The National Football League is in its down period before the
pre-season begins but that doesn't mean that professional football isn't
available to those of us in the UK. The CFL has fundamental differences that
make it a different game; the field is a lot wider, there are only three downs
and defensive lineman must line up a yard off the line of scrimmage. The game
is still good to watch and has produced some significant NFL talent, most
recently Miami Dolphins star Cameron Wake. There's also a large number of
exciting players to watch that haven't caught on in the NFL including former
Baylor record setter, QB Rakeem
Cato, now a rookie with the Montreal Alouettes and WR
Brandon 'Speedy' Banks who plays for Hamilton.
Regular guest on Sky Sports NFL coverage, Jeff
Reinebold, provides an instant link for UK fans as the special teams
coordinator for the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Currently 1-2 in the CFL East Division their only win came in an
impressive 52-26 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers but they are only a
game behind two other teams.
Tiger Cats quarterback Zach Collaros was less
than impressive in Week 4, 64% of his passes, going 27-42, on his way to 296 yards. Collaros
threw for one touchdown and three interceptions and also lost a fumble. His
interception percentage this season is already at 3.54% after two years of just
over two percent. Collaros hasn't been all bad this year as he's clocked up 931
yards already (though this is inflated due to their complete lack of a running
game) and is currently completing 70.8% of his passes. If he can cut out the
interceptions Hamilton will make another push for the playoffs.
Running back has not been a position of
strength this year and running back Ray Holley leads the team with 87 yards in
three games. By contrast Shakir Bell of the Edmonton Eskimos ran for 144 yards
on his CFL debut.
Luckily for the Ti-Cats the offence has been
kept moving by the receiving game. Both Andy Fantuz and Bakari Grant are over
two hundred yards with Grant on pace for his first 1000 yard season.
The Tiger-Cats have also been helped so far
this season by the 100% record of kicker Justin Medlock, who knocked his sixth
and seventh kicks through the uprights in week four.
The defence has been impressive at times this
year and held Tyrell Sutton to only two yards in Week 4. Against the Blue
Bombers and former NFL hopeful Brian Brohm they were stingy all day and also
recorded two interceptions.
Help is on the way for Hamilton though. Both
sides of the ball should get a substantial boost with the news that
jack-of-trades running back C.J. Gable and Courtney Stephen are returning from
injury. On defence it's the return of
national defensive back Courtney Stephen and linebacker Rico Murray, who has yet to suit up in 2015. Last year Murray led the team with
five interceptions and finished third in team tackles with 63.
As the season draws on I'd really like to see
more of Banks, a player that is a speed mis-match for most defenders, he could
be something special in more than just the return game.
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