It's up to Cats' reconfigured front four to pressure and unsettle Eskies pivot
Mayday! Mayday! It's a possible Ricky Ray field day.
It could be that and much more if the reconfigured Hamilton Tiger-Cat front four can't make the superlative Edmonton Eskimo passer pay for overstaying his welcome in the pass pocket tonight.
Game time at Ivor Wynne Stadium is 7. TSN has the broadcast, but a local blackout is in effect.
It's just Week 5 in the Canadian Football League and the 1-3 Ticats will be showcasing their second new front four look in consecutive weeks as consistent pass pressure continues to be a major concern.
They have already released defensive linemen Marcus Lewis and Charlton Keith, both of whom made the cut out of training camp, as the coaching staff continues to hunt for an effective combination.
Kori Dickerson, Clinton Wayne, Terrence Patrick and Dominic Lewis will start in a bid to shut down one of the league's most proficient passers. Nautyn McKay-Loescher, Jermaine Reid and Cornelius Anthony will rotate in.
Head coach Charlie Taaffe admitted yesterday the front four has become the club's sore spot. The reality could be that they may have to wait for the National Football League cuts at the end of August to find some relief.
"I don't want it to come across that we're giving up on these guys because that's not what the intent is. We're trying to find some combinations. Obviously, it is an area of concern. We haven't got as much production as we feel we need to," he said.
Taaffe noted the club has been together for two months now. Still the front four, which has featured Darrell Adams (leg injury), McKay-Loescher (slow start), Reid and will include newcomer Anthony tonight, remains a work in progress.
Adams in expected back for the Montreal tilt Thursday.
"That's probably been the most unstable area to this point in the season in terms of looking for the best combination of guys," Taaffe added.
He also noted the team is in the middle of the pack with seven sacks. But Hamilton is tied for a league-low two interceptions and is surrendering the fourth-most passing yards, two indications that opposition passers are remaining too cool, too calm, and too collected in their work space.
The sophomore head coach said to help out the front four, the Tiger-Cats will send five, six and even seven rushers after Ray.
"In a perfect world, you would like to be able to rush three on him and drop nine in coverage. But the bottom line is, you need some blitz packages. We'll bring five at times, we'll bring six at times and maybe seven. We'll do what we have to do. We have to find some answers to get some pressure.
"We have to continue to search for ways to make him not as comfortable as he would like to be back there. So tell him (Ray) to get ready for it all," Taaffe quipped.
* * *
The Tiger-Cats will miss their leading receiver tonight. Tony Miles has a hamstring problem and won't play. Veteran Jo-Jo Walker will take his spot, his first start of the season.
Auburn rookie Prechae Rodriguez will get his second straight start at wideout. Taaffe likes his receivers from a physical standpoint.
* * *
The Edmonton media quizzed Taaffe about the impact of tailback Jesse Lumsden, who is expected to start tonight.
Taaffe twice used the expression "Hometown hero" to describe Lumsden, who stands third in league rushing with 361 yards.
Taaffe said the homebrew features speed, the power to run over people, can deke, pass block and catch passes.
Mayday! Mayday! It's a possible Ricky Ray field day.
It could be that and much more if the reconfigured Hamilton Tiger-Cat front four can't make the superlative Edmonton Eskimo passer pay for overstaying his welcome in the pass pocket tonight.
Game time at Ivor Wynne Stadium is 7. TSN has the broadcast, but a local blackout is in effect.
It's just Week 5 in the Canadian Football League and the 1-3 Ticats will be showcasing their second new front four look in consecutive weeks as consistent pass pressure continues to be a major concern.
They have already released defensive linemen Marcus Lewis and Charlton Keith, both of whom made the cut out of training camp, as the coaching staff continues to hunt for an effective combination.
Kori Dickerson, Clinton Wayne, Terrence Patrick and Dominic Lewis will start in a bid to shut down one of the league's most proficient passers. Nautyn McKay-Loescher, Jermaine Reid and Cornelius Anthony will rotate in.
Head coach Charlie Taaffe admitted yesterday the front four has become the club's sore spot. The reality could be that they may have to wait for the National Football League cuts at the end of August to find some relief.
"I don't want it to come across that we're giving up on these guys because that's not what the intent is. We're trying to find some combinations. Obviously, it is an area of concern. We haven't got as much production as we feel we need to," he said.
Taaffe noted the club has been together for two months now. Still the front four, which has featured Darrell Adams (leg injury), McKay-Loescher (slow start), Reid and will include newcomer Anthony tonight, remains a work in progress.
Adams in expected back for the Montreal tilt Thursday.
"That's probably been the most unstable area to this point in the season in terms of looking for the best combination of guys," Taaffe added.
He also noted the team is in the middle of the pack with seven sacks. But Hamilton is tied for a league-low two interceptions and is surrendering the fourth-most passing yards, two indications that opposition passers are remaining too cool, too calm, and too collected in their work space.
The sophomore head coach said to help out the front four, the Tiger-Cats will send five, six and even seven rushers after Ray.
"In a perfect world, you would like to be able to rush three on him and drop nine in coverage. But the bottom line is, you need some blitz packages. We'll bring five at times, we'll bring six at times and maybe seven. We'll do what we have to do. We have to find some answers to get some pressure.
"We have to continue to search for ways to make him not as comfortable as he would like to be back there. So tell him (Ray) to get ready for it all," Taaffe quipped.
* * *
The Tiger-Cats will miss their leading receiver tonight. Tony Miles has a hamstring problem and won't play. Veteran Jo-Jo Walker will take his spot, his first start of the season.
Auburn rookie Prechae Rodriguez will get his second straight start at wideout. Taaffe likes his receivers from a physical standpoint.
* * *
The Edmonton media quizzed Taaffe about the impact of tailback Jesse Lumsden, who is expected to start tonight.
Taaffe twice used the expression "Hometown hero" to describe Lumsden, who stands third in league rushing with 361 yards.
Taaffe said the homebrew features speed, the power to run over people, can deke, pass block and catch passes.
