made by the Argos, fewest in the league.
-16 Turnover ratio for the Ticats. No one else in the CFL is worse than -6.
35 Two-and-outs for the Toronto offence, fewest in the league. Hamilton is second-last with 56.
53 Two-and-outs forced by the Ticats defence, two short of league-leading Saskatchewan.
60 Defensive tackles by Hamilton LB Jovan Santos-Knox, tied for the CFL league.
65 Total Tackles by Argonaut LB Wynton McManis, most the in the CFL.
100 Ticats points scored in the last three games, an average of 33.3. The first seven games, they averaged 20.1 points per game.
TV: TSN, ESPN+
Audio: Listen.ticats.ca and the Ticats all-access app, Plus simulcast on 900 CHML, 1460 in Guelph, 570 in Kitchener and 'Sauga 960.
Steve Milton is a Hamilton-based sports columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: smilton@thespec.com