Elks, Tiger-Cats have same record but much different outlooks

One 2-7 team comes into this game on a roll, if such a thing exists for a 2-7 team. The other one comes in doing things one would expect of that record.

The Edmonton Elks try to make it three wins in a row Saturday night in Hamilton when they take on the Tiger-Cats, a team that needs to play cleaner football to have any chance at contending for a playoff spot in the second half of the CFL season.

Hamilton is coming off a 33-23 loss last week in Montreal that saw it make the type of mistakes a losing team usually makes. It started the game with a pre-snap penalty, followed by a turnover. One series later, quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell tossed an interception.

Those mistakes against any team are bad enough. Those mistakes against the Grey Cup champions are tantamount to waving a white flag. Ticats coach Scott Milanovich has stressed the need to minimize mistakes for weeks but hasn't gotten his squad to realize it yet.

Maybe the insertion of six new starters this week, including Taylor Powell at quarterback, will be enough to get the message across.

"The grace period is over," Milanovich said.

While Hamilton seeks consistency, Edmonton tries to keep the good times going and avenge the 44-28 beatdown the Ticats gave it last month in Alberta. Since then, the Elks have beaten two Western contenders in a row, including Sunday night's 33-16 spanking of the visiting B.C. Lions.

A strong running game has fueled the team's first success of the year. Javon Leake has rushed for 266 yards the last two games, including 97 and a touchdown against B.C. The former Maryland star said mastering the details of the position has helped.

"The more reps I got, the more comfortable I got," Leake said.

Edmonton quarterback Tre Ford (chest) is listed as doubtful after being knocked out of Sunday night's game. Veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson will get the start if Ford can't play.

--Field Level Media