CFL.ca staff
Hamilton – The Montreal Alouettes will try to be the first team to win a game at Tim Hortons Field since its opening on Thursday Night Football at 7:30 pm on TSN, TSN 690 and ESPN 2.
Many were surprised earlier in the week when the news broke of the coaching change in Montreal. Out was Tom Higgins, who leaves the team still very much in the playoff picture, and in was Jim Popp, the general manager who felt the roster had been underachieving.
The Alouettes are coming off a rare win on the west coast. Their victory over the Lions at BC Place was the first in that stadium since 2000 and could serve as the spark the team needed to keep putting together complete performances.
It also showed just how easy streaks can be snapped.
The CFL world is well aware of the Ticats’ undefeated record since moving into Tim Hortons Field. But just as the Als won at BC Place, the group feels that they are the ones who could end Hamilton’s dominance at home.
“We’ve played there twice, some pretty tight games but we didn’t win,” said Popp, who holds a 16-20 career record as head coach. “And we’ve got to take those experiences and use them, just like our experience of going out West and winning where we haven’t won in a while. They’re beatable, someone’s going to beat them at home, why can’t it be us? We’ll go down there with that mindset and hopefully play a good football game.”
⇒ 24 HOURS BEFORE THE GAME: RAKEEM CATO
There is no guaranteed recipe for success on the field but Ticats head coach Kent Austin believes that the familiarity and comfort level the team has at home makes them less tense when preparing to host an opponent.
“Obviously there’s familiarity with the environment, being at home, the locker room, the weight room, the meeting rooms, where we eat, those types of things are consistent.”
The Alouettes will be quick to remind you that they beat the Ticats in Week 4. While Hamilton hasn’t been defeated since that game, Brandon Rutley knows that it is up to Montreal to match the tone that is usually set by Hamilton. After all, the Ticats have outscored opponents 63-3 in the first quarter over the last four games.
“I just think going out there and matching the intensity. They play fast, they play hard and we have to do the same thing,” said Rutley, who will be the lead back with Tyrell Sutton sidelined. “We have to go out there and smack them in the mouth and that’s how it has to be. We have to be physical and execute our assignments and I think we’ll be okay.”
Both Rutley and Popp are aware of the offensive challenges that await a team when going up against the league’s top rush defence. It will be on Rutley’s shoulders to carry whatever workload will be given to him on the ground even though the team appears to be leaning towards a more aerial attack.
“It’s a big challenge. Last time we played them at home we did beat them, but we couldn’t run the ball. It was a very close game and we’re going to have to be able throw the ball, it’s that simple,” said Popp. “We can’t depend on having the run game that we had last week where you gain 200-and-something yards, the odds are that’s not going to happen against this team.”
If the Ticats needed any extra motivation for a victory it should come on the night that the team is set to honour a franchise legend. Angelo Mosca, one of the greatest defensive tackles in CFL history, will have his number 68 jersey retired by the team, one he led to four Grey Cups.
It is an honour that is not passing lightly on the current roster.
“I think having a tie to the past and understanding what it means to our fans and the value to the franchise also gives you something to aspire to as a player and an organization to reach that level of greatness,” said Austin.
The matchup between East opponents will be crucial for placement in the standings. With every team still having a shot at the playoffs and it still early enough in the season, every victory counts, but those against divisional rivals matter just that much more.
Austin isn’t putting too much stock into Hamilton’s East-leading 6-2 record and is simply focused on the task at hand each week.
“Record doesn’t mean anything from week-to-week. Everybody knows that. Our record is meaningless going into this game. What matters is are we a better football team than we were the week before and can we show that in the quality of play once we take the field.”
While Zach Collaros holds a 17-6 record against the rest of the CFL, the Alouettes are the only team in which he does not have a .500 or better mark against. He is 2-4 through six contests.
Defensive end John Bowman is slated to return to the Als’ lineup following a two-game absence. He still leads the team in sacks despite missing those games.
⇒ 24 HOURS BEFORE THE GAME: JOHN BOWMAN
“I’ve gotta keep showing them why they brought me here out of camp, 10 years ago, why I’m here,” said Bowman. “I’ve got to show everyone why I’m a good player in this league and how I can contribute to wins and be a good team player in the process.”
For the second week in a row, it appears that history is against an Alouettes victory. Can they snap another daunting streak or will the Ticats continue their winning ways?
Milestones:
- Rakeem Cato’s first win was against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
- The Als limited BC to just 217 net yards.
- Cato & Marsh had extraordinary games at BC completing 19-of-22 passes for a TD and 154 yards.
- Montreal ran the ball 39 times against BC gaining 251 yards in 23-13 win. It was the most rushing attempts by Montreal since Jul 12/01 vs Calgary.
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Boris Bede is on pace to set a new CFL record for FG% by any player let alone a first-year player. He is just ahead of the record set by Rene Paredes in 2013 at 94.7%.
⇒ TAKE A LOOK AT AUGUST 24TH PRACTICE RECAP
⇒ TAKE A LOOK AT AUGUST 25TH PRACTICE RECAP
