Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Ticats special teams play only bright spot from 1 and 5 start

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There certainly isn’t anything special about the Tiger-Cats 1-5 record so far this season. They’re in a 3-way tie for 2nd or last in the CFL east. But they have been putting the “special” in “special teams.” For the 2nd week in a row, a Tiger-Cat has been named the CFL’s Special Teams Player of the Week. First Quincy McDuffie — and today, Brandon Banks.

According to Ticats Special Teams Coordinator Jeff Reinebold, CFL Special Teams Player of the Week Brandon Banks reminds him of Hall of Fame returner Gizmo Williams — not in the physical sense — but definitely in spirit: “They both have that personality that great returners have. They believe, on every ball that’s kicked, that they can get a house call.”

Banks racked-up 202 all-purpose return yards, including a 97-yard punt return for a touchdown. He’s averaging almost 23 yards per kickoff, 13 yards per punt, and hopes to keep improving: “Make big plays for them. Give them a jump start to get back into the game. Hopefully, I can keep contributing each game and put us in that position.”

But the news was not all good today. Rumors about Zach Collaros returning to the active roster were just that — rumors.

And joining him on the sidelines today was running back C.J. Gable, who was sporting a walking boot, and is questionable to play this week.

Head Coach Kent Austin: “I don’t know honestly. He’s getting some tests done and I don’t have the results back.”

Aside from mounting injuries, the Ticats’ penalty problems persist. A total of 15 for 130 yards against B.C. last week.

Austin says there are multiple reasons for them: “One I won’t talk about, others are a lack of focus at particular times of the game.”

Austin reiterated his intention to reduce the playing time of repeat offenders. But we’ll have to wait until Friday to see if any changes have been made on the depth chart.

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