September 27, 2017

‘Speedy B’ running with new role under June Jones

Johany Jutras/CFL.ca

Coaches can sometimes make football sound very complicated. They like to about route trees, sitting down in a zone, hitting the gap and lineman splits.

That’s why it was somewhat surprising when Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ coach June Jones offered a rather simple explanation as why he’s made a point of using Brandon Banks, known mostly as a return specialist, as a receiver.

“Speed,” said Jones. “He can run faster than anybody else.

“I’m a believer that fast guys make plays. We are trying to figure out ways to get him the ball.”

During the first half of the season when the Tiger-Cats were losing eight straight games, Banks had eight catches for 51 yards and one touchdown. In four of those games he was targeted just once.

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Since June Jones took over behind the bench, Brandon Banks has become a bigger part of the Ticats offence (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

Hamilton has won three of the four games since Jones took over the head coaching duties from Kent Austin. In those games Banks has 18 catches for 242 yards and two touchdowns.

Coincidence?

“It definitely makes a difference,” said Jones.

Banks is relishing his increased workload.

“Any time you get the ball in my hands, that makes me excited,” said Banks, who had six catches for 44 yards and a touchdown in Hamilton’s 24-23 win over the BC Lions last week.

“I’m a guy that wants the ball in space and just wants to make plays for my team. I’m excited for the opportunity.”

At five-foot-seven and just 150 pounds Banks is one of the smallest players in the CFL.  What he lacks in size he compensates for with blinding speed and the ability to find an open space in the defence. Eight of his 26 catches this year have come on second down. Three have been for 30 yards or more.

Banks’ ability to get open and hang onto the ball has made him a favorite target for quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.

“To me he is a go-to receiver,” said Masoli. “He’s fast, he has good hands, he’s a smart football player.

“If you look at all of his stats, all the catches he has, he’s had a big impact on the game.”

Banks can influence a defence simply by stepping on the field.

“Even when he’s not getting the ball he’s getting a lot of attention from that high safety,” said Masoli. “You can hear the guys out on the field, the defence talking about ‘help me with Speedy.’

“He’s helping us in all ways.”

When Banks first joined Hamilton late in the 2013 season he electrified fans with his returning abilities. Over the years he has returned six punts and one kickoff for touchdowns.

Since starting at receiver, Banks has collected two touchdowns and 242 yards in four games (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

While happy to contribute any way he could, Banks always believed he had the talent to be a receiver in the league. In 24 games over two seasons at Kansas State he had 123 catches for 1,754 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“I kind of did it a lot in college,” Banks said. “I knew I had it in me.

“I just had to wait and be patient for my opportunity. When my number is called I just make the best of my opportunity.”

Some football players are like character actors who get type cast into roles. Sometimes it takes a different director to see their other talents.

“It’s easy to write guys off,” said Masoli. “They wrote me off all the time because of my size.

“It’s the same thing with Brandon. He knows how to get the job done.”

Banks’ best season as a receiver with Hamilton was 2014 when he had 42 catches for 529 yards and five touchdowns. He has 294 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games this year.

Banks believes the more he plays, the better he will get.

“It’s just being out there,” he said. “Seeing defences, reading coverages, watching film, running routes and being in the right place the quarterback wants me to be.

“It’s football at the end of the day. It isn’t that hard. I’ve been doing it all my life. You still have to work at it so you have muscle memory.”

The win over the Lions was a huge confidence boost for the Tiger-Cats. It was their first victory this season against a West Division opponent and their first win in Vancouver since 2011.

After a tough start Hamilton (3-9) has put itself back in the East Division playoff picture. A win over the Toronto Argonauts (6-7) Saturday at Tim Hortons Field would help the Tiger-Cats gain ground on the Ottawa REDBLACKS (5-8).

The task ahead won’t be easy but Banks insists no one on the team has given up.

“I think guys are just really giving it all they got,” said the 29-year-old from Raleigh, S.C. “There is no give-up in that locker room. Guys are really sacrificing. They are doing what they have to do, extra meetings, extra work on or off the field.

“What team do you know goes 0-8 and still has guys coming in early and staying late. We have some good guys in the room. I think at the end of the season there is going to be a different story than at the beginning of the season.”

With six games remaining Banks believes anything is possible.

“I wake up every day like a new day, a new challenge,” he said.

“I will watch the film to see what I messed up. I just want to become a better receiver. That’s what I’m really focused on now.”