Last Saturday, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats lost their second consecutive game 33-23 against the Montreal Alouettes. In that game, the Ticats pulled QB Bo Levi Mitchell after one series in which he completed 3 of 4 passes (75%) for 25 yards and one interception.
Backup quarterback Taylor Powell came in to play the rest of the game and played well completing 30 of 38 passes (79%) for 319 yards, two touchdowns, and 5 carries for 52 yards.
While Taylor has earned the right to be the starting quarterback, the Ticats need a spark on offense. This has been a weird season for the Ticats because their stats are not bad but they are not great and as a result they are 2-7 through 10 games of the season.
Hamilton is ranked first in average net offense (381.7), average passing yards (321.3), completions (250), passing touchdowns (20), third in offense touchdowns (23), fourth in total touchdowns (25), and ninth in interceptions (10) and average rushing yards (72.6), penalties (78) and penalty yards (678).
This team as a whole is not in sync with each other. You can see it in their body language, expressions on their faces, and the frustration of losing because this team does have talent on the field but the decision-making by both the players and the coach’s play calling have led them to where they are at right now.
The Ticats need a spark to get this team going again. I think they have that guy waiting for his opportunity to play football. I’m talking about quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa. Hamilton signed him on June 10, 2024. He went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft but did attend rookie mini camps for the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals. The guy has been on the practice squad for several weeks and he offers more as a quarterback than what they have right now.
Tagovailoa ended his Maryland career as the Big Ten’s All-Time Passing Leader (11,256), Single Season Passing Yards (3,860 in 2021), Single Season Completions (328 in 2021), Career Completions (955), Career Completion Percentage (67.1%), Single Season Completion Percentage (69.2% in 2021), Career Passing Touchdowns (76), Single Season Touchdowns (26 in 2021, Tied with Scott Milanovich (1993)), Career 300-Yard Passing Games (15), Single Season 300-Yard Passing Games (7 in 2021), and Career Total Offense (11,473).
In my last opinion post, I discussed that the Toronto Argonauts should inquire about Bo Levi Mitchell’s status and maybe trade for him. The relationship between Mitchell and the Ticats is done. I think in the best interests of the Ticats they need to try and trade Mitchell even if it means eating up most of his salary. Some team will take him and the Ticats can get something back for him even if it is a low draft pick.
With Mitchell out of the picture, the Ticats need to bring up Tagovailoa from the practice squad. He is a mobile quarterback. If you’ve watched what has happened in Edmonton since Tre Ford took over, the team is completely different because he is a mobile quarterback. He has gotten out of situations that most can’t do and he has extended plays with his legs.
Tagovailoa can do the same thing and more. He is the younger brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and I think Taulia would bring more eyeballs to the CFL product.
If Taulia Tagovailoa starts for Hamilton, he is going to show you what he can do and I think you will see a change on offense right away. Right now, not a lot of teams know about him except for college and he has a chance to take the league by storm but the Ticats must give him that opportunity.
At this point in the season, they have nothing to lose. If Taulia turns the team around and they are back in the divisional hunt, then it’s a success. If not, at least they gave him a shot. We will never know unless the Ticats make this a reality.
