Q: The first question Ticats fans are wondering is how does the offence change with Mike Gibson at the helm?
MG: I think number one, Marcel and I are a lot alike philosophically. So I think the offence will have the things Marcel incorporated last year, with some additional thoughts that I have from my five years in the CFL. I think it will be an exciting brand of offence. The team has done a good job in past years of running the football, so maybe I can bring some ideas in throwing the football, as we’ve done a pretty good job here throwing the football around. I expect a continuation of what the Ticats have been doing, with a few new ideas.
Q: What’s your relationship with Marcel coming in?
MG: To be very honest with you, Marcel and I knew of each other, but we didn’t really know each other until this process had started. Some people who I’m very close with, Richie Hall being one and Jim Daley who coached Marcel in university and whose known Marcel for years, recommended me to Marcel. We just started a dialogue and it’s worked out to where I’ll be joining the Black and Gold.
Q: How would you breakdown the Ticats offence, from what you’ve seen in the last year?
MG: As I said, there’s no doubt the team has done a good job of running the football. I think we have a stable of running backs now and that’s a good place to start. At the quarterback position, the team played a few guys there last year and I think there is talent at that position, now we need to narrow in and see who the guy is going to be. We have good young receivers with speed and size. I think that’s a position that we might look to add a guy or two to the mix to add to the depth of that group. Up front on the offensive line, in the interior from guard to guard we’re strong. It’s no shock to hear me say we need an upgrade at the tackle spot, but I’m looking forward to working with the group that’s there and seeing what the future holds. There is definitely good young talent to build upon, so what we have to do is get everyone heading in the right direction.
Q: The Ticats have had to deal with a slew of injuries on offence over the last couple years. Over in Saskatchewan you were decimated on offence, but it didn’t seem to slow you down that much. How did you guys work through that?
MG: One thing that I’ve learned in my time in this league is that depth is very important and Canadian talent is very important. What you have to do is surround yourself with good people and Eric Tillman did a good job of that with the Riders. Our players bought into what we were doing and we didn’t use injuries as an excuse. Whoever we put out there we had high expectations of them, and their teammates had high expectations of them. That’s a mindset you want to establish wherever you are coaching. No matter who is playing, they’re there to do the job and you expect nothing less.
Q: How big of a jump is this for you, going from Saskatchewan and all the success they’ve had there over the past t
wo seasons, to Hamilton, who is a young upstart team?
MG: If you look at my coaching resume I’ve been to a lot of places. I’ve been in successful situations and I’ve been in situations that weren’t as successful going in. But in the end it’s coaching ball, and it’s working with people and getting a chance to work with a guy like Marcel. He’s a bright young guy and he’s waiting a long time for this opportunity and I know he’s going to make the most of it. I think we have tremendous leadership at the general manager position, a guy who knows this league in Bob O’Billovich. It’s just going to take hard work and guys believing in what we want to get done, and if we can get those things and everybody on the same page we’re going to be successful.
Q: Dennis Goldman is staying with the club as wide receivers coach. You two know each other off the field, but was it also important to maintain continuity amongst the coaching staff as much as possible?
MG: Dennis and I go way back. I’ve known him for years. We’ve coached against each other, and recruited against each other in the States. Actually Dennis is on my speed-dial on my cell phone here, so we have a relationship that goes back. I think he’s an outstanding football coach and a good person and I’m anxious to work with Dennis. Continuity is important. He knows those receivers. He knows the skill set of the position players and that will least be a familiar face or voice for the players amongst the changes being made. When you have a good football coach and you can retain him, that says a lot for your organization and the people there.
Q: Is it too early to ask you who you believe the play makers will be on offence this year?
MG: Well this is quarterback driven league, so your quarterback has to be able to make plays for you and distribute the football and get it in the hands of the people who can make things happen. We have a lot of talent at running back, so those guys need to touch the ball a certain amount of times per game. We have a good young receiver in Prechae Rodriguez as well. So we’re going to find out who the playmakers are between now and the start of the season. It might be early to name names, but we’re going to put those guys in a position to be successful. I’ve always believed that the hardest thing to do in football is to tackle in the open field, so we’re going to try to get the playmakers the ball in the open field and let them do what God gave them the ability to do, and that’s make plays.
Q: Having that third party view of things, how is Hamilton seen by other teams in the CFL right now?
MG: People feel it’s a team that is right on the edge. We’re not that far off. There’s a thin line between winning and losing in football. Some of it’s mental, but some of it is physical. What we have to do is make sure we have the people in place to be successful. Then we need to get that mindset to expect that of ourselves. I think that’s what we saw in the team late last season. They had a chance to win every game. Now, not only will we have a chance, but we’re going to win. I think Hamilton is going to be an exciting place to be over the next couple years.
