Preseason Sport Week #1
Visiting Crew: Toronto Argonauts
Home Crew: Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Location: Tim Hortons Area, Hamilton, Ontario
Date and Time: Saturday, Could twenty seventh at 4:00 pm EST
The place to Watch: CFL+ Preseason Live on CFL.ca
Anticipated Climate: Clear and Sunny
After an extended low season and a aggressive coaching camp, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will renew their rivalry with the Toronto Argonauts through the first pre-season recreation for each groups. The Tiger-Cats spent the low season rebuilding their roster to place themselves ready to win the Gray Cup at Tim Hortons Area on the finish of the 2023 season. The Argonauts come into 2023 with a equally rebuilt roster after profitable the Gray Cup championship through the 2022 season.
The Tiger-Cats are coming into this pre-season recreation to guage each participant on their roster in a game-day atmosphere. Earlier this week, head coach Orlondo Steinauer talked about how a lot the veteran gamers will play. “Veteran playing time will vary; some will see a few or no plays, others will see more, and some will see a whole quarter.” He additionally talked about that Bo Levi Mitchell may see only some or no performs on this first pre-season recreation.
So, in a recreation atmosphere during which the Tiger-Cats will probably be evaluating how effectively veteran and younger gamers are creating as a workforce, what can followers anticipate throughout this pre-season recreation?
This recreation will enable everybody associated to the Tiger-Cats, together with coaches and followers, to see how effectively the gamers are coming collectively to build a championship-level workforce. Many of those gamers combating for a spot on the lively roster may very well be key playmakers at any level within the season. To win a Gray Cup, the Tiger-Cats will need to have continuity with their scheme and gamers and maintain gamers off the harm report or have solutions when accidents happen. Steinauer talked about, “We are in an evaluation stage and want to stay as healthy as possible.” It is usually essential for the Tiger-Cats to have sufficient depth to provide them solutions to the harm issues that come up throughout a CFL season.
Wanting on the Tiger-Cats depth chart, the competitors will probably be towards the Argonauts and a person battle regarding every participant’s place on the roster and depth chart.
Expectations on Offence
The Tiger-Cats have overhauled their offensive personnel after their disappointing 2022 efficiency. In 2022, the quarterback place was a goal for criticism, with the offense turning the ball over frequently. As well as, the offensive line has additionally been a closely criticized place group in the previous couple of seasons.
Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was probably the most crucial free-agent acquisition for the Tiger-Cats this low season. Nonetheless, all indications are that he’ll play a number of performs, or probably a number of sequence, on this first preseason recreation. In order that leaves the door open for Matt Shiltz and not too long ago signed Taylor Powell to run the offense.
Hamilton’s broad receiving unit has been one of the thrilling teams on offense throughout coaching camp. Duke Williams, Tim White, Justin McGriff, and lots of extra have placed on a present throughout follow making key catches, particularly on 50-50 balls. In a post-practice interview, broad receiver Kiondre Smith talked about, “This is a group of freaky athletes; it is fun to watch everyone come out and enjoy themselves.”
One other important upgrade to the Tiger-Cat’s offense is the addition of a number of new working backs, together with James Butler from the BC Lions, and a number of other new offensive linemen, Joel Figueroa, additionally from the BC Lions. Earlier this week, Figueroa talked in regards to the Tiger-Cats’ offensive line: “The guys are smart, they have been here for a long time, and they are a bunch of veterans.” Upgrading the offensive line and working again place ought to enable offensive coordinator Tommy Condell to have extra stability for the Hamilton offense.
Expectations for Defence
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats protection has not too long ago been among the best defensive items within the CFL. Nonetheless, a actuality of the CFL is that the roster will change yearly. With that change, the Hamilton protection has an atmosphere of competitors inside the defensive place teams. They’ve been competing in follow, however the subsequent step is to play effectively in a recreation; Steinauer stated, “Practice of one thing, but you need to be able to make plays in a game.” Defensive coordinator Mark Washington additionally stated, “We have a bunch of young guys ready to play for the honor to be Ti-Cats.”
The Tiger-Cat’s defensive position mixes veteran management and younger gamers trying to make an impression. Former Toronto Argonaut Ja’Gared Davis won’t gown for this recreation. The lively defensive lineman might want to come and show that they will play at a CFL stage and assist the Hamilton protection cease the run recreation and stress opposing quarterbacks.
When the Tiger-Cats picked up linebackers Jameer Thurman and Chris Edwards through the free company interval, the expectation for this place group raised the ceiling for the expectations of this group. Thurman and Edwards will be part of iconic Tiger-Cats linebacker Simoni Lawrence on the depth chart. Steinauer talked about earlier this week that a number of younger gamers would be capable to compete on the sector for his or her spots on the roster. The Hamilton linebacking unit is probably going one of the best within the CFL.
Hamilton’s defensive backfield comes into the 2023 season with a number of new faces and query marks. Through the low season, the Tiger-Cats allowed a few of their veteran defensive backs to maneuver onto different alternatives within the CFL. That opens the door for a number of new gamers to step up and carve out a job within the Tiger-Cat’s defensive secondary. Lawrence Woods III is one participant trying to make the most of that chance. In a post-practice interview, Woods III stated, “We have been getting better and better, and we are looking to put it all together on game day.”
Expectations on Particular Groups
When the Tiger-Cats introduced that particular groups coordinator Jeff Reinebold can be returning to the Tiger-Cats, the expectations elevated for these particular groups items. Linebacker and particular groups Bailey Feltmate talked about, “Our special teams unit is going to dominate like they always do.” Many younger gamers should contribute to the Hamilton particular groups within the preseason and all season.
The specialists for the Tiger-Cats have seen a lot of adjustments. So the positional battle at kicker and punter must be attention-grabbing, with no clear frontrunner. Kicker Seth Small had been suspended through the preseason and is now not on the roster. Kick and punt returner Lawrence Woods III and lengthy snapper Gordon Whyte to return to the Tiger-Cats for an additional season.
Comply with me on Twitter: @AaronSauter7
