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Slow start not what Tiger-Cats envisioned

This hasn’t been quite the start linebacker Renauld Williams envisioned for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defence.Through the opening two weeks of the 2012 season, the unit finds itself last in the CFL in points allowed (41 per game), touchdowns (eight), sacks (one), rushing yards allowed (329) and total yards (883). What’s more, the Ticats (0-2) have forced no turnovers thus far under first-year defensive co-ordinator Casey Creehan.
Chevon Walker, Adam Bighill
Hamilton Tiger-Cats' Chevon Walker

This hasn’t been quite the start linebacker Renauld Williams envisioned for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defence.

Through the opening two weeks of the 2012 season, the unit finds itself last in the CFL in points allowed (41 per game), touchdowns (eight), sacks (one), rushing yards allowed (329) and total yards (883). What’s more, the Ticats (0-2) have forced no turnovers thus far under first-year defensive co-ordinator Casey Creehan.

“Coach Creehan has a new scheme that guys are obviously still getting used to,” Williams said Tuesday. “Every play you have to read the keys he’s telling you to read and you have to get to where he’s telling you to get to.

“If you don’t, one guy will destroy a whole play. Between the defensive line and the linebackers, everyone has to get to where they’re supposed to get on every single play. You can’t have a mental lapse.”

The Ticats’ slow start can’t be pinned solely on the defence. Hamilton’s offence, while second overall in passing yards and total yards — has turned the ball over six times to stand second only to Calgary (eight). The Ticats have a league-high three turnovers on downs.

The good news is with 16 regular-season games remaining, there’s obviously no need for Hamilton to press the panic button. Having said that, the six-foot, 228-pound Williams said Saturday’s home game against the arch-rival Toronto Argonauts (1-1) is critically important.

“It’s definitely a must-win for us,” he said. “You don’t want to start 0-3.

“There’s a little sense of urgency, more than last week. Any time we play Toronto, it’s a big game regardless of if we were 2-0 or 0-2. This is the game we want to win, we always want to beat Toronto.”

Hamilton opened the season dropping a 43-16 home decision to Saskatchewan on June 29. Roughriders’ quarterback Darian Durant finished 25-of-34 passing for 390 yards and four TDs, three going to slotback Weston Dressler, who had 13 catches for 180 yards.

“We were out of sync as a defence that game,” Williams said. “Guys were moved around and people were still getting comfortable to certain spots they were unaccustomed to playing.

“I thought in our second game we were more in sync and for three quarters played well.”

On Friday night, Hamilton suffered a 39-36 road loss to the Grey Cup-champion B.C. Lions. Quarterback Travis Lulay, the CFL’s outstanding player last year, threw for just 178 yards and two TDs but tailback Andrew Harris rushed for 147 yards and a TD on just 13 carries.

Harris, the CFL rushing leader with 194 yards, anchored a B.C. ground attack that rolled up 208 total yards and effectively cemented the win.