The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-9) and BC Lions (6-6) are facing off on Friday night. Both teams at the bottom of their respective divisions but are trending in different directions.
The BC Lions started the season 4-1 and sat atop the West Division, but since have reversed their trajectory, going 1-4 in the last five games.
The only win BC earned in their last five was against the struggling Alouettes.
Jon Jennings has cooled off after a strong start to the 2017 season. Both his arm and his legs have been underperforming. Jennings is averaging just over 200 yards per game in his last five, and has thrown double-digit interceptions to boot. In the first three games of the season, Jennings averaged almost 30 yards rushing per game, and in the last three he’s averaged just over 10.
After a regrettable injury to the class-act Travis Lulay, Jennings is THE guy in BC when the Ticats drop into town.
At least Soloman Elimimian and Ty Long are still playing quality football for the slumping Lions. Elimimian is second in the league in tackles but trails Alex Singleton by just one tackle with 90. Elimimian is on pace for 135 tackles on the season, which is incredible, but still isn’t on his 2014 level, when he recorded 143 tackles and won the league MOP.
In BC’s most recent loss, Long was four-for-four and including his 69 yard punt for a single in the first quarter, accounted for all of BC’s scoring. Long is 25 for 30 on the season (about 83% accuracy) and has hit from over 50 yards once. But can he continue his success at the blustery Tim Hortons Field?
For the Tiger-Cats, Sergio Castillo hasn’t had an issue kicking in the windy donut box. Castillo leads the league in field goal percentage outside of Sean Whyte (who hasn’t seen game action since week six).
The Ticats’ defensive unit stays consistent, with the starting guys playing some quality football.
Big man Ryker Matthews returns from injury and has taken the majority of the first team reps in practice this week. He will start on the right side of the o-line on Friday.
The big-name trade acquisition Shamawd Chambers will also get the starting nod against BC, lining up at wideout for the Ticats. Chambers will bring size, experience, and a national passport to the roster.
Alex Green, a former 3rd round NFL draft pick, will start for the Ticats at running back in place of CJ Gable, who is taking time to nurse a mild injury. Green was with the Ticats during the preseason but was released in the final round of cuts, only to be re-signed recently.
Gable has been playing excellent football of late, but Coach Jones and the Ticats’ staff have a lot of faith in Green’s ability. Coach Jones stated concerning Green, “we’re lucky because I think CJ [Gable] and Alex [Green] can play in any league. I mean, they can play up here; they can play down there. They’re good football players.”
The Ticats will bring a consistent defence and a slightly tweaked offence to Vancouver to take on the vulnerable Lions.
