The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are no less close to making the playoffs than they were a week ago, but the true identity of the team is more elusive than ever.
After his team's second blowout loss in three weeks, head coach Scott Milanovich was candid when asked: which version of Ticats was the real one?.
“We’ll find out next week,” he said at the podium before walking away.
Hamilton suffered a 37-20 loss to the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday, missing out on a chance to secure first place in the East Division, a first-round bye in the playoffs and the privilege of competing in the East Finals.
The loss was due to a slow start, as the team was kept out of the end zone throughout the first half and trailed 20-6 at intermission. They turned the ball over four times, including a pair of Bo Levi Mitchell interceptions, and passed the ball for a whopping 211 yards.
“I don't know if it (came out) smoothly; we just didn't do a very good job. Disappointed, for sure,” Milanovic said of the performance. “We gave them hope. We gave them confidence. Lost the turnover battle, lost the speed battle and the fitness battle. Tried to make a little run, but it was too little, too late. We need to start faster.”
The Ticats are just two weeks removed from their biggest loss in history: a 40-3 rout at the hands of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Although the scoreline was more flattering this time, both defeats were marred by missed opportunities, offensive ineffectiveness and an uncharacteristic lack of fire.
After that first breakthrough, Bo Levi Mitchell came out swinging on the podiumfending off his coach's attempts to take the blame and demanding more from his teammates. This time he was much more restrained, saying that the second mistake in the fight for first place did not cause him much concern.
“Not particularly in this room,” the veteran QB insisted. “I understand the words coming from outside or the question (from the media). I've been saying this all season, that for me these last couple of games haven't been about the clinch. It's more about going out there and playing great football and letting the win take care of itself.”
“They came out and had a better plan. We as players didn't execute the way we should. That's our job. If you take care of your job, me in particular, we're just in a much better position to go out there and get a win.”
Hamilton has a proven ability to bounce back, as evidenced by a win sandwiched between two defeats. Mitchell and company baffled the Toronto Argonauts 47-29, flattering their opponents with 32 first-half points and five total touchdowns.
The question hanging over the rest of the season is whether this performance is more indicative of the team's ability than its two recent shortcomings.
“I think Toronto is definitely us,” defenseman Destin Talbert said. “It could be us today. It could be us any day. It's just a matter of going out there and making plays. If you don't do that, that's the result.”
“I look around the dressing room and I don't feel nervous at all. I feel very confident. I'm here, I hope we did better, but I haven't lost my confidence.”
The Ticats still control their own destiny when it comes to finishing first in the East, and they only need a win in the regular season finale (or a loss to Montreal before that) to ensure that the road to the Gray Cup runs through Hamilton Stadium.
However, the team will have a bye next week before returning to action on Friday, October 24 against the Ottawa Redblacks. This will give them plenty of time to think about their identity—for better or for worse.
“I'm one of those guys that I'd rather be back on the field right now. I think a lot of guys probably feel the same way,” Mitchell admitted. “It's never a bad thing. I'm not going to complain about saying goodbye to the week and letting the guys get better and recharge their batteries a little bit. But when it's playoff football, man, you can't wait to go.”
“We're obviously not happy with the performance we showed today, but we'll go out and figure out how to get more out of it. We'll do it.”
