Best Of Bruce Yet To Come

Ticats.ca
Justin Dunk

Arland Bruce doesn’t think about age, to him it’s just a number.

“I just come out here and play.  If you can play, you can play,” Bruce said after a single light practice session. “I played with one of the greatest in the game, Damon Allen – 42 years old – age has nothing to do with it. I don’t think about it I just go out there and play.”

The former Minnesota Golden Gopher attests that his dedication to off-season workouts and eating habits have led to his sustained success at the CFL level.

Bruce starts his preparation for the upcoming season after the ball drops on a new year.

“I have a trainer I’ve been with for the last eight years. It’s one-on-one everyday, Monday through Friday and sometimes on Saturdays,” Bruce said.

“He takes care of his body, some guys age and it’s like they fall off a mountain cliff. The guys that stay in shape and swim and lift and run and work hard in practice, those are the guys that last and he’s continually working on his craft,” said Tiger-Cats head coach Marcel Bellefeuille.

Another key factor in Bruce maintaining his high level of play is his approach to each individual training camp.

“I come in here like it’s my first year trying out with the team,” Bruce said. “I have that mindset so when I come out here I can’t think, ‘man I’m 10, 11 years in the game I can chill,’ I can’t. I continue pushing myself because I know there are guys out there that want to take my spot.”

Bruce’s ability to push himself to compete and be better everyday was evident throughout the 2010 season as he had one of his best seasons as a pro with 1,303 yards receiving, despite missing almost three entire games.

Although, the talented veteran believes his best has yet to delivered.

“I don’t think we’ve seen the best of the Kevin Glenn and Arland Bruce connection, we’ve seen glimpses of what it could be,” Bruce said. “I want to be the best at everything I do, whether it’s making my bed, catching balls or running routes.”

When asked if Bruce views himself as the best receiver in the CFL he provided an answer, which clearly displays his competitive attitude.

“If that’s what you want to say then I’ll take it, but if you say I’m not, then I will go against you on that too.”

Bruce is confident he can continue to be one of, if not the best receivers in the Canadian game due in part to the man he has throwing him the football.

“He has potential to be one of the greatest quarterbacks in the league because he’s so smart. He’s just so intelligent at what he does and I think he’s getting better,” Bruce said. “5,000 [yards passing last year] probably wasn’t nothing for him, 1,300 wasn’t nothing for me. I’ve played with a lot of great quarterbacks in this league, Kerry Joseph, Damon Allen, the list goes on and on in my career, and he is definitely up there from what he did last year.”

“I know [Glenn] is hungry for a championship and I want to be a part of it. I’ve never been around people who play for second place.”

The man wearing number five and taking the starting snaps at quarterback really likes the rapport he has with Bruce as they continue to evolve the chemistry each day and he wouldn’t rather have the opportunity to be throwing to any other receiver in the CFL.

“I can be one the field and I can look at him and he can look at me and he knows what I’m thinking and I know what he’s thinking.” Glenn said. “All of last year he led the league [in receiving], up until one point where he had a nagging injury. Hands down I wouldn’t want to play with anybody but him.”

As the Glenn-Bruce bond strengthens each practice, the veteran pass-catcher is always looking to show the younger players at his position the proper way to approach football.

“I talked to [Bruce] and Maurice Mann before practice and communicated to them that their work ethic on the field is really lifting the whole effort of that [receiving] group,” Bellfeuille said.

The veteran role is one Bruce embraces and he sees a little bit of his never-satisfied-self in the young, talented Ticats receivers who are looking to improve their pass catching skills and crack a CFL roster.

“That’s the beauty about it, we have a young group of guys that want to learn,” Bruce said. “They’re coachable and they’re humble because they understand the mountain you have to climb to get to this level.”

BLACK AND GOLD DAY THIS SATURDAY!

MULTIMEDIA

June 7 Photo Gallery	Ticats TV: Stevie Baggs V-Blog #1	Ticats TV: Stevie Baggs V-Blog #2	Ticats TV: Day 3 Report

TRAINING CAMP NOTES

• After two days of back-to-back power practices, players shed their pads and took part in two hour practice session from 11am-1pm today.  
• Ticats legend Angelo Mosca and a scout from the NFL’s New York Jets were at Ron Joyce Stadium to check out today’s practice
• While the kickers blasted punts (Eric Wilbur and Justin Medlock launched some monster shots), receivers coach Tim Kearse worked with a group of returners that included Marcus Thigpen, James Swinton, Marquay McDaniel, Arland Bruce III and Chris Williams. 
• Rookie OL Brian Simmons has performed very well during his four days in Black and Gold, but fell victim to Stevie Baggs’ patented spin move during one-on-ones.  Simmons had shut down defenders for most of t
  he day, but was left grasping at air after Baggs’ maneuver.   
• Linebacker Yannick Carter had a great day rushing the passer.  While hitting quarterbacks is forbidden in practice, Carter came up with at least two ‘virtual sacks’ on the day. 
• PLAY OF THE DAY: During the third fire period of the day, rookie defensive back Terrance Lee stepped in front of a Jason Boltus pass, leapt, and reached above his head to make an impressive interception