Tiger-Cats blown out by Argos, will have to start considering major moves

The 3-6 Hamilton Tiger-Cats were likely under more pressure Saturday than any other team, but they folded under that pressure instead of rising to the occasion. The Tiger-Cats were taken down 45-31 by the Toronto Argonauts, and although they made some remarkable plays that showed off their notable potential, their overall struggles were indicative of how far short they've fallen of their lofty preseason expectations. A team many picked to win the East and contend for the Grey Cup is now just 3-7 on the year and has lost a league-high five straight games. This isn't a case of a few minor problems, either, but rather season-long issues that have plagued this team and may require drastic changes.

The Tiger-Cats' primary problem is their defence, which had allowed a league-high 32.6 points per game heading into this week's action and somehow managed to do even worse against Toronto Saturday, conceding 45points to the Argonauts. This defence was already a disaster before this game, but it will probably qualify for tornado relief afterwards. Defensive coordinator Casey Creehan has tried a wide variety of approaches all year, and absolutely nothing has worked. That's not all on Creehan, as the Tiger-Cats have notable personnel voids on the defensive line and in the secondary, but something has to change. A radical overhaul in defensive personnel, a new coordinator, a new scheme or all three may be required.

It says a lot about just how bad the Hamilton defence that the Tiger-Cats are 3-7 despite an offence and special teams that have generally ranged from good to dominant. Heading into Saturday's game, they'd scored 29.5 points per game (the highest total in the league), and they surpassed that again against Toronto (although two of their touchdowns came with less than four minutes remaining in the contest). Quarterback Henry Burris didn't have his greatest game, but his overall numbers (16 for 30, 53.3 per cent completion rate, 272 yards and three touchdowns with a single interception) weren't bad, and his two blazing-quick late drives (particularly one where the Ticats strung seven plays together for 100 yards and a touchdown in 56 seconds) showed what he and his receivers can do when they're in sync. Avon Cobourne also stepped in brilliantly for the injured Chevon Walker, rushing 13 times for 119 yards (a spectacular average of 9.2 yards per carry). The offence wasn't perfect, but it certainly doesn't seem to be the problem.

You wouldn't know that if you go by George Cortez's pre-game comments to Drew Edwards on what's wrong with the Tiger-Cats, though. He said "The number one thing is that we haven't scored enough points." Nope, that isn't the crucial issue; when you're already scoring more points than any other team in the league, it seems odd to obsess over offensive specks of imperfection while ignoring the branch embedded in the heart of your defence. Cortez' background is on the offensive side of the ball, though, so it could be he's more comfortable thinking of offensive solutions. A head coach has to see his team holistically, though, and it's clearly the defensive unit that's holding this squad back. Real, dramatic changes are needed, and if Cortez can't see that, the looming sword of Damocles may bode poorly for him instead of just his defensive unit.