Steve Milton: Short turnaround time for 0-2 Ticats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are heading into this week's home opener still winless because they are not getting enough offence. And usually in the CFL, and specifically in this case, that comes down to quarterbacking.
It's more complicated - but not a lot more - than that. Among other things, costly penalties and even more costly injuries have played big roles in the Ticats beginning the schedule with two straight losses for, oh, just the third straight season and 12th time in 18 years.
But penalties and injuries aside, you don't win professional football games with just 158 yards in completions, no passing touchdowns and two ill-advised interceptions in the end zone. That was starting quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell's stat line before he limped off the field with an injured left leg with nine minutes to go in the Ticats' well-deserved 32-14 loss to the Argonauts in Toronto Sunday night.
And the tired Ticats have almost no time to correct their problems as the Montreal Alouettes, 1-0 and coming off 13 days rest, arrive at Tim Hortons Field Friday night.
After the loss to Toronto, which widened a wound the Argos had earlier rubbed salt into by celebrating their Grey Cup championship prior to kickoff, head coach Orlondo Steinauer had no updates on Mitchell's potential for playing against Montreal. His departure sent ripples of apprehension through Ticat Nation.
Matt Shiltz was 13-for-14 in his relief appearance for 115 yards and a touchdown pass (on a beautiful catch by Hamilton native Tyler Ternowski), but the game was long over before that drive. Does he start Friday? No one knows yet.
In Week 1, the Ticats fell behind the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 29-4 before making a semi-comeback to make the score respectable, and were down 29-6 in Toronto before Shiltz led his long drive. But at that rate of improvement, it'd be sometime in September before the Cats find themselves with a late-game lead.
Despite a determined 5-1 finish to make the playoffs last year, the Ticats never fully recovered from early losses in which their quarterback (Dane Evans) turn the ball over repeatedly.
This season, Mitchell has thrown two interceptions in each of the first two games. In Sunday's first quarter, he underthrew a ball he was trying to lob for a deliberate incompletion and it was nicely snagged by the Argos' Qwan'Tez Stiggers. In the second quarter, he tossed into heavy Toronto end zone traffic and DaShaun Amos easily picked it. Both interceptions came after good drives, and points from either might have changed the game's complexion from its eventual acne breakout.
Football is not a difficult game; when we have opportunities to score we have to score," Steinauer said. When it's second and long (on defence) we have to get off the field and obviously in the first half we took some penalties that were repeated."
Argo quarterback Chad Kelly rushed for three short first-half touchdowns but two of them came after Ticat penalties extended drives. On one, the defence had held the Argos but Mason Bennett took, and Chris Edwards - who otherwise had a very strong game - later roughed the passer. On another, the Argos were about to settle for a field goal but Mo Diallo took two penalties, leading directly to a touchdown.
Arguably, 11 points on preventable penalties. The Ticats deliberately got tougher this year and if they're going to win, they're going to win angry. But it has to be angry smart. Currently, there's too much angry foolish.
The Ticats are undermining themselves with penalties, and by not picking each other up. After each interception, the defence, abetted by penalties, surrendered a long touchdown drive rather than giving the offence a chance to get back on the field for immediate redemption. Some solid runbacks by returner Lio'Undre Gallimore and seam-finding receptions by Duke Williams eventually went wasted. Special teams were excellent on coverage but the field position did not result in points.
As Steinauer, Edwards, last year's leading receiver Tim White and others said afterward, it's still early. But every week it gets less early, and there are already recurring themes.
One of those is the injury toll. Returner and starting field cornerback Lawrence Woods was put on the six-game injury list with an undisclosed injury over the weekend but Steinauer thinks he'll be back earlier.
Right guard Coulter Woodmansey was hurt a few minutes into the game and replaced by rookie Dayton Black on a line already missing the two right tackles they used in Game 1. To bolster protection the Ticats had to go with blocking fullbacks and tight ends more often than they would have liked. Some special teams players were nicked during the game, forcing starters into extra work.
And Seth Small has left the team. The accurate kicker, who reported to the team last week after missing training camp to be with his wife and new baby, has returned to Texas and was suspended. Marc Liegghio, the former Western Mustang and Winnipeg Blue Bomber, was signed and in uniform Sunday.
Last year, the Ticats had trouble finishing. This year, they're having trouble starting and that's worrisome.
I would just say we need to come out earlier with the will to win," said White. We're not giving ourselves a chance to win the game. Everything needs to be on the line, we can't wait until we're down to decide to catch up. We need to decide that at the beginning of the game."
We just have to be better, be more disciplined and execute," added Edwards, who had five tackles and the Ticats' only sack. Things we talk about every day and do in practice, we have to bring them in games."
The question is, why aren't they bringing them? There's not much time to answer - or repair - that problem before the Alouettes arrive on Friday night.
Notes: Duke Williams had six Ticat catches for 102 yards ... Tim White had only one reception in the first half but caught five passes for 41 yards. RB James Butler had 114 yards from scrimmage, 57 apiece rushing and pass receiving ... Safety Tunde Adeleke was solid with six defensive tackles ... Sophomore Ticat Brandon Kemp was at right tackle ... Chad Kelly went 14-for-23 for 213 yards, no TD passes and no picks ... Damonte Coxie torched the Ticats for six catches and 131 yards.
Steve Milton is a Hamilton-based sports columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: smilton@thespec.com