Bert Faibish
Ticats.ca
Safety is a very appropriate name for the position that both Sandy Beveridge and Dylan Barker are competing for this season.
Whoever mans the last line of defense, coaches are safe in the knowledge that a reliable, capable football player will be there.
“Obviously I feel very fortunate to have a couple of guys back there like Dylan and Sandy,” said Defensive Coordinator Greg Marshall.
“It’s a good situation for us to have, it’s really 1 and 1a however it ends up, I’m sure they’ll both have an opportunity as the season goes along,” he said.
Dylan Barker was drafted first overall in the 2008 CFL Draft by Hamilton and it was assumed by many that he would become the team’s starting safety.
However, injury and the excellent play of incumbent Sandy Beveridge had him working mostly on special teams last season, where he excelled, making a CFL record-tying 37 special teams tackles.
Having the opportunity to be healthy and get some game experience last season has helped Barker’s confidence and has contributed to what has been an outstanding camp for the University of Saskatchewan product.
“I’m so much more comfortable this year, getting in those four games last year were really good for me,” said Barker.
“Coming into camp this year was just a lot more comfortable, it’s not about thinking anymore it’s just about going out and executing,” he said.
Having a young player behind him, pushing him to be better hasn’t fazed Beveridge. It’s inspired him to work harder.
“I think no matter what, you’ve always got someone pushing you for your job, that’s the nature of this business,” said Beveridge.
“It pushes you to better, it pushes you to be sharper everyday in practice,” he added.
Even though they are both competing for one job, the relationship between the two is anything but adversarial.
“You’re competing for the same job but at the same time you’re talking to each other at meetings and you’re working on things together,” said Beveridge.
“It’s not like you’re hoping for the other guy to do badly, you see him make a play and you know that it’s time for you to go make one,” he added.
In fact the two of them have become friends during their time together with the Ticats.
“Sandy’s been great, we hang out and do a lot of things together,” said Barker.
“It’s been a good relationship, learning from a guy that’s been in the league eight or nine years is always a good thing,” he said.
The difficulty that the coaching staff will face trying to decide between two talented, Canadian safeties isn’t actually a bad thing.
In fact, it’s one of those good problems.
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TODAY’S MULTIMEDIA
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Photo Gallery: Training Camp June 18 |
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OTHER NEWS AND NOTES:
- TSN’s production crew was on hand to shoot promotional footage of WR Arland Bruce III, RB DeAndra’ Cobb, QB Kevin Glenn, LB Jamall Johnson, LB Markeith Knowlton and QB Quinton Porter.
- Rookie linebacker Marlon Williams spent a few minutes before warmup frantically searching for his helmet, which was… misplaced… by some of his veteran teammates.
- LB Agustin Barrenechea, WR Chris Bauman, WR Amarri Jackson, WR Adam Nicolson and DT Jermaine Reid didn’t participate on today’s on-field session. WR Maurice Mann left with an injury during practice.
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TOMORROW’S SCHEDULE: The Tiger-Cats will take part in a walk through at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Saturday morning in preparation for their tilt with the Blue Bombers on Sunday.
