November 3, 2001 was the last time the Ti-Cats won a game of any consequence at the Rogers Centre/Skydome. To put that in perspective, 2001 was two Prime Ministers ago, when the Leafs were still a Stanley Cup contender and Curtis Joseph was their goaltender (wait a sec?), gas only cost 66.9 cents a litre, and perhaps most importantly the Ti-Cats were only two years removed from their 15th Grey Cup championship.

Now the Ti-Cats are three years removed from any playoff action and once again seem on the brink of failure in steel town. This year was supposed to be different, new coordinators and a new attitude, but all of that came crashing down last Thursday as the Alouettes embarrassed Hamilton 33-10 in their 2008 opener. Now the pressure is on to turn this season around sooner rather than later. Truth be told the Rogers Centre isn’t the best place for this club to start a turn around, the Argos are 11-1 in their last 12 home games against Hamilton.

Regardless a spirited Hamilton club must show up tonight and if they can’t secure a win they must at the very least give Ti-Cats fans reason to be optimistic. Next week the defending Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders will be in town to face Hamilton. The Roughriders have always been a weak draw in Hamilton and 0-2 club will see an even smaller audience then opening night. You never want to say an early season game is an must win, but realistically if the Ti-Cats are going to turn this thing around, it has to start now.

In order to win tonight the Hamilton defense must show up, considered a team strength they didn’t play well at all in the opener. The Ti-Cats are going to have to risk a package that leaves Toronto receivers in single man coverage. This is crucial for the Ti-Cats to establish a pass rush. If the Ti-Cats are forced to play a zone like they did against Montreal the Argos quarterback duo will tear them apart. Dominique Dorsey the Argos speedy back will also be a threat all night long. On the offensive side of things Jesse Lumsden must be given the ball in as many ways as possible. Last year the screen pass was a very effective play for this club, with Printers running ability and a reliable receiving corps, the Ti-Cats can run several sets from the screen that should be successful. It is paramount that the Ti-Cats stay within striking distance in order to be able to run their game plan.

A Ti-Cats win in Toronto has been quite elusive in the last decade but this club should have some confidence from their preseason win. And more than anything else this Hamilton club has to play like they have something to prove, because once again their are skeptics around the CFL. Only wins will make a difference.

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