MONCTON When the Hamilton Tiger-Cats were upset by Toronto in the East Division semifinal last November, head coach Marcel Bellefeuille promised there would be change, and by the start of this season, both coordinators had been replaced and the roster had undergone a significant overhaul.
After two straight ugly losses, he's at it again.
The team has made a number of lineup changes ahead of Sunday's game against the Calgary Stampeders on both sides of the football. There will be different looks at running back, receiver, defensive line and in the beleaguered secondary.
?After two losses, you have to look hard at what you're doing,? Bellefeuille said after his team practised in Moncton, New Brunswick, for the first time on Friday. ?As a coaching staff, that's our responsibility.?
Marcus Thigpen, used primarily as a kick returner this season, moves into the starting line up as a wide receiver in place of Aaron Kelly, while running back Terry Grant looks set to see his first CFL regular season action ? though Avon Cobourne remains the primary tailback.
With the team having scored just a single touchdown the last two weeks, Bellefeuille said Thigpen and Grant should give quarterback Kevin Glenn some additional firepower to work with.
?We want to put more speed on the field to give ourselves the opportunity to have big play potential,? Bellefeuille said.
?We've got to get more explosion, whether in the run game or in the passing game.?
Thigpen has just nine catches for 86 yards this season, but says he's learned the playbook for every position because of his role as the mid-game injury replacement.
?I was a slot receiver in college, so this is nothing new, I'm just getting back to it. It's part of my repertoire,? he said. ?My time is here and I'm going to make the most of it.?
The Cats are making changes on defence, with defensive backs Marcell Young and Bo Smith switching positions ? Young to halfback, Smith to corner ? while Darius Powell will be part of a rotation at defensive end. Canadians Matt Kirk and Luc Mullinder are expected to see more time at defensive tackle.
?We've had some challenges in our run defence but they are things that are correctable,? Bellefeuille said.
?We've gotten out our gaps and pressed too hard to make a play. We'll play better this weekend,? the head coach said.
The team will also be looking to make some big plays on defence. They have generated just 15 turnovers this season, which puts them seventh in the league in that vital category.
?We have to get some takeaways ? we haven't had one in two weeks ? to set our offence up with a short field.?
But Hamilton isn't the only team making changes. The Stamps look set to replace eight-year veteran Joffrey Reynolds at tailback, with Canadian Jon Cornish, a move that isn't sitting well with the 31-year-old Reynolds.
?A very hard pill to swallow. I mean, you work hard all through the off-season and during the season,? Reynolds said Friday.
?But as in life, everything doesn't always go your way. The only thing I can be here is on call, if I do play this week, next week or whatever.?
Bellefeuille says the change in opposing running backs will affect the game plan against Calgary.
?Cornish creates some different challenges ? he's the one that has the ability for the big play,? he said.
The teams have come to Moncton for the second annual Touchdown Atlantic, and the Ticats seem to be enjoying the East Coast hospitality thus far.
After being greeted at the airport by a band and a gaggle of autograph-seeking high school football players Thursday night, several Ticats caught impromptu rides with generous locals after the bus that was supposed to take them back to their hotel after practice broke down on Friday.
And while several players were doing autograph sessions and hospital visits during their time in Moncton, Bellefeuille said it was more or less business as usual.
?We've tried to prepare as if we were at home,? he said.
?We've tried to make it as much of home game as we can.?
After two straight ugly losses, he's at it again.
The team has made a number of lineup changes ahead of Sunday's game against the Calgary Stampeders on both sides of the football. There will be different looks at running back, receiver, defensive line and in the beleaguered secondary.
?After two losses, you have to look hard at what you're doing,? Bellefeuille said after his team practised in Moncton, New Brunswick, for the first time on Friday. ?As a coaching staff, that's our responsibility.?
Marcus Thigpen, used primarily as a kick returner this season, moves into the starting line up as a wide receiver in place of Aaron Kelly, while running back Terry Grant looks set to see his first CFL regular season action ? though Avon Cobourne remains the primary tailback.
With the team having scored just a single touchdown the last two weeks, Bellefeuille said Thigpen and Grant should give quarterback Kevin Glenn some additional firepower to work with.
?We want to put more speed on the field to give ourselves the opportunity to have big play potential,? Bellefeuille said.
?We've got to get more explosion, whether in the run game or in the passing game.?
Thigpen has just nine catches for 86 yards this season, but says he's learned the playbook for every position because of his role as the mid-game injury replacement.
?I was a slot receiver in college, so this is nothing new, I'm just getting back to it. It's part of my repertoire,? he said. ?My time is here and I'm going to make the most of it.?
The Cats are making changes on defence, with defensive backs Marcell Young and Bo Smith switching positions ? Young to halfback, Smith to corner ? while Darius Powell will be part of a rotation at defensive end. Canadians Matt Kirk and Luc Mullinder are expected to see more time at defensive tackle.
?We've had some challenges in our run defence but they are things that are correctable,? Bellefeuille said.
?We've gotten out our gaps and pressed too hard to make a play. We'll play better this weekend,? the head coach said.
The team will also be looking to make some big plays on defence. They have generated just 15 turnovers this season, which puts them seventh in the league in that vital category.
?We have to get some takeaways ? we haven't had one in two weeks ? to set our offence up with a short field.?
But Hamilton isn't the only team making changes. The Stamps look set to replace eight-year veteran Joffrey Reynolds at tailback, with Canadian Jon Cornish, a move that isn't sitting well with the 31-year-old Reynolds.
?A very hard pill to swallow. I mean, you work hard all through the off-season and during the season,? Reynolds said Friday.
?But as in life, everything doesn't always go your way. The only thing I can be here is on call, if I do play this week, next week or whatever.?
Bellefeuille says the change in opposing running backs will affect the game plan against Calgary.
?Cornish creates some different challenges ? he's the one that has the ability for the big play,? he said.
The teams have come to Moncton for the second annual Touchdown Atlantic, and the Ticats seem to be enjoying the East Coast hospitality thus far.
After being greeted at the airport by a band and a gaggle of autograph-seeking high school football players Thursday night, several Ticats caught impromptu rides with generous locals after the bus that was supposed to take them back to their hotel after practice broke down on Friday.
And while several players were doing autograph sessions and hospital visits during their time in Moncton, Bellefeuille said it was more or less business as usual.
?We've tried to prepare as if we were at home,? he said.
?We've tried to make it as much of home game as we can.?
