Hamilton Tiger-Cats players tackle Edmonton Eskimos' Adarius Bowman (4) during first half CFL action in Edmonton, Alta., on Friday August 21, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson.
Mike Daly continues to prove himself
Growing up, Mike Daly idolized the top NFL defensive backs in the game, including Ed Reed and Brian Dawkins. As he got closer to the CFL himself, he began to follow Craig Butler, a Canadian defensive back who was making a difference in the league. Now midway through his second season in the CFL, Daly is making an impact at the professional level for the Ticats.
Daly kicked off another quick start for the Ticats on Friday night, picking off Matt Nichols on the Eskimos first offensive possession of the game. It was the Canadian safety’s second interception of the season, and far from just his second impactful play. He followed that interception up with another in the third quarter, sitting on a seam route over the middle, and capped it all with a sack of James Franklin in the fourth quarter. As the Ticats have dealt with injuries to Craig Butler and Courtney Stephen at separate times throughout the season, Daly has filled in admirably and made a name for himself as a difference-maker.
Taylor Reed makes defensive difference
On a defence with so many playmakers, Taylor Reed sometimes gets forgotten and his high level of play goes unnoticed. On Friday night he flipped the script, forcing two first-half fumbles which both ultimately led to early scores for the Ticats. In the Eskimos previous home games this season they had trailed for just five minutes, so starting with a jump and getting a lead early was always going to be an important factor for Hamilton. Reed’s two forced fumbles allowed them to do just that, jumping out to an early lead and never looking back, a script which has become a familiar one over the course of this win streak.
Terrell Sinkfield shows off top-level talent
Terrell Sinkfield is one of the most explosive players in the CFL, and on Friday night he put it all together and showed that off. Sinkfield made two acrobatic touchdown catches in the first half of the game, and then showed his ability to create in the open field on two other catches. The second-year receiver was removed from the lineup for a couple games earlier in the season, but he’s come back and stepped up his play. His six-reception 118 yard effort on Friday night was a glimpse of how special a player he can be.
Tasker makes catches count
Tasker made five receptions for 129 yards in Edmonton on Friday night, cracking 100 yards for consecutive games for the first time in his CFL career. Tasker made some very athletic catches which were impressive on their own, but it was the importance of his first three receptions on the night that stood out. On each of his first three receptions, Tasker made critical receptions on second-and-long situations, extending drives that would eventually turn into points for the Ticats. Tasker’s performance on Friday night was impressive any way you slice it, but the way he rose to the occasion in key situations tops the list.
Collaros dodges, ducks, dips and dives
Zach Collaros dipped and ducked his way to a sack-free game against the league’s top pass rush, notching another impressive performance. Collaros continued what he had started in the team’s home stretch, and really the level of play he’s maintained throughout the season. In what was another efficient game, the fourth-year quarterback completed 18-of-30 passes for exactly 325 yards and three touchdowns on the night. Along with the rushing touchdown, Collaros recorded his second straight four-touchdown performance and his fourth straight game with three or more passing TDs.
Ticats the ultimate opportunists
Friday night’s game marked the fifth straight game the Ticats have scored 30+ points, as the team has cruised to its’ longest winning streak since 2006. Of the team’s 49 points in Edmonton, 35 came off of takeaways by the Ticats defence. Through eight games the team has scored 118 points off of takeaways, by far the top figure in the CFL, making the most of these opportunities. The number indicates an entire team effort from the Ticats; the defence continues to create opportunities for their offence, while the offence has capitalized and turned them into points at the other end of the field.
