The O-Line was porous. The secondary was torched.

And, in his highly anticipated return from a month long stint on the injury list, the previously sizzling Kerry Joseph fizzled.

Whatever became of those Renegades that demolished the Eskimos 44-15 at Frank Clair Stadium July 2, anyway?

Ever since that victory, they have lost 5-of-6 games, including last night's extremely ugly 31-19 defeat at the hands of a Hamilton Ticats club that lugged a five-game losing streak into town. Ever since that convincing triumph, the Renegades have watched a 3-0 record become 4-5. Ever since, they have slipped from a share of first place to their current dwelling -- last in the East.

And now, a roster shakeup.

"Our fans deserve better," team president Brad Watters said of a season-high turnout that reached 23,754. "It was unacceptable for this team to play at this level. We will do whatever it takes to make the team better for the final 10 games. And those changes will be in place next week."

Returning from a foot injury that occurred when he was sacked, Joseph was under a steady barrage from Ticats defenders. He was sacked twice in the first quarter and another in the second, after which he spiked the ball hard into the ground in frustration. The biggest Hamilton sack came courtesy of ex-Renegade Donnavan Carter, at the Tabbies 45-yard line, in the third quarter. Ottawa was trailing 24-10 and threatening to get back in the game at the time.

From there on in, Joseph looked especially uncomfortable. Until a fifth sack on the final drive, he continuously missed receivers.

Clearly, the combination of his rust and Hamilton heat made it impossible for him to get the job done.

"We never got in a rhythm," said Joseph --who favoured his injured foot on more than one occasion when leaving the field -- referring to an offence that didn't reach the end zone until Josh Ranek scored on the game's final play. "We spent most of the time on the sidelines. We never got going."

Some of them will get going now, if Watters' words hold true.

"We've got to find some answers," said coach Joe Paopao. "We've got to find some answers, fast."

FIRST AND LONG: It's almost a surprise the game has ended already, with all the flags that were thrown. It was stupid. Either players can't or won't abide by the rules -- or officials are on some sort of ridiculous ego trip where they have to be prominent figures in the game. Probably, it's a combination of both ... Worst crime of the night was committed by Renegades rookie Kyries Hebert, who was charged with a major foul and disqualified after hammering Craig Yeast while he settled under a punt. "Unacceptable," said Paopao. "That's not football." ... Hamilton's D.J. Flick, who was the Renegades' top receiver last season, was tossed from the game in the last minute of the first half following a fight with "Everybody Loves" Raymonn Adams ... Likely the only time you noticed Pat Woodcock was on the scoreboard at halftime during a semi-humourous, pre-taped clip with Stuntman Stu. Just three passes were thrown his way all night, by our count. All were incomplete, including a two-point conversion attempt with no time left on the clock that slipped through his grasp.

THEMS THE BREAKS: Tabbies FB Julian Radlein was ruled down, wiping out a first-series fumble recovery by Renegades DB Anthony Malbrough. Also on the first series, Hamilton's Jamie Boreham recovered his own 24 yard punt on the Ottawa 25. Despite the two breaks, the Ticats managed only a field goal. So much for early, positive signs ... Sandro Sciortino connected on 34- and 33-yard field goals, but was just wide on a 52-yard attempt that looked to have enough distance ... Yeast returned a punt nearly the entire length of the field for a touchdown that was called back by an offside penalty at the line that had zero to do with his exploitation of the Renegades' cover team ... Before he and Dave Donaldson combined on a spectacular punt block, TD return, had you even heard of Syniker Taylor?

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMM ... : Sure could tell the Ticats haven't scored often in the past month. They lined up for the convert after their first touchdown last night minus Yeast, the holder ... Unless Danny McManus himself carted it down the 401 from Steeltown, having a Giant Tiger outside the east end zone was a bad marketing idea. Why help make the Tabbies feel even a little bit at home? ... A between-plays fan contest we like: Two guys go round-and-round by their heads on "Dizzy Sticks" at the 20, then try to stumble their way into the end zone. The looked a lot like Southsiders making their way to the toilets at halftime ... God love Ranek, the one player you can count on to give you a bang for your buck every night.

EXTRA POINT: Apologies to exceptional Argo DB/Cheapseats reader Adrion Smith, who, with 140 consecutive games played, is riding an even longer streak (by five) than his former roommate, Kelly Wiltshire.