1.Alex Green’s dominant debut
Running back Alex Green was briefly a Hamilton Tiger-Cat before the 2017 season began. He impressed in training camp and led the team in rushing yards in preseason week A, with 46 yards on six carries. He also added 12 yards receiving in the same contest.
Before the regular season started, the Tiger-Cats would ultimately release Green to round out the final roster.
Green had returned to Portland Oregon after his release from the Tiger-Cats. He had all but given up on football, and was driving his car when he received a call from the Ticats. He was offered a chance to return to the team. He accepted, and when starter CJ Gable was sidelined to nurse a nagging injury, Green was given the starting nod.
Green was a highly touted NFL draft pick, taken in the third round, 96th overall, in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. The former University of Hawaii prospect played in 29 NFL games through three seasons, with 149 carries and 510 yards on the ground. His NFL resume was cut short when he suffered a knee injury and was unable to crack another NFL roster.
Head Coach June Jones is a firm believer in a running back’s ability to bounce back from injury. In his media availability, Coach Jones stated that he believes it can take a running back up to two years to return to full speed after a knee injury.
Green has had his recovery time, and the way he played on Friday night, it certainly looked like he was back to full speed.
Green was a major factor in the running game, and his threatening presence coming out of the backfield helped open up the passing game for quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. Green remained a factor from the start of the game to the end, showing that although he had briefly been out of football, he had remained in game shape.
Green posted 140 yards rushing on 14 carries, and added 15 yards through the air on two receptions.
Having great depth at running back allows the Tiger-Cats to rest Gable as long as he needs before returning.
2. Shamawd Chambers’ immediate impact
Shamawd Chambers wasn’t the Tiger-Cats leading receiver on the night as that distinction belonged to Luke Tasker who was just shy of 100 yards receiving. Luke didn’t earn the key takeaways nod however, as the veteran receiver has had four seasons in Hamilton to familiarize himself with the offence. Chambers on the other hand, has had less than a week.
Coach Jones praised Chambers’ ability to quickly fit into the Ticats’ offence. He attributed the receiver’s success to his intelligence and his physical skill-set. On Friday night, both those qualities were on full display.
Chambers was traded to Hamilton in part because he was being under-utilized in the Eskimos’ offence. He had no such problem on Friday.
Chambers was targeted for six receptions and compiled 57 receiving yards with a long reception on the night of 15 yards.
The Ticats look forward to seeing what kind of production they can get from the veteran receiver with more time to learn Coach Jones’ system.
3. Sergio Castillo’s mental toughness
Coming into Friday’s game against the Lions, Hamilton kicker Sergio Castillo had missed just two field goals on the season.
Within the first half of the game at BC Place, Castillo had matched his season total.
Castillo’s first attempt of the night was from 47 yards out, and he pushed it right, dinging it off the upright.
His second attempt was from 42 yards. He also missed it to the right.
For a kicker in his first full CFL season as a starter, that kind of first half could be mentally crippling.
Castillo didn’t give in to the doubt. With six seconds left on the clock in the first half, the Tiger-Cats were on the verge of field goal range. There was some question as to whether the Ticats would be able to run a play and stop the clock leaving enough time for a field goal attempt. If they had kicked the field goal on that play, it would have been almost 60 yards. Regardless, Castillo was calling for the opportunity. He believed he could make it.
The Ticats elected to run a play and dumped the ball to Alex Green who was downed with just a second left on the clock. He left a 54-yarder on the table, and Castillo stepped up and calmly nailed it.
That wouldn’t be the last we’d hear from Castillo.
The Ticats were trailing by two points in the dying seconds of the game. The offence was stopped on the BC 42-yard line, leaving Castillo a 49-yard kick to secure the victory.
Castillo delivered, and the Ticats won their first game in BC Place since 2011.
The Ticats have now have three wins in four games since June Jones took over as Head Coach. They hope to keep the momentum rolling next week against the Argonauts.
