Week 3 might be a tad bit early to be completely convinced of anything when it comes to the Canadian Football League, especially when it’s been proven time and again that anything and everything can change in a matter of seconds.

That being said though, Hamilton Tiger-Cats Jeremiah Masoli has excelled despite his critics, and it’s in large part with the group he has at his expense to spread the ball around to in a receiving corps that includes the likes of Brandon Banks, Luke Tasker and Terrence Toliver, who played in his first game last week since going down in the 2017 season opener with an injury.

Since taking over the role as the Tiger-Cats starting quarterback ahead of the Labour Day Classic against the Argos last season, Masoli has completed 65 per cent of his passes for 3,702 yards and has a 3:1 touchdown to interception ratio.

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His numbers through the back-half of the season saw the departure of Zach Collaros and a contract extension for Masoli in the off-season.

This season alone, the Californian has completed 44 of his 65 attempts, passing for 676 yards. Hamilton’s victory over the Eskimos marked Masoli’s seventh straight game passing for 300 yards, two games shy of the league’s record.

“It just goes to show the point he’s been trying to prove his whole career, that he belongs to be in the CFL, that he’s a starting quarterback in the CFL,” Banks says. “He don’t say too much, he just proves it with his performance on the field. That’s the kind of guy I want to be out there with.”

The Black and Gold sit in second place in the East Division with a 1-1 record after their Alberta road trip that saw the Tabbies come out with a +3 point differential against the two teams argued to be the best in the league in many pre-season rankings.

Entering Week 3 with preparations underway ahead of their home opener on Friday when the Ticats will host Chris Streveler and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Masoli has nothing but high praise for his pass-catchers.

“We’ve got a really smart quarterback room, a really smart receiver room, and you’re just seeing us mesh out there,” Masoli told media after practice on Monday.

Hamilton ranks second in the league in total passing yards with 676, only behind the Edmonton Eskimos (694) who they defeated 38-21 in Week 2.

The success through the air is in large part with familiar faces being in the system, which has allowed chemistry to be built despite the juggling of personnel in and out of the line-up. Both Brandon Banks and Luke Tasker have been in the Hammer since 2013.

After Week 2, the Ticats have four receivers in the top ten for receiving yards, the most in the league. Luke Tasker is the top among Hamilton receivers with 11 receptions for 174 yards and two touchdowns.

“Since the day Luke got here, it was just very apparent how quarterback friendly all of his routes were,” said Masoli. “It’s almost as if he’s another quarterback out there; kind of seeing the same thing I’m seeing. From Day 1 you could see that, and it just builds trust from there.”

Since June Jones took over as head coach halfway through last season, Ticats’ Brandon Banks has seen an elevated role in the offence.

“He’s just been underappreciated as a receiver,” Jones said during his post-practice press conference on Monday.

He’s tallied 136 yards on 10 receptions and a touchdown, displaying his toughness over the middle despite his small stature.

“I got small man syndrome,” Banks smiled as he addressed media on Monday. “So I always want to show my toughness and show that I can be out there with the big guys.”

Friday’s home date against the Blue Bombers will give Ticats faithful their first opportunity of the 2018 season to fill up Tim Hortons Field and witness one of the most intriguing offensive units in the CFL this season.

“When he in the huddle, and he gives you that look through that visor, you pretty much know there’s some serious stuff going on right now,” Banks says. “He’s serious about his business and you better be on cue, because he’s coming your way.”

You’re up Winnipeg.

With files from Ticats.ca