It's painfully obvious to say that turnovers will likely play an integral part in the outcome of Sunday's game between the Tiger-Cats and the Roughriders. But it has been a strength of both teams, albeit from different ends of the spectrum ? Hamilton has the fewest giveaways in the CFL while Saskatchewan leads the league in takeaways.
The last two weeks, the Ticats have used late-game heroics from Markeith Knowlton ? strip of B.C. quarterback Jarious Jackson at the goaline and an end zone interception of Eskimo QB Ricky Ray - to propel themselves to victory.
Quarterback Darain Durant, who has thrown eight interceptions and fumbled twice more for the 3-3 Green Riders, has seen the game film.
"When that interception happened to Ricky and the strip from Jarious it was in the fourth quarter ? crucial points in the game. When we get the ball inside the 20 yard-line, we have to capitalize," Durant said Saturday.
Saskatchewan head coach Ken Miller was picking up a familiar storyline at his press conference ? with a 4-2 record the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are the real deal.
"Hamilton is much improved. They've improved their personnel. They've improved their coaching staff. They have good players and they're well-coached so they're a formidable opponent," Miller said. "They have better team speed than they've had for a long period of time. They are playing very well and cohesively."
Durant said the addition of defensive coordinator Greg Marshall has made an impact.
"They are fundamentally sound ? they don't get caught out of position too much. They make sure they read their keys and react appropriately. That's why their pretty much at the top of the league in points allowed," Durant said.
It's a homecoming of sorts for Ticat head coach Marcel Bellefeuille, who spent five seasons with the Roughriders, the last three as offensive coordinator. Still, he said the game had no special meaning for him.
"It's been four years since I coached there and I've been back with two different teams a number of times. It's just another stadium now," Bellefeuille said.
That said, Bellefeuille is aware of the challenges his team faces in what is forecast to be a wet and cold Mosaic Stadium.
"They're an excellent football team as usual. This is a team that won 12 games last year and won a Grey Cup two years ago," Bellefeuille said. "They're a great football and they have no true weaknesses to speak of."
Bellefeuille said he learned a few tricks about playing in the sometimes blustery conditions of Regina - and about the impact the raucous Rider Nation crowd can have.
"I told our players, it's a lot of fun coming here. It's kind of like a college atmosphere: small town, stadium filled and rowdy. It's a fun atmosphere to play in," he said.
"It's important to start well. You don't have to be leading but they jump on teams in that stadium. At the end of the first quarter, you have to look up and feel pretty good about where you're at."
It will be a true homecoming for Ticat safety and Saskatchewan native Dylan Barker, who was born just down the road in Moose Jaw and played his university ball at the University of Saskatchewan.
"It's my first game there as a pro so I'm excited. I've had a million text messages from friends," Barker said. "It's going to be a little weird playing against a team that I cheered for growing up. But you don't really think about that once the game starts."
Barker up to fifth in the league in special teams tackles with nine and is getting more practice time with the starting defensive unit.
"I think things are going well. I'm figuring out this defence now and I feel more comfortable in it. Hopefully I'll keep inching my way in there and just keep it rolling on special teams," he said.
This is the Ticat's last game before the bye week ? player will have six days off before returning to Hamilton to begin preparing for the Aug. 29 road game against the Eskimos.
"It's always important to feel good about your team going into a bye week, that you're playing well and continue to improve. I feel like we're doing that now and as long as we continue, they results are what they are," Bellefeuille said.
"It's important to win because that's what our focus is. But how we win ? getting better, being consistent ? I have to see those things to feel good going into the bye week."
The last two weeks, the Ticats have used late-game heroics from Markeith Knowlton ? strip of B.C. quarterback Jarious Jackson at the goaline and an end zone interception of Eskimo QB Ricky Ray - to propel themselves to victory.
Quarterback Darain Durant, who has thrown eight interceptions and fumbled twice more for the 3-3 Green Riders, has seen the game film.
"When that interception happened to Ricky and the strip from Jarious it was in the fourth quarter ? crucial points in the game. When we get the ball inside the 20 yard-line, we have to capitalize," Durant said Saturday.
Saskatchewan head coach Ken Miller was picking up a familiar storyline at his press conference ? with a 4-2 record the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are the real deal.
"Hamilton is much improved. They've improved their personnel. They've improved their coaching staff. They have good players and they're well-coached so they're a formidable opponent," Miller said. "They have better team speed than they've had for a long period of time. They are playing very well and cohesively."
Durant said the addition of defensive coordinator Greg Marshall has made an impact.
"They are fundamentally sound ? they don't get caught out of position too much. They make sure they read their keys and react appropriately. That's why their pretty much at the top of the league in points allowed," Durant said.
It's a homecoming of sorts for Ticat head coach Marcel Bellefeuille, who spent five seasons with the Roughriders, the last three as offensive coordinator. Still, he said the game had no special meaning for him.
"It's been four years since I coached there and I've been back with two different teams a number of times. It's just another stadium now," Bellefeuille said.
That said, Bellefeuille is aware of the challenges his team faces in what is forecast to be a wet and cold Mosaic Stadium.
"They're an excellent football team as usual. This is a team that won 12 games last year and won a Grey Cup two years ago," Bellefeuille said. "They're a great football and they have no true weaknesses to speak of."
Bellefeuille said he learned a few tricks about playing in the sometimes blustery conditions of Regina - and about the impact the raucous Rider Nation crowd can have.
"I told our players, it's a lot of fun coming here. It's kind of like a college atmosphere: small town, stadium filled and rowdy. It's a fun atmosphere to play in," he said.
"It's important to start well. You don't have to be leading but they jump on teams in that stadium. At the end of the first quarter, you have to look up and feel pretty good about where you're at."
It will be a true homecoming for Ticat safety and Saskatchewan native Dylan Barker, who was born just down the road in Moose Jaw and played his university ball at the University of Saskatchewan.
"It's my first game there as a pro so I'm excited. I've had a million text messages from friends," Barker said. "It's going to be a little weird playing against a team that I cheered for growing up. But you don't really think about that once the game starts."
Barker up to fifth in the league in special teams tackles with nine and is getting more practice time with the starting defensive unit.
"I think things are going well. I'm figuring out this defence now and I feel more comfortable in it. Hopefully I'll keep inching my way in there and just keep it rolling on special teams," he said.
This is the Ticat's last game before the bye week ? player will have six days off before returning to Hamilton to begin preparing for the Aug. 29 road game against the Eskimos.
"It's always important to feel good about your team going into a bye week, that you're playing well and continue to improve. I feel like we're doing that now and as long as we continue, they results are what they are," Bellefeuille said.
"It's important to win because that's what our focus is. But how we win ? getting better, being consistent ? I have to see those things to feel good going into the bye week."
