MNP By The Numbers: Week 14

Despite winning the possession game against the Roughriders in Week 14, the Ticats couldn’t get enough time on their side as Saskatchewan’s Tyler Crapigna kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired. Despite the loss, Ticats.ca’s Ethan Ready took some time to look beyond the box score and dig deep into the stats sheet for this week’s edition of the MNP By The Numbers.
6 – Tiger-Cats QB Zach Collaros has thrown for at least 300 yards in six games this season. Pretty impressive when you consider he’s only played in seven games since returning from injury.
10 – It might be the Year of the Sack in the CFL. You may not have gotten the memo but John Chick sure did. The vet in the trenches has rallied for 10 quarterback sacks this season, which puts him in a four-way tie for the league lead.

22 – Good luck throwing deep against the Ticats. Hamilton ranks as number one in the league at defending the big play. The defensive unit has only allowed 22 big plays to opposing offences. A “Big Play” in the CFL is defined as any rushing attempt that goes for 20 or more yards, or any completed pass for 30 or more yards.
35 – Hamilton ranks second in the league in the category of Offensive “Big Plays” with 35, only behind Ottawa’s 39.
26 – Hamilton ranks first in the CFL’s East Division in passing touchdowns with 26. Since returning from injury, Zach Collaros has thrown for 17 touchdowns. In the absence of Collaros, Former Oregon Duck Jeremiah Masoli passed for nine touchdowns.
41 – The Hamilton pass rush ranks as the league leader in hauling down opposing quarterbacks with ease. So far this season, the Ticats have racked up 41 sacks. Defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer has executed a highly sufficient system that wreaks havoc on quarterbacks.
287 – 1st and 10? No problem for the Tiger-Cats. Hamilton ranks first in the East Division with 287 first downs.
371 – Whether it’s on offence, defence or special teams, Hamilton sits as number one in the East Division in scoring. The Ticats have scored a total of 371 points so far this season.
8045 – Andy Fantuz surpassed 8,000 career-receiving yards on Saturday. The sure-handed veteran hauled in nine passes for a game-leading 113 yards. Those nine receptions also helped him reach another milestone in his career as he now sits at 600 career receptions.