Ticats shift into playoff mode

The Ticats have no other choice than to take the Redblacks seriously — even though Ottawa is 2-12. With 4 games to go and a 6-8 record, the Ticats are tied for first in the east with the Argos and Alouettes. So it might be the middle of October, but the Ticats are trying to be in “playoff mode.”

The first time Henry Burris returned to Hamilton after becoming a free agent in the offseason, the future hall of famer kept his expansion team in contention, but wound-up losing the week five fight by ten points. Twelve weeks later, Burris and the Redblacks have only added one more win to their record — but that’s not something Simoni Lawrence takes lightly: “He knows he’s a good player. Beat us in our new stadium. Not let him get going.”

As for the Ticats offense, Ottawa will have not one but two running backs to deal with this week — but neither has any CFL game experience. Three-year NFL veteran Delone Carter is listed as the starter, but he only signed with Hamilton last Tuesday, following his release from Jacksonville in May. He’s expected to share duties with North Dakota State alum Sam Ojuri, who’s been with the Cats since July: “I feel prepared. I can do anything the coaches ask me to do. I can’t tell you what plays, but once I’m told what I have to run I’m gonna’ do that to the best of my ability.”

Delone Carter: “Gotta’ get used to the waggle, shorter downs. Getting used to the little things but at the end of the day it’s the same game.”

In other roster news, Delvin Breaux is on the depth chart at cornerback, but he saw no action in practice this week, and Kent Austin said he’ll be a game-time decision.