The storyline for Montreal:
After losing their top two quarterbacks and winning a game with Rakeem Cato, the Alouettes need to know whether his return to earth last week in a loss to Winnipeg was an aberration or just the reality of life with a rookie QB.
Key injuries:
Quarterbacks Jonathon Crompton is on the six-game injured list, while former Ticat Dan LeFevour is done for the season, after both suffered shoulder injuries in the season-opener. Linebacker Bear Woods is out for the year while safety Kyries H?bert is on the six-game IL as well. The team added field-stretching receiver Cody Hoffman this week.
Five funky Montreal stats:
1. Montreal leads the CFL in several defensive categories, including run defence and passing touchdowns allowed (one.)
2. Their two defeats have each been for a total of six points (20-16 to Ottawa, 25-23 to Winnipeg.)
3. Montreal's six turnovers have led to 26 points by their opponents, the most in the CFL. The Ticats, meanwhile, have scored a league-high 33 points off eight takeaways.
4. Montreal has two opening-drive touchdowns thus far this season ? this rest of the CFL has one.
5. Montreal is one of just two teams without a two-point convert this season, failing in their only attempt.
The storyline for Hamilton:
The Ticats are 1-1 following a solid showing in a week one loss (24-23) to the Calgary Stampeders, and after the (52-26) butt-kicking they handed Winnipeg before the bye week. They have two more away games ? no team in the modern CFL era has started with four straight on the road ? before returning to the friendly confines of Tim Hortons Field Aug. 3 to host the Argos.
Key injuries:
Add defensive back Johnny Sears to the long list of injured Ticats, that includes receiver Luke Tasker, running back C.J. Gable and defensive end Eric Norwood. Corner Courtney Stephen will miss his second straight game, forcing ratio hijinks.
Ticat roster changes (and what they mean):
Donald Washington comes on to replace Sears and will likely start at boundary corner, with Ed Gainey sliding over to halfback. Finally healthy, Joel Figueroa makes his first start of the season at right tackle with Jeremy Lewis likely to be scratched and Brian Simmons moving to the one-game injured list. Defensive end Sam Scott will likely start in place of Adrian Tracy, who missed two days of practice this week, while defensive tackle Mike Atkinson replaces injured safety Neil King in a swap of Canadians.
Five funky Hamilton stats:
1. The Hamilton offence is the most unbalanced in the CFL, with just 12 per cent of their yardage coming via the run. They have rushed the ball just 32 times ? only B.C. has less with 29 ? and are averaging 40.5 yards per game, the lowest in the league.
2. The Ticats are coming off a bye week, and in 2014 teams coming off a week off rest went 12-6 overall. Hamilton was 1-1 last season.
3. Kicker Justin Medlock is a perfect seven-for-seven in one-point convert attempts and has hit all five of his field goal attempts this season. Only Montreal's Boris Bede has more points (26 to 25.)
4. While penalties are up this season ? the CFL is averaging 29.5 flags per game ? the Ticats are sixth in the league with 15.5 infractions per game after leading in that category for most of last season.
5. Head coach Kent Austin has yet to throw a challenge flag season, while around the CFL calls are being overturned 46.7 per cent of the time in 2015. Austin was successful on four of 13 challenges last season (30.7 per cent) while the league average was 33 per cent.
Referee:
Kim Murphy
The weather forecast:
Sunny, 21 degrees C, winds out of the southwest at 5 km/h.
After losing their top two quarterbacks and winning a game with Rakeem Cato, the Alouettes need to know whether his return to earth last week in a loss to Winnipeg was an aberration or just the reality of life with a rookie QB.
Key injuries:
Quarterbacks Jonathon Crompton is on the six-game injured list, while former Ticat Dan LeFevour is done for the season, after both suffered shoulder injuries in the season-opener. Linebacker Bear Woods is out for the year while safety Kyries H?bert is on the six-game IL as well. The team added field-stretching receiver Cody Hoffman this week.
Five funky Montreal stats:
1. Montreal leads the CFL in several defensive categories, including run defence and passing touchdowns allowed (one.)
2. Their two defeats have each been for a total of six points (20-16 to Ottawa, 25-23 to Winnipeg.)
3. Montreal's six turnovers have led to 26 points by their opponents, the most in the CFL. The Ticats, meanwhile, have scored a league-high 33 points off eight takeaways.
4. Montreal has two opening-drive touchdowns thus far this season ? this rest of the CFL has one.
5. Montreal is one of just two teams without a two-point convert this season, failing in their only attempt.
The storyline for Hamilton:
The Ticats are 1-1 following a solid showing in a week one loss (24-23) to the Calgary Stampeders, and after the (52-26) butt-kicking they handed Winnipeg before the bye week. They have two more away games ? no team in the modern CFL era has started with four straight on the road ? before returning to the friendly confines of Tim Hortons Field Aug. 3 to host the Argos.
Key injuries:
Add defensive back Johnny Sears to the long list of injured Ticats, that includes receiver Luke Tasker, running back C.J. Gable and defensive end Eric Norwood. Corner Courtney Stephen will miss his second straight game, forcing ratio hijinks.
Ticat roster changes (and what they mean):
Donald Washington comes on to replace Sears and will likely start at boundary corner, with Ed Gainey sliding over to halfback. Finally healthy, Joel Figueroa makes his first start of the season at right tackle with Jeremy Lewis likely to be scratched and Brian Simmons moving to the one-game injured list. Defensive end Sam Scott will likely start in place of Adrian Tracy, who missed two days of practice this week, while defensive tackle Mike Atkinson replaces injured safety Neil King in a swap of Canadians.
Five funky Hamilton stats:
1. The Hamilton offence is the most unbalanced in the CFL, with just 12 per cent of their yardage coming via the run. They have rushed the ball just 32 times ? only B.C. has less with 29 ? and are averaging 40.5 yards per game, the lowest in the league.
2. The Ticats are coming off a bye week, and in 2014 teams coming off a week off rest went 12-6 overall. Hamilton was 1-1 last season.
3. Kicker Justin Medlock is a perfect seven-for-seven in one-point convert attempts and has hit all five of his field goal attempts this season. Only Montreal's Boris Bede has more points (26 to 25.)
4. While penalties are up this season ? the CFL is averaging 29.5 flags per game ? the Ticats are sixth in the league with 15.5 infractions per game after leading in that category for most of last season.
5. Head coach Kent Austin has yet to throw a challenge flag season, while around the CFL calls are being overturned 46.7 per cent of the time in 2015. Austin was successful on four of 13 challenges last season (30.7 per cent) while the league average was 33 per cent.
Referee:
Kim Murphy
The weather forecast:
Sunny, 21 degrees C, winds out of the southwest at 5 km/h.
