I will be the first person to say that one player does not make a team. But I do think that one person can make a big difference.
This brings us to the curious case of Jeremiah Masoli, who has become the starting quarterback of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
In his three starts in 2017, the fifth-year CFL veteran has completed 57 per cent of his passes, for an average of 259 yards a game. He’s also thrown two touchdowns and three interceptions in those three starts and has averaged six carries and 46 rushing yards.
By comparison, let’s take the last three starts that now backup QB Zach Collaros made for 2-9 Hamilton, which included only three quarters in his last start on August 18 against Ottawa. He completed 64 per cent of his passes for an average of 200 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions in those three outings.
The only stats the players and coaches are concerned about, however, is wins and losses. Masoli has won two of his three starts, while Collaros is 0-for-8 in the win-loss column this season.
Again, the record is not all on the quarterback — it can’t be. But the most important player on the team has to be the best player more often that not.
Masoli is a good dual threat, but he’s too hit-and-miss in the passing game for my liking. Yes, I know that he holds the CFL record for most consecutive passes in a game, and that happened just last year. But game in and game out, he is too haphazard.
We’ve seen what Masoli can do with head coach June Jones’ offence. With the 6-6 B.C. Lions waiting to host Hamilton on Friday, isn’t it time we see what the Ticats’ franchise QB can do?
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