Is it too early to declare someone the defensive most valuable player? Because it appears Simoni Lawrence of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats has already got a lock on the title.
The CFL officially kicked off their season Thursday night as the Toronto Argonauts took on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the inaugural BMO Field game. The night was meant to be a beacon of hope for the city of Toronto as they started a new journey at a beautiful new venue. There was tailgating – something new for the CFL – and the return of Ricky Ray at the quarterback spot. It looked for sure like the odds were in Toronto’s favor as kickoff approached.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive front had something different to say about that. Throughout the evening the Cats had a total of six sacks with who knows how many rushes. Key off-season acquisition John Chick proved to be worth everything they paid for him and more with his disruptive play on the line.
Simoni Lawrence Steals the Show
But Simoni Lawrence stole the show Thursday night. He finished with a combined seven tackles, two quarterback sacks, and an interception turned defensive touchdown. Lawrence played like a man on a mission, an intimidating and unstoppable force. His passion for the game was on display, as well as his impressive athleticism and incredible speed. Lawrence will have to be the focus of offensive coordinators across the league in the future.
What made Lawrence so busy Thursday night was his apparent understanding of the game. On both plays where Lawrence got to the quarterback, he was able to shoot gaps in the offensive line as if he’d been in their huddle. His seven tackles on top of that were plays where he had more grit than anyone else, fighting off tough blocks and getting to the player with the ball. While his interception might have more to do with being in the right place at the right time, it was still impressive to see his breakaway speed as he took the ball thirty-five yards the other way with the closest player at least ten yards behind.
A Player Who Will Demand a Response
What is surprising, though, is that Lawrence isn’t a player who had a “coming out” game Thursday night. He is a player who has established himself as one of the best in the league in seasons past. But if what he showed on opening night is any indication of things to come, get out of Lawrence’s way because he is playing like a man who desperately wants a title under his belt. It will be interesting to see what adjustments are made next week as the Tiger-Cats take on the BC Lions.
