(From TSN.ca)
Michael Bishop will make his much-anticipated return to the starting lineup for the Toronto Argonauts on Monday.
Bishop, who went down with a broken wrist in the Argonauts' win over the Calgary Stampeders in Week 3, will attempt to get Toronto back into the win column for the first time since his injury.
Since his departure, the Argonauts have lost five straight games with three different quarterbacks at the helm. Mike McMahon took over from Bishop but lost his job to Week 1 starter Damon Allen, who then went down with a toe injury. Rocky Butler then took the lead role but was unable to pick up a victory.
Bishop received medical clearance to return to practice this week and the plan was to have him be available to back up Butler on Monday. But he has improved enough over the course of the week to get the start.
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''It's a big relief for me because I felt good, I felt like my arm was strong enough to get back out there and start throwing,'' Bishop said Tuesday. ''I was actually throwing a week before so I was just waiting for him to give me the OK.''
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will also have a new look behind centre on Monday as Timmy Chang will get his first CFL start, replacing the slumping Jason Maas.
Michael Bishop will make his much-anticipated return to the starting lineup for the Toronto Argonauts on Monday.
Bishop, who went down with a broken wrist in the Argonauts' win over the Calgary Stampeders in Week 3, will attempt to get Toronto back into the win column for the first time since his injury.
Since his departure, the Argonauts have lost five straight games with three different quarterbacks at the helm. Mike McMahon took over from Bishop but lost his job to Week 1 starter Damon Allen, who then went down with a toe injury. Rocky Butler then took the lead role but was unable to pick up a victory.
Bishop received medical clearance to return to practice this week and the plan was to have him be available to back up Butler on Monday. But he has improved enough over the course of the week to get the start.
Related Info
Clemons, Argos focus on stopping Lumsden
''It's a big relief for me because I felt good, I felt like my arm was strong enough to get back out there and start throwing,'' Bishop said Tuesday. ''I was actually throwing a week before so I was just waiting for him to give me the OK.''
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will also have a new look behind centre on Monday as Timmy Chang will get his first CFL start, replacing the slumping Jason Maas.
HAMILTON (CP) - After eight weeks of watching the Hamilton Tiger-Cats continually shoot themselves in the foot with unnecessary penalties, head coach Charlie Taaffe is taking a rather unique approach to resolving that problem against the arch-rival Toronto Argonauts.
"I told them this week that on punt returns not to block anybody because (punt cover teams) have got to give you five yards and we'll at least make five yards," Taaffe said Sunday, drawing a chorus of chuckles from gathered media. "I told them not to block anybody on the kickoff returns either because (returner) Jason Armstead can make one guy miss and probably rip off a long run.
"I did tell them that, too. I'm not pulling your chain. I don't know how the returners feel about that . . . we'll see how that works."
Then Taaffe poked a little fun at his decision to buck conventional wisdom.
"I'll speak on that at the National Coaches Convention next year," he said, tongue firmly in cheek. "They'll ask, 'How did you get all those long punt returns?
"I'll say, 'Well, we told them, 'Don't block anybody.' They'll think I've been smoking something."
Hamilton (1-7) enters a crucial Labour Day matchup Monday against Toronto (2-6) as the CFL's most penalized team. The Ticats have been flagged 116 times for 1,023 yards.
"That's a big reason why we're 1-7," Taaffe said. "I've tried everything.
"We've tried to be positive, we've tried to get on them, we've fined them. Now, they have little fines within their own position groups and they're doing that but the same stuff is still happening. I wish I had the answer for you."
But unconventional special-teams play won't be the only change Hamilton will make.
The Ticats will start rookie Timmy Chang at quarterback over veteran Jason Maas while recently acquired receiver Armstead makes his first start.
Toronto will also have a new quarterback, with veteran Michael Bishop gaining his first start since breaking his wrist against Calgary on July 12. Bishop only resumed practising last week but Argos coach Mike (Pinball) Clemons, usually coy about revealing his starter, wasted little time doing so Sunday.
"He's a guy I've come to trust as a real leader, a guy who can win football games for us and take the spirit of our team to another level," Clemons said.
However, all eyes will be on Chang, the former Hawaii star who has the misfortune of facing a Toronto defence that's ranked first against the pass (219 yards per game), tied for first in sacks (25) and is third in fewest points allowed (18.6 per game). Hamilton counters with an offence that's last overall in points scored (16 points per game) and sixth in passing (239 yards per game).
"This is not a condemnation of Jason Maas," Taaffe said. "We felt it was time.
"We need to see if Timmy can give our offence a spark and need to find out if he can be a successful starting quarterback in the CFL. The only way you're going to answer those questions is by putting him out there. Timmy's a gunslinger, he has that mentality."
But Chang has plenty of respect for Toronto's veteran defence, which features end Jonathan Brown, who came into action this week with a CFL-high eight sacks.
"It's a great defence with good, veteran cover guys," he said. "They have a good front seven that doesn't allow much on the run.
"We just have to execute against them."
Defensive back Byron Parker said Chang can expect the unexpected from Toronto's defence.
"We'll have a look (Monday) that I think a lot of people haven't seen all year," Parker said, without further elaboration. "We're going to pressure him, that's what we do . . . we're going to try and be aggressive."
Chang will also have to deal with a sold-out Ivor Wynne Stadium and diehard fans to whom the most important goal of any season is a home win on Labour Day over hated Toronto.
"I've been hearing about it a lot this week," Chang said. "I can't speak from experience but I know it means a lot to the people here . . . and they want this game."
But Hamilton will have to do a better job against Bishop than it did July 7 when he threw three touchdown passes in a 30-5 road win. And the Argos will be hungry, having not won since Bishop was injured.
"I've always felt I was a fast healer," Bishop said. "I came in and took care of the things I needed to in order to get back on the field.
"Now I've got an opportunity to pick up where I left off and continue to be the leader I know I can be for the team."
Bishop was certainly solid once he established himself as Toronto's starter after starting the season as Damon Allen's backup. Before being hurt, he had completed 42-of-67 passes (62.7 per cent) for 595 yards with seven touchdowns against just two interceptions. His efficiency rating of 113.7 remains the league's best.
And Clemons, one of the few Argos who is liked in Hamilton, is an old pro when it comes to Labour Day and the deep tradition that surrounds it.
"This is two teams that love to hate each," he said. "This is the biggest of all days, excluding a playoff matchup."
Standings: Argonauts -- 2-6 (3rd place, East Division). Tiger-Cats -- 1-7 (4th place, East Division).
Argonauts Leaders: Offence -- Rocky Butler, 626 passing yards and 3 passing TDs; John Avery, 190 rushing yards and 0 rushing TDs; Arland Bruce, 28 receptions, 383 receiving yards and 4 receiving TDs. Defence -- Jonathan Brown, 8 sacks*; Orlondo Steinauer, 5 INTs.
Tiger-Cats Leaders: Offence -- Jason Maas, 1,588 passing yards and 6 passing TDs; Jesse Lumsden, 627 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs; Brock Ralph, 32 receptions, 434 receiving yards and 2 receiving TDs. Defence -- Nautyn McKay-Loescher, 7 sacks; Agustin Barrenechea, Lawrence Gordon and Zeke Moreno, 1 INT.
Argonauts Team Rank: Passing Offence -- 236.3 yards per game (7th in CFL); Rushing Offence -- 82.9 ypg (7th); Total Offence -- 281.8 ypg (8th). Passing Defence -- 219.1 ypg (1st); Rushing Defence -- 107.0 ypg (5th); Total Defence -- 301 ypg (2nd).
Tiger-Cats Team Rank: Passing Offence -- 239.0 yards per game (6th in CFL); Rushing Offence -- 116.3 ypg (2nd); Total Offence -- 338.5 ypg (5th). Passing Defence -- 297.0 ypg (8th); Rushing Defence -- 108.4 ypg (6th); Total Defence -- 389 ypg (7th).
Road/Home Records: Argonauts -- 1-3 on the road. Tiger-Cats -- 1-2 at home.
*CFL leader.
PDF Info:
Preview
Head-to-Head
Previous Results July 7, 2007 Toronto 30 at Hamilton 5
September 9, 2006 Hamilton 9 at Toronto 11
September 4, 2006 Toronto 40 at Hamilton 6
August 12, 2006 Toronto 20 at Hamilton 2
June 17, 2006 Hamilton 17 at Toronto 27
June 9, 2006 Toronto 11 at Hamilton 21
June 2, 2006 Hamilton 31 at Toronto 3
October 27, 2005 Hamilton 11 at Toronto 34
September 10, 2005 Hamilton 0 at Toronto 48
September 5, 2005 Toronto 30 at Hamilton 33
"I told them this week that on punt returns not to block anybody because (punt cover teams) have got to give you five yards and we'll at least make five yards," Taaffe said Sunday, drawing a chorus of chuckles from gathered media. "I told them not to block anybody on the kickoff returns either because (returner) Jason Armstead can make one guy miss and probably rip off a long run.
"I did tell them that, too. I'm not pulling your chain. I don't know how the returners feel about that . . . we'll see how that works."
Then Taaffe poked a little fun at his decision to buck conventional wisdom.
"I'll speak on that at the National Coaches Convention next year," he said, tongue firmly in cheek. "They'll ask, 'How did you get all those long punt returns?
"I'll say, 'Well, we told them, 'Don't block anybody.' They'll think I've been smoking something."
Hamilton (1-7) enters a crucial Labour Day matchup Monday against Toronto (2-6) as the CFL's most penalized team. The Ticats have been flagged 116 times for 1,023 yards.
"That's a big reason why we're 1-7," Taaffe said. "I've tried everything.
"We've tried to be positive, we've tried to get on them, we've fined them. Now, they have little fines within their own position groups and they're doing that but the same stuff is still happening. I wish I had the answer for you."
But unconventional special-teams play won't be the only change Hamilton will make.
The Ticats will start rookie Timmy Chang at quarterback over veteran Jason Maas while recently acquired receiver Armstead makes his first start.
Toronto will also have a new quarterback, with veteran Michael Bishop gaining his first start since breaking his wrist against Calgary on July 12. Bishop only resumed practising last week but Argos coach Mike (Pinball) Clemons, usually coy about revealing his starter, wasted little time doing so Sunday.
"He's a guy I've come to trust as a real leader, a guy who can win football games for us and take the spirit of our team to another level," Clemons said.
However, all eyes will be on Chang, the former Hawaii star who has the misfortune of facing a Toronto defence that's ranked first against the pass (219 yards per game), tied for first in sacks (25) and is third in fewest points allowed (18.6 per game). Hamilton counters with an offence that's last overall in points scored (16 points per game) and sixth in passing (239 yards per game).
"This is not a condemnation of Jason Maas," Taaffe said. "We felt it was time.
"We need to see if Timmy can give our offence a spark and need to find out if he can be a successful starting quarterback in the CFL. The only way you're going to answer those questions is by putting him out there. Timmy's a gunslinger, he has that mentality."
But Chang has plenty of respect for Toronto's veteran defence, which features end Jonathan Brown, who came into action this week with a CFL-high eight sacks.
"It's a great defence with good, veteran cover guys," he said. "They have a good front seven that doesn't allow much on the run.
"We just have to execute against them."
Defensive back Byron Parker said Chang can expect the unexpected from Toronto's defence.
"We'll have a look (Monday) that I think a lot of people haven't seen all year," Parker said, without further elaboration. "We're going to pressure him, that's what we do . . . we're going to try and be aggressive."
Chang will also have to deal with a sold-out Ivor Wynne Stadium and diehard fans to whom the most important goal of any season is a home win on Labour Day over hated Toronto.
"I've been hearing about it a lot this week," Chang said. "I can't speak from experience but I know it means a lot to the people here . . . and they want this game."
But Hamilton will have to do a better job against Bishop than it did July 7 when he threw three touchdown passes in a 30-5 road win. And the Argos will be hungry, having not won since Bishop was injured.
"I've always felt I was a fast healer," Bishop said. "I came in and took care of the things I needed to in order to get back on the field.
"Now I've got an opportunity to pick up where I left off and continue to be the leader I know I can be for the team."
Bishop was certainly solid once he established himself as Toronto's starter after starting the season as Damon Allen's backup. Before being hurt, he had completed 42-of-67 passes (62.7 per cent) for 595 yards with seven touchdowns against just two interceptions. His efficiency rating of 113.7 remains the league's best.
And Clemons, one of the few Argos who is liked in Hamilton, is an old pro when it comes to Labour Day and the deep tradition that surrounds it.
"This is two teams that love to hate each," he said. "This is the biggest of all days, excluding a playoff matchup."
Standings: Argonauts -- 2-6 (3rd place, East Division). Tiger-Cats -- 1-7 (4th place, East Division).
Argonauts Leaders: Offence -- Rocky Butler, 626 passing yards and 3 passing TDs; John Avery, 190 rushing yards and 0 rushing TDs; Arland Bruce, 28 receptions, 383 receiving yards and 4 receiving TDs. Defence -- Jonathan Brown, 8 sacks*; Orlondo Steinauer, 5 INTs.
Tiger-Cats Leaders: Offence -- Jason Maas, 1,588 passing yards and 6 passing TDs; Jesse Lumsden, 627 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs; Brock Ralph, 32 receptions, 434 receiving yards and 2 receiving TDs. Defence -- Nautyn McKay-Loescher, 7 sacks; Agustin Barrenechea, Lawrence Gordon and Zeke Moreno, 1 INT.
Argonauts Team Rank: Passing Offence -- 236.3 yards per game (7th in CFL); Rushing Offence -- 82.9 ypg (7th); Total Offence -- 281.8 ypg (8th). Passing Defence -- 219.1 ypg (1st); Rushing Defence -- 107.0 ypg (5th); Total Defence -- 301 ypg (2nd).
Tiger-Cats Team Rank: Passing Offence -- 239.0 yards per game (6th in CFL); Rushing Offence -- 116.3 ypg (2nd); Total Offence -- 338.5 ypg (5th). Passing Defence -- 297.0 ypg (8th); Rushing Defence -- 108.4 ypg (6th); Total Defence -- 389 ypg (7th).
Road/Home Records: Argonauts -- 1-3 on the road. Tiger-Cats -- 1-2 at home.
*CFL leader.
PDF Info:
Preview
Head-to-Head
Previous Results July 7, 2007 Toronto 30 at Hamilton 5
September 9, 2006 Hamilton 9 at Toronto 11
September 4, 2006 Toronto 40 at Hamilton 6
August 12, 2006 Toronto 20 at Hamilton 2
June 17, 2006 Hamilton 17 at Toronto 27
June 9, 2006 Toronto 11 at Hamilton 21
June 2, 2006 Hamilton 31 at Toronto 3
October 27, 2005 Hamilton 11 at Toronto 34
September 10, 2005 Hamilton 0 at Toronto 48
September 5, 2005 Toronto 30 at Hamilton 33
with you here, jumped early and got some at 39 and 41. 43 is still a couple points to short. Despite Hamilton's poor overall offensive point total they have been moving the ball recently.
Anyways both Bishop and Chang have live arms so hopefully we'll see a couple big plays and that should be enough to cover the low total.
5 minutes left and its 29-14 Toronto after a single on an Argos punt. At least you got a push GreenD if no one else scores. Hamilton were driving and Maas just fumbled it. Argo ball around midfield. I hope you guys at 43 can get this over, I stayed away from the total but loaded up on Toronto at -1 when I heard the Qb's that were playing. Talk about a rough welcome to the CFL for Chang.
