Latest news with #ScottMilanovich


CTV News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Surging Tiger-Cats dump struggling Redblacks 30-15 at TD Place
Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Dustin Crum (18) is sacked by Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive lineman TyJuan Garbutt (9) during first half CFL action in Ottawa on Sunday, July 20, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby OTTAWA — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats had plenty to cheer about following a 30-15 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks Sunday night. Not only was this the fourth straight win for the Tiger-Cats (4-2) but they're now first in the CFL's East Division. It also marked consecutive victories over their division rival. 'I thought we were resilient,' said Hamilton head coach Scott Milanovich. 'We talked at halftime. I felt like we let them in the game. We had a 10-point lead and made some mistakes that I think kept it from growing, but that's football and they're paid, too. 'They've got talent, and we wanted to come out and win the first part of the third quarter. I felt like if we did that, we win the game. That's what happened.' While the Tiger-Cats are surging in the right direction, the Redblacks (1-6) dropped their fourth straight and head into a bye week wondering how to turn things around. The time off will be beneficial for a number of Ottawa players, including quarterback Dru Brown, who was knocked out of the game in the second quarter after taking a blindside hit from Dashaun Amos. He completed 6-of-8 passes for 66 yards and had one interception before being replaced by Dustin Crum. Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce shared that Brown will be going through concussion protocol. Dyce said that in the moment he felt the play should have resulted in Amos's expulsion, but he'll be reviewing the play closely. 'I think we do have to make sure that we are protecting quarterbacks to the best of our ability.' Crum was decent going 16-for-22 for 149 yards and one interception for the hosts. Dyce had stressed the importance of capitalizing on critical moments, but as has been the case far too often this season, the Redblacks fell short. Hamilton's QB Bo-Levi Mitchell had a good night going 21-for-33 for 327 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but Milanovich credited his defence for the turnovers they generated. 'They continued to keep them from getting back the momentum and kept giving us chances offensively,' said Milanovich. 'So, hats off to them.' Hamilton DB Destin Talbert had two interceptions that ended drives that could have turned into scoring plays. 'We had the lead, but barely, felt like they were hanging around and we had to gain some distance,' said Talbert. 'So, felt good, important, to make those plays.' Hamilton scored a field goal on its opening drive and, later in the first quarter, Brown was intercepted at Ottawa's 46-yard line. Two plays later, Mitchell threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Lawler, giving him his league-leading eighth touchdown of the season to take a 10-0 lead. Marc Liegghio added a 36-yard field goal late in the second quarter to round out Hamilton's first half scoring. Ottawa's Lewis Ward connected on four field goals from 21, 28, 33 and 45 yards to bring Ottawa within one, to trail 13-12 at halftime. With six minutes to play in the third quarter, Mitchell showed his veteran poise on second-and-18, finding Kiondre Smith for a 63-yard gain that set up first-and-goal at Ottawa's three. On the next play, Treshaun Ward punched it in to give Hamilton a 20-12 lead. Ottawa cut the deficit to 20-15 with Ward's fifth field goal of the night, a 27-yarder, after Adarius Pickett intercepted Mitchell and returned it to Hamilton's 24. Asked if doubt was starting to creep into the locker room, Crum said it's more about players needing to be self reflective and being able to handle adversity. 'It's a matter of being able to overcome that,' he said. 'Develop that kind of killer instinct, that mindset, that no matter what happens we're going to come out and win.' Hamilton made it 27-15 midway through the fourth quarter after Ante Milanovic-Litre scored on a one-yard run and added a late field goal. Notes Ottawa's Jovan Santos-Knox and Anthony Gosselin each played their 100th career CFL game. The game was costly for both teams. Ottawa lost DL Cleyon Laing, while Hamilton OL Jordan Murray had to be carted off. Up Next Tiger-Cats: Visit the B.C. Lions on Sunday, July 27. Redblacks: Host the Calgary Stampeders on Thursday, July 31. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 20, 2025. Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press


National Post
13-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Here's how the Roughriders line up against the Tiger-Cats
Article content 'I think they had some opportunities slip away. I think that (Tiger-Cats head coach and offensive coordinator) Scott Milanovich, one of the most detailed coaches I've been around, he's going to probably be on them about the details.' Article content Harris, who was coached by Milanovich in Toronto from 2012-15, threw for 277 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Week 1. And while Saskatchewan scored 31 points in the game, they were held off the scoreboard in the first and fourth quarters. Article content 'It's a good lesson to make sure we stay on the accelerator, because in this league, games are never over,' said Harris, who is 6-0 in his last six regular season games. 'We've just got to make sure we realize it's a full 60 minutes no matter what. Article content 'But to me, it's about who are we becoming in the process early in the season and finding ways to win, because everybody's going to be a different team when we get toward the end of the year.' Article content After Saskatchewan's defence gave up 413 passing yards to Redblacks quarterback Dru Brown last week, the group is hoping to lower that total against Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who threw for 304 yards and a touchdown in Hamilton's opening game. Article content Entering Week 2, Mitchell — who is looking for his 100th career victory as a starting quarterback — has averaged 346 passing yards in his last six games dating back to last season. Article content 'I can't speak highly enough of the guy,' Roughriders head coach Corey Mace said of Mitchell, who was Calgary's quarterback when Mace was with the Stampeders. 'He's a walking hall-of-famer. Article content '(There's) not a lot of stuff that you know he hasn't seen, kind of a deal similar to Trevor. Article content 'You've got to be on it, not only as a play caller, but the players defensively. You've got to be on it or he's going to expose you. (I've) seen it with my own two (eyes) on the good side and on the bad side.' Article content Across the CFL in Week 1, all four winning teams also led their respective games in rushing yards. Article content While the Riders gave up 413 passing yards, they only allowed 30 rushing yards while gaining 89 rushing yards as a group. Article content Meanwhile against Calgary, Hamilton's defence gave up 428 yards of offence, including 158 rushing yards to the Stampeders. Article content


CBC
15-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Abrupt end to record-setting '24 campaign fuels Ticats receiver Shemar Bridges
A premature end to a stellar rookie campaign is fuelling Shemar Bridges' preparation for the 2025 CFL season. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats' receiver was the East Division's top rookie in 2024 with 83 catches — a club-record for a first-year player — for 933 yards and four touchdowns. But it could have been much more. Bridges missed the final three games with a quad injury, ending his pursuit of Curtis Mayfield's league record for most regular-season receptions by a rookie (102). "I definitely feel like if I didn't get hurt I could've done some more things and helped the team," Bridges said. "Being able to go to the (CFL) awards show and watch the Grey Cup myself, it fuelled me that I didn't want to be in the stands, I want to be on the field. "It gave me that hunger and I just wanted to work as hard as I can to possibly come ready to help the team." The six-foot-four, 208-pound Bridges has looked good early in Hamilton's training camp. But head coach Scott Milanovich is keeping an eye on Bridges, and plans to save the receiver from himself and give him days off as the Ticats prepare for the upcoming season. Especially after Bridges pushed to continued playing last season after suffering his injury. "You love those kind of guys, right, they want to be out there and they're willing to play with pain," Milanovich said. "The concern with guys coming off injury is just how much pounding can they take on it? "We're going to keep a close eye on him and maybe try to give him a vet day here and there just to make sure we're not pushing him too hard. The tempo out there is fast, there's a lot of running." Bridges got his first "vet day" Wednesday. Bridges comes into camp heavier than last season But if the '24 season taught Bridges anything, it was to take everything — successes and struggles — in stride. "It's a long season so you can have your real high weeks as an individual and as a team and you can also have lower weeks," he said. "You've got to keep the journey even-keeled... you can't get too high or too low, just enjoy the process." Bridges said he had a little trouble last season keeping weight on so he reported to camp Sunday a few pounds heavier. "Not a lot, just enough to give me some strength to be able to endure hits and try to block better," he said. Hamilton (7-11) missed the CFL playoffs last season despite having the league's top-ranked offence. The Ticats were first overall in net offence (406.1 yards/game), passing yards (332.1) and passing TDs (35) and second in offensive points (26.5). Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was the CFL leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32) but also interceptions (18). Bridges tied Canadian Kiondre Smith for third among Ticats receivers (933 yards) behind Tim White (74 catches, 1,164 yards, eight TDs) and current Edmonton Elk Steven Dunbar Jr (75 catches, 1,159 yards, five TDs). And the unit was bolstered by the off-season signing of veterans Kenny Lawler and Drew Wolitarsky, who both won two Grey Cups with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. "We can be special but it's on us," Bridges said of Hamilton's receiving corps. "We've got to come out to work every day and stay accountable. "But it's a great group and I love that we keep each other accountable and work hard." Last season was one of adjustment for Bridges as he not only headed to a different country but had to get acclimated with a new game. With a year under his belt and returning for a second season in the same offence with the same receivers coach (Naaman Roosevelt) and offensive co-ordinator (Milanovich), Bridges is much more comfortable heading into the '25 campaign. "It's definitely a big jump," he said. "Things slow down, especially playing a whole year and having success. "Having the same receiver coach and same OC and playing with a lot of the same guys and having someone like Bo who believes in me just makes things so much easier to come into. But now I just want to take that next step, you can't be complacent, just got to get better every day."


CBC
13-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Ticats head coach Milanovich confirms Greg Bell will be the club's starting running back
Scott Milanovich quickly removed any doubt regarding who will be the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' starting running back this season. The Ticats' head coach emphatically stated Monday following the club's second day of training camp that job belongs to Greg Bell. And only an injury to the six-foot, 200-pound sophomore will change that. "Greg is the starter as long as he's healthy," Milanovich said. "There's no doubt about that." Bell, 26, had many flashes of brilliance last season, his first in the CFL. In just eight games with Hamilton, the California native rushed for 625 yards (6.6-yard average) and six TDs while adding 29 catches for 230 yards and a touchdown platooning with veteran James Butler. Bell's play resulted in Hamilton releasing Butler, who quickly re-signed with the B.C. Lions. Butler spent his first two CFL seasons in Vancouver (2021-22) before joining the Ticats as a free agent in 2023. Bell's dual-threat ability was on full display in Hamilton's 47-22 home loss to Edmonton on Aug. 17. He ran for 85 yards and a TD on 12 carries while also registering six receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown. "He's dynamic, he's explosive," Milanovich said of Bell. "He's a threat in the run game ... he's a threat in the pass game and does a good job protecting. "He's an all-around back. He has a chance to have a really good year if he stays healthy." Too many turnovers in Ticats preseason game, coach says Milanovich, also Hamilton's offensive co-ordinator, was critical of his unit Monday for committing multiple turnovers during the team period. "I was pleased with today but I wasn't pleased with the offence holding on to the football," said Milanovich, whose displeasure was clearly audible at McMaster's Ron Joyce Stadium. "Offensively, we've got to grasp real quickly that it doesn't matter how many good things you do, if you turn the ball over, it washes everything out." Butler was the last Ticat to rush for 1,000 yards, finishing with a career-high 1,116 in 2023. Before him, DeAndra' Cobb did it in back-to-back seasons in 2009 and 2010 (1,203 and 1,173). Bell credits Butler with mentoring him and helping ease his transition to the Canadian game. "I learned everything from him," Bell said. "Just being tough, learning the CFL game and being a hard-nosed running back. "I'm way more comfortable (now), I know the offence, I know everybody on the team, I'm good to be out there and be myself. I can have a really good year. We have a great offence, really explosive, so I feel we're all going to have a really good year." Bell's blocking prowess is impressive given how often he must engage bigger players. "He can improve but he's not bad at it," Milanovich said. "Ball security is another (area for improvement), he tends to carry it low at times. "But I'm glad he's here, let's put it that way." Hamilton (7-11) finished fourth in the East Division last season and missed the CFL playoffs. Bell played in the NFL with Detroit and Pittsburgh Like all quality running backs, Bell gets into his rushing lane quickly. However, once he breaks the line of scrimmage, he can kick into another gear that makes him very difficult to track down and catch. "I'm trying to get into the end zone every time I touch the ball," Bell said. "Once I get past the linebackers, I'm just trying to run at full speed and get to the end zone, for sure." Certainly, much of Bell's running ability comes naturally. But he works diligently at being a solid receiver. "I try to work on my hands every day... so I can be comfortable catching," he said. "Catching the ball is going to expand the offence for me and everybody." And true to his word, following Monday's session, Bell took extra reps at the Jugs machine, which throws passes between five and 80 yards and can swivel 360 degrees to mimic any passing drill. Bell played collegiately at Arizona Western (2016-17), Nebraska (2018) and San Diego State (2019-20). He joined the Aztecs as a walk-on in 2019 with no scholarships available, then missed the entire season due to a weightlifting injury. Bell opened 2020 with four straight 100-yard performances, finishing with 637 yards on 113 carries (5.6-yard average) and six touchdowns. He came to Hamilton after NFL stints with Detroit (2022) and Pittsburgh (2023). His primary goal this season is a very simple one.