It?s only the third game of the season but it?s certainly an important one for Kevin Glenn and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The Ticats host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Friday night (TSN, 7 p.m.). It will be the second meeting of the year between the two clubs as the Bombers earned a 49-29 home win in the season opener July 2.
But more important than redemption for Hamilton is simply getting a win.
The Ticats, who finished second in the East Division last season with a 9-9 record, have dropped their opening two games of the 2010 campaign. Although it?s still very early, Hamilton doesn?t want to find itself falling too far behind its rivals.
?You don?t say it, but it?s one of those must-win games,? Glenn said. ?We need to get this win.?
Winnipeg dominated the season-opening game, rolling up 502 total offensive yards compared to 290 for Hamilton. Quarterback Buck Pierce, in his first start for the Bombers, finished 17-of-25 passing for 291 yards with two TD strikes and also ran six times for 89 yards, including a 13-yard TD.
The Bombers? defence also did its part, registering seven sacks, including three by defensive end Phillip Hunt. Hamilton offensive lineman Simeon Rottier had his challenges in that game and said falling behind only compounded matters for the Ticats.
?It (opening week) wasn?t exactly how I wanted it to go but we got behind early and they were bringing the pass rush,? Rottier said.
Ticats head coach Marcel Bellefeuille isn?t expecting the Bombers to change their gameplan much Friday night.
?I expect to see the same thing from them, they?re a good football team,? he said. ?They?ve been fairly consistent over the last two weeks, they?re well coached and they?re going to come out and play well.?
A highlight for Hamilton in the first meeting was backup running back Marcus Thigpen. He returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a TD before returning a missed field goal try 118 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth.
Thigpen has scored a CFL-high four touchdowns, including three on special teams (punt return, kickoff return, missed field goal).
?He?s very consistent, that?s the most exciting thing about him,? Bellefeuille said. ?Every practice, every week he practises the way he plays.
?There?s no difference between the speed he plays at, from practice to game day.?
Like Hamilton, Winnipeg is coming off a loss last week. The Bombers dropped a 36-34 home decision to the Toronto Argonauts, an outcome that tarnished a stellar performance by Pierce.
Pierce was named the CFL?s offensive player of the week after passing for 366 yards and three TDs and running for a career-high 103 yards.
Pierce, in his first season with the Bombers after five years with the B.C. Lions, has certainly taken control of the club?s offence with his steady play. Entering action this week, he has completed a CFL-high 70 per cent of his passes and is second in passing yards (657) and touchdown passes (five) while having surrendered just one interception.
Bellefeuille said the Ticats must limit Pierce from scrambling.
?The only way to slow him down is to keep him in the pocket,? he said. ?He does a great job of creating with his legs and running the football when he escapes.
?You have to make him sit in the pocket and make plays from the pocket.?
Terrence Edwards was Pierce?s favourite receiver in the season opener with five catches for 191 yards and two TDs. But in last week?s contest versus Toronto that honour went to Terence Jeffers-Harris, who had seven receptions for 152 yards and two touchdowns while tailback Fred Reid ran for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Entering action this week, Edwards was tied with B.C.?s Geroy Simon for second spot among CFL receivers with both players having 228 yards.
Glenn has been solid for Hamilton, completing 41-of-64 passes (64.1 per cent) for 553 yards with two TDs and an interception. But a concern has been Hamilton?s running attack, which ranks last in the CFL averaging just 71 yards per game.
Tailback DeAndra? Cobb, who ran for 1,217 yards and averaged 5.6 yards per carry as a rookie last year, has a team-high 59 yards rushing on 20 carries (3.0-yard average) this season. His longest run thus far has been for just eight yards.
The Ticats host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Friday night (TSN, 7 p.m.). It will be the second meeting of the year between the two clubs as the Bombers earned a 49-29 home win in the season opener July 2.
But more important than redemption for Hamilton is simply getting a win.
The Ticats, who finished second in the East Division last season with a 9-9 record, have dropped their opening two games of the 2010 campaign. Although it?s still very early, Hamilton doesn?t want to find itself falling too far behind its rivals.
?You don?t say it, but it?s one of those must-win games,? Glenn said. ?We need to get this win.?
Winnipeg dominated the season-opening game, rolling up 502 total offensive yards compared to 290 for Hamilton. Quarterback Buck Pierce, in his first start for the Bombers, finished 17-of-25 passing for 291 yards with two TD strikes and also ran six times for 89 yards, including a 13-yard TD.
The Bombers? defence also did its part, registering seven sacks, including three by defensive end Phillip Hunt. Hamilton offensive lineman Simeon Rottier had his challenges in that game and said falling behind only compounded matters for the Ticats.
?It (opening week) wasn?t exactly how I wanted it to go but we got behind early and they were bringing the pass rush,? Rottier said.
Ticats head coach Marcel Bellefeuille isn?t expecting the Bombers to change their gameplan much Friday night.
?I expect to see the same thing from them, they?re a good football team,? he said. ?They?ve been fairly consistent over the last two weeks, they?re well coached and they?re going to come out and play well.?
A highlight for Hamilton in the first meeting was backup running back Marcus Thigpen. He returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a TD before returning a missed field goal try 118 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth.
Thigpen has scored a CFL-high four touchdowns, including three on special teams (punt return, kickoff return, missed field goal).
?He?s very consistent, that?s the most exciting thing about him,? Bellefeuille said. ?Every practice, every week he practises the way he plays.
?There?s no difference between the speed he plays at, from practice to game day.?
Like Hamilton, Winnipeg is coming off a loss last week. The Bombers dropped a 36-34 home decision to the Toronto Argonauts, an outcome that tarnished a stellar performance by Pierce.
Pierce was named the CFL?s offensive player of the week after passing for 366 yards and three TDs and running for a career-high 103 yards.
Pierce, in his first season with the Bombers after five years with the B.C. Lions, has certainly taken control of the club?s offence with his steady play. Entering action this week, he has completed a CFL-high 70 per cent of his passes and is second in passing yards (657) and touchdown passes (five) while having surrendered just one interception.
Bellefeuille said the Ticats must limit Pierce from scrambling.
?The only way to slow him down is to keep him in the pocket,? he said. ?He does a great job of creating with his legs and running the football when he escapes.
?You have to make him sit in the pocket and make plays from the pocket.?
Terrence Edwards was Pierce?s favourite receiver in the season opener with five catches for 191 yards and two TDs. But in last week?s contest versus Toronto that honour went to Terence Jeffers-Harris, who had seven receptions for 152 yards and two touchdowns while tailback Fred Reid ran for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Entering action this week, Edwards was tied with B.C.?s Geroy Simon for second spot among CFL receivers with both players having 228 yards.
Glenn has been solid for Hamilton, completing 41-of-64 passes (64.1 per cent) for 553 yards with two TDs and an interception. But a concern has been Hamilton?s running attack, which ranks last in the CFL averaging just 71 yards per game.
Tailback DeAndra? Cobb, who ran for 1,217 yards and averaged 5.6 yards per carry as a rookie last year, has a team-high 59 yards rushing on 20 carries (3.0-yard average) this season. His longest run thus far has been for just eight yards.
