Steve Milton: Simoni Lawrence out as Ticats enter crucial stretch
They needed to shake things up, but this is definitely not what they had in mind.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats, still looking for their first win, have to search for it without Simoni Lawrence, one of the most impactful players in team history.
The three-time runner-up for CFL defensive player of the year is on the six-game injury list after straining his groin making an interception during Thursday's practice and won't be in the lineup Saturday (5 p.m.) against the visiting Ottawa Redblacks, also winless in four.
In the seven-plus seasons since the Ticats moved into Tim Hortons Field, Lawrence has missed a total of only five games (plus two more to a 2019 suspension). The six-game list doesn't mean he will automatically be out for a half-dozen tilts, but it does indicate that his injury is of serious concern.
Lawrence is replaced by CFL sophomore Kyle Wilson, who has played all four games as the top backup linebacker, has shown speed and has been one of the rare sure tacklers in the opening month. It's the first time in two seasons that the linebacking trio of Lawrence, Jovan Santos-Knox and Kam Kelly will not start a game together.
If I can do my job and take some of the things I see him do on film, I'll be all right," said Wilson, who played five NFL games for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2018.
The Ticats, like all teams, are umbilically joined to the next-man-up mantra but have rarely had to test that faith at boundary-side linebacker. The longest-serving current Ticat, Lawrence has a refined understanding of the CFL and his glaringly obvious enthusiasm isn't limited to between the lines on game day; it's there, unadulterated, during practice, in the locker-room and out in the community.
Simoni is unique, he's done it for a long time and he's been in every type of scenario, the energy he brings is pretty much unmatched. Who fills it? We'll see," said head coach Orlondo Steinauer, adding that, We don't ask people to replace people, we ask them to bring themselves. Simoni is Simoni and we want Kyle to bring Kyle."
Hamilton has been inconsistent, especially on offence and particularly in the second halves of games, where they're being mercilessly outproduced.
Steinauer and his coaches always ignore the must-win descriptive for all games except the ones that can eliminate their team, but this one's on the cusp of must-win status.
Saturday's game against the rebuilding Redblacks - adjusting to an even bigger setback than Hamilton with quarterback Jeremiah Masoli undergoing knee surgery after an illegal hit by Saskatchewan's Garrett Marino - kicks off an eight-game stretch in which seven are against the CFL East so. Without a win, Hamilton and Ottawa are just a game behind Toronto and Montreal because the East has been shellacked in interlocking games.
We're playing an East opponent so that's always a must-win, whether we're 0-4, 4-0 or 2-2," said quarterback Dane Evans. It's our first crack at it, so we're ready to go."
Receiver Papi White is also on the six-game injury list, which affords a chance for six-foot-two, 220-pound receiver Anthony Johnson to get into his first CFL game. He's got good hands, the agility of a smaller player, and his broad catching radius will help Evans, particularly if he's been hurried by what is a strong Ottawa Front Four.
Evans said he's mentally refreshed after a bye week and Steinauer agreed that his team needed the bye to heal injuries.
What they didn't need, after the break, was the injury to Lawrence.
Simoni is definitely a spark for our team and a leader," says Hamilton receiver Steven Dunbar. We're going to miss him but Kyle has been making plays since he's been here. And I know Sim will be there rooting us on."
Steve Milton is a Hamilton-based sports columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: smilton@thespec.com