The only witches I will invoke is the totally amateurish live stream broadcast.
Since it was a blew team “home” game, I thought we’d hear Hogan doing PBP, but there was silence for most of the first quarter. Finally, somebody caught a clue and synced the Ticats audio feed.
Here are some of the players that stood out for me:
Frost played pretty well at QB, especially against Toronto’s backups
AM-L at QB for short-yardage is intriguing.
Patmon hopefully makes the team
DQ Thomas made some good plays
Constantinou was punting moon-shots with good placement. Vedvik was right down the middle of the field
Not much else. It’s difficult to evaluate players who may be playing in their first, and maybe ONLY, CFL game against a team with most of their starters.
One thing that DID improve were fewer dropped passes and fewer penalties. I don’t count the last RTP penalty, it would likely have been overturned upon review.
Coach M has some VERY difficult decisions, as final cut-down is tonight (I think).
Dezmon Patmon will be a great addition to this team. A big-bodied receiver, with good hands and NFL game experience equals a winning combination. Looking forward to see what he can do this year.
DisplacedCatsFan and CrazyCanuck1988 have named, pretty well, all of the TiCats who stood out, to me, with their play last night in Guelph. I’ll add, what I thought were good performances, by lesser standouts, Vedvik, who I think will keep his job, perhaps with Constantinou sticking around on the P.R., and also Wilborn @ WLB, and Geiger in his dual role.
Things that stood out, to me, as negatives, were, once again, terrible ST’s coverage, missed tackles, trouble controlling the opponent’s ground game and I question if the TiCats really deserved their lone TD, which was set up by a 38-yd. pass play to Patmon. To my eye, had TOR challenged for O.P.I., on that catch, the Cats would, likely, have been 49 yards, rather than just 1, away from the TOR endzone for the following play.
Based on the teams’ pre-season records, including points for & against, the TiCats (0-2 & -20) stood 8th, in the league, and are heading to cowtown to play the Stamps, who had the league’s best pre-season record (2-0 & +45).
Something I don’t think has been mentioned, but should be …
Playing without their expected season-starting O-Line, in front of their #2 & #3 QBs, and even against TOR’s expected starting defence, the Tiger-Cats didn’t allow a single QB sack.
That’s happens to every team. We did that to the blew team a couple/few times as well.
Of course, we have no idea how the blew team was coached. Were they instructed to lay-off on rushing the QB and focus on the RB? Maybe to give the DBs a bigger workout and evaluation?
Think of it like a starting pitcher in spring training only throwing sliders for his outing.
So, I have to admit, I wasn’t paying any attention to TE formations this game.
With the relatively clean pockets our QBs had, it wouldn’t surprise me if Coach M used a TE numerous times for an extra pass blocker.
What I HAVEN’T witnessed (or, more likely, noticed) were TEs playing like NFL TEs by running pass patterns after their block and getting involved in the Offence.
That being said, with all of our “big body, long, and strong” receivers on the team, we could be planning on overpowering and beating on the DBs, opening up things for White. If so, I have no problem with using TEs for pass protection/run blocking. I just feel as if the position is a waste if they aren’t catching passes.
Of course, this is pre-season, and I’m certain Coach M wwasn’t going to do anything to tip his hand.
