A new head coach and a couple new faces headlined the Ticats day one practice on Tuesday.
– Marcel Bellefeuille took the field for the first time as the Tabbies interim head coach and brought with him the energy he promised when he accepted the job the day before. Keeping a steady pace to practice, the team has turned their focus away from the media circus that was Monday and towards their game this Saturday in Edmonton, a team they feel they should have beat in their first meeting.
– DB Ryan Glasper is a little banged up, and just in case he can’t go this week both DB Rontarius Robinson and DB Sandy Beveridge have been getting reps in practice. If Rontarius makes the move from halfback to safety, look for DB Geoff Tisdale to fill his spot. DB Jason Nedd has also been getting work in the secondary. He could be the backup there if DB Sean Manning is unable to play. Manning suffered a shoulder injury against B.C.
– LB Cornelius Anthony is primed and ready to step up into his natural position at middle linebacker. He’s 16 pounds lighter than his predecessor Zeke Moreno, but his speed will allow him to excel in the centre of the defense, as long as the big men up front like DT Darrell Adams and DT Tory Collins keep the lineman from getting into the second level. It’s Anthony’s athleticism that has allowed him to move around, almost like a rover in the defence so far this season, lining up at defensive end and outside linebacker.
– Aside from the first round pick in next year’s draft, the Ticats also received the rights to DL Corey Mace. The 6’3, 285-pound defender is currently in his second year as a member of the Buffalo Bills practice roster. The Port Moody, B.C. native was called up to their active roster late last season, but didn’t end up playing in any games. If he makes his way back to Canada, he will make an instant impact on the Cats D-line.
– QB Adam Tafralis and DT Curtis Coker were added to the roster this week. Trafalis ran the scout team, the normal job of the fourth string quarterback, and Coker participated in a handful of drills, as he gets his feet wet with his new team.
– Off the field, OL Peter Dyakowski is in the process of buying a new car. Actually I might be a little skewed in saying it’s “new.” I don’t want to say too much, but be sure to keep an eye out for Peter and his roommate DB Dylan Barker, as both will be featured in an upcoming Lifestyles of the HTC segment on Ticats TV.
