Future looks bright for Ticats
Last Updated: Monday, November 16, 2009 | 7:39 PM ET
The Canadian Press
B.C. Lions defensive back Barron Miles, left, hammers Hamilton Tiger-Cats wide receiver Corey Grant during first half of the CFL Eastern Conference semifinal in Hamilton on Sunday. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)They were the CFL's feel-good story of 2009, a franchise that for years was the league's doormat suddenly emerging as a playoff team and Grey Cup contender.
The future looks bright for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Hamilton's breakout '08 campaign ended bitterly Sunday with a 34-27 overtime home loss to the B.C. Lions in the East Division semifinal. But after registering only 10 victories combined between 2006 and 2008, the Ticats posted a 9-9 mark this season to finish second in the East Division and secure their first home playoff game since 2001 and first post-season appearance in five years.
"All in all we made a lot of progress," general manager Bob O'Billovich said in a phone interview Monday. "I feel like we've upgraded our roster dramatically since I got here, especially from last year ,so we have a lot to look forward to in the future with our team."
Head coach Marcel Bellefeuille, who completed his first full season on the sidelines, believes the building blocks to success are definitely in place in Hamilton.
"I know they are here, no question," Bellefeuille said after Sunday's loss. "I felt we made some major strides this year.
"It's just a matter of going back and doing a post mortem in the off-season, finding out what has to be better, and there's a lot of areas that have to be better. One team is going to win its last game. We weren't that team but I certainly felt like we were capable of winning."
In just two seasons, O'Billovich has compiled a roster that has a nice blend of youth and experience. And heading into the off-season, O'Billovich said the vast majority of players are signed through 2010.
"I think we have about five guys who are actually playing out their option who we haven't re-signed yet," he said. "Between now and the end of this year it's quite likely we'll sign some of those guys back, so that number would be reduced."
Linebacker Otis Floyd is among those Ticats under contract through next season. Released after the '08 season by B.C., the former Louisville star proved to be a huge inspiration to Hamilton's defence on and off the field.
And although Floyd will be 34 when Hamilton kicks off the 2010 season, O'Billovich sees the six-foot-two, 238-pound Detroit native back wreaking havoc in opposing backfields.
"I think he showed he still has some life in his legs and played pretty darn good for us," said O'Billovich. "I would think we'd want to retain him and let him continue to play the way he has been."
And that would be fine with Floyd, who says he definitely wants to return to Steeltown next season.
"This organization is going in a different direction," he said. "I was just happy to be a part of it and hopefully next year I'm a part of it and we can keep on pushing.
"This was one of my better years. Except for '06 (when Floyd won a Grey Cup with B.C.), this was my best year."
Hamilton would also appear set at quarterback with veteran Kevin Glenn and youngster Quinton Porter. Both took turns being the starter, but it was Glenn who anchored the club's solid late-season run of three straight wins and threw for 437 yards and two touchdowns in the club's playoff loss to B.C.
Slotback Arland Bruce III, obtained from Toronto in July, made an immediate impact in Hamilton, emerging as the club's go-to receiver with 88 catches for 1,242 yards and 10 touchdowns. If the Ticats have a need, though, it would be for another pass catcher to complement Bruce.
That player could be Prechae Rodriguez, the lanky receiver who had 70 catches for 1,099 yards and seven TDs last season as a rookie but dropped to 45 catches for 495 yards and three touchdowns in 2009.
The Ticats' run game is in good hands with rookie DeAndra' Cobb finishing fifth among CFL rushers with 1,217 yards and averaging a solid 5.6 yards per carry.
But the biggest improvement this year came on defence, where the Ticats finished second in fewest points allowed (23.8 per game) under veteran defensive co-ordinator Greg Marshall. The linebacking trio of Jamall Johnson (CFL-high 109 tackles), Markeith Knowlton (94 tackles) and Floyd (67 tackles, five sacks).
Khari Long was tied for fifth in the CFL with 10 sacks while Justin Hickman added seven. But the playoff loss to B.C. showed Hamilton could use another effective pass rusher as Lions quarterback Casey Printers was able to use his mobility to hurt the Ticats' defence.
"We'll sit down with the coaches and get a report by position and hear what they have to say as far as where we can get better, or are we OK here," O'Billovich said.
"Right now it's probably a little early to determine that but I think overall we've got a nucleus from build from. What we're going to have to do is sit down and figure out how we can get better."
