By Kevin Thompson
Head Coach Marcel Bellefeuille took the time to answer some training camp questions in his first Q & A of the season…
Rookie camp is completed and we are now two days into training camp… can you give us your assessment on how things are going so far?
MB – “I feel good about where things are. I feel like the players have come into camp in shape and prepared to compete. I think we have a great level of talent here and it gives us an opportunity to have a very competitive training camp. We are putting in our schemes and trying to develop the character of our team.”
This is your first training camp as a head coach, is there any theme or motto that you are trying to instill in the players?
MB – “First of all I want us to have a clear set of objectives and goals for the season. The second part is that we are a team and together everyone achieves more and we have talked quite a bit about that. So those are two critical areas and the third thing is how we want to play…we have started to create that genre of how we want to play here at the practices.”
You are using the back-to-back power practice format this year rather than the traditional two-a-day method…why is that?
MB – “Well, the first reason is the players have more time to rest so they have twenty hours off in between practices where the other way they would have nine or ten hours off and then in the afternoon only three, so that is critical for us. And then the second part is that we have more meeting time to watch film with the players, and to meet as coaches throughout the day so that is obviously important to us. The third reason is from a production standpoint it’s a little easier because players only have to tape once, we only have to go over to the stadium once a day and there is more time for treatments.”
In your opinion, what areas of the team feature the greatest level of competition so far?
MB – “I think that every area is very competitive. I believe the receiver positions are going to be extremely competitive, I think that is one of the top ones. So we will see how that plays out because there is quite a good group of receivers here.”
How has this year’s first overall draft pick Simeon Rottier looked in his first week as a pro?
MB – “He has looked great, he’s a professional and approaches the game as a professional. His preparation for practice and meetings has been outstanding. And physically he is doing quite well and hanging in there.”
How about his linemate and the team’s selection in the 2009 supplemental draft, Zac Carlson?
MB – “Zac is competing and preparing well, and again he is holding up very well.”
You made a few cuts after rookie training camp to get down to the league mandated roster limit, do you have any predetermined dates on when more cuts will be announced?
MB – “No. We don’t have to cut down until after the second pre-season game so that’s what we are going to do, wait until after the second pre-season game.”
The position everyone is always interested in is the quarterback. How do you feel about the level of play you’ve received from the four quarterbacks in camp?
MB – “They are all doing quite well, we are very happy with the level of play at our quarterback position and I think as a group we will be very good.”
There were over 100 fans in attendance on Sunday for the first day of training camp. Can you comment on the support you are receiving from TigerTown?
MB – “The Hamilton area has been exceptionally good. I mean they have been great fans for 140 years and continue to be that. To see the support for our team and the excitement for a new season really excites me and the players. And we have all talked about how important is for us to put forth our best effort forward for our fans and our city.”
