Chris Schultz of TSN picks Edmonton to Beat Hamilton in this weeks contest, once again the underdog and at the bottom of the heap in the CFL power rankings the Cats will look to reverse their record of loses with a Win tomorrow against the Eskies.
I think the Big Man might be out to lunch on this one, he's figuring that Mike Reilly the QB of Edmonton with his only sixth start of his CFL career will out perform the Vet Henry Burris. Also remember the Cats have a few players back off injury list for this game, not Fantuz yet but Stala and Jones to ad to the mix and the last game these two teams played although close in the rain monsoon in Guelph was not a blow out by any means.
I say Hamilton by 10, Tiger-Cats 28 to Eskies 18
Here is what Schultz said:
Kavis Reed said basically that even though they lost he saw improvement and was optimistic. And he is right. The Eskimos did mismanage the clock and are 1-4 but did bring a new clarity to the quarterback position with the second-half play of Mike Reilly. On the extreme opposite I am not sure if Hamilton improved at all against a good Riders team in the 32-20 loss. Run defence was an issue for Edmonton but I don't expect Chevon Walker, Lamar Lindsey or C.J. Gable to have anywhere near the success of 162 yards that Brandon Whitaker produced last week and I think Hugh Charles is due for a breakout game. The Ticats are so young and inexperienced in the secondary that if they don't get a sustained pass rush they can play effective defence. And yes, they miss Chris Williams and all the speed he brings to the game. Hamilton 22, Edmonton 29.
TCmike, good point, I guess with five games under our belts in this season so far and only one win you have to have some hope that the Cats will get the engine going and turn their season around? At least in the East Division no one is really running away with the wins currently like Sask and Calgary are in the West, so anything is possible.
Can't disagree with the expectations of Mr. Schultz. The Cats are even more injury depleted this week than last. They're on the road against a club that beat the Cats at home.
Mike Reilly managed to out perform the Vet Henry Burris a few weeks ago, and that was his second career start. I realize there were some mitigating circumstances around that, but nonetheless it happened then and it could happen tomorrow.
he Ticats have a ridiculously large list of injured players, including centre Marwan Hage and newly acquired linebacker Brandon Isaac. Constantly losing men has made continuity impossible. Quarterback Henry Burris is the CFL’s leading passer (1,510 yards) and, last week, threw for 395 yards and two touchdowns, but there were too many turnovers and the defence couldn’t help hold a lead.
The Eskimos have struggled on both sides of the ball and take loads of penalties. The Esks won the last meeting between the two, picking off Burris twice and sacking him four times in Week 2. Hamilton is winless on the road, while Edmonton has yet to win at home, so something has to give.
The Ticats currently have 16 players sidelined by injuries for this game, plus another six on the nine-game injury list. That’s the highest number in the CFL, long with the 16 Stampeders that are on the one-game injury list. This is a lineup with just too much flux to be consistent. Mistakes will happen.
Reilly has had problems moving the offence but against a green Ticats’ secondary — and with Charles running the ball — this looms as his best chance yet for a breakout performance. The Eskimos have an edge. But not by much.
[b]The Ticats had a team function Wednesday night. It was one of those bonding exercises. Henry Burris and the boys went bowling. No injuries were reported.[/b]
until we get an OL burris is going to be throwing off his back foot ALOT....and this wont make for a great performance,or a decent running game to take the pressure off of him. im amazed henry has played as well as he has this year with the protection the line HASNT given him. lets just hope our defence comes up big,because i dont think our offence will !
So far Shultzy is 12 & 8, hardly a commanding prediction ratio, but I have to agree with him this time (somewhat reluctantly)
I think Edmonton has a slight edge as we always seem to shoot ourselves in the foot when it counts. But witn Sticky, Grant, and Ellingson, running the routes, Walker and Gable carrying the mail, we will make it close.
Edmonton 31 Cats 28
