Looking for a Winning Combination Up Front

Ticats.ca
Justin Dunk

The fronts of all well-oiled offensive machines always posses five mammoth cogs that work in perfect unison to drive the unit forward.

Consistency is the goal each and every down for the Ticats offensive line in preparation for the 2011 CFL season. Whether it’s paving the way for Avon Cobourne or allowing Kevin Glenn the proper amount of time to find a target, the big eaters are using training camp to find their rhythm as a group.

“Communication is the biggest thing. We all understand that if we’re not talking, then we will not be on the same page and that can cause disruptions,” right tackle Jason Jimenez said after yet another day of back-to-back practices at McMaster University.

“Offensive linemen have to have that chemistry and be able to tell what the guy beside you is going to do,” Ticats rookie offensive lineman Brian Simmons said. “You have to be able to communicate the blocking schemes.”

The unit is under new guidance for the 2011 season. Doug Malone has taken over the duties of coaching up the offensive line and has been well received by the group.

“He’s a hands on guy, but he understands that we all know how to play football. He’s not trying to reinvent the wheel with us, which we can all appreciate,” Jimenez said.

“He’s one that you can tell really likes to coach, you can’t ever ask him too many questions,” Simmons said. 

For the unit as a whole, Malone knows exactly what he is looking for: a better surge at the point of attack, while minimizing the amount of mental errors. 

“We’re just trying to get better at our technique so we can get movement off the ball.  The biggest thing we want to do in our run game is improve on our physicality and how quickly we get off the football,” Malone said. “In the pass game we don’t want to be letting any free runners to the quarterback and have any missed assignments.” 

Malone is excited from what he has seen so far from his rookie import offensive linemen, who are forced to change their timing in dealing with defenders who are a full yard off the line of scrimmage in the Canadian game.

“Here you have to wait a little while to throw your punch because if you throw your punch to early you have lost your power,” Simmons explained. “I just have to get that timing down.”

“[Simmons] has adjusted fine, you’ve just got to be patient with that extra distance,” Malone said.

Pro rookies have to make the jump in their level of play on the field, but also must not fall behind in the football classroom. Missing assignments is not acceptable and ingraining a new playbook into your mind can be just as taxing as a one-on-one against Stevie Baggs.

“They’ve installed a lot on us pretty quick. In the meetings, sometimes I feel like I’m taking the SAT test everyday,” Simmons said.
 
The Oklahoma grad is used to winning football games.  Each year, the Sooner’s are expected to compete for the NCAA title.  Now with the Ticats in a quest to win a title in Canada, Simmons has already seen some similarities between the winning teams he was a part of at Oklahoma and the Ticats.

“From what I’ve been through coach [Bellefeuille] really has the winning concept of things,” Simmons said. “As far as the high intensity at practice, the expectations the coaches have of us, making sure no one is loafing from drill to drill… I do feel like it’s a winning atmosphere.”

Any atmosphere that produces a winning mentality is one full of competition, and Simmons is focused on what he has to do to stand out among a very experienced and combative group of offensive linemen.

“It’s a very competitive line. I feel like I am battling for a starting job,” Simmons said. “I just want to show them my versatility in playing on the left or right side.”

Jimenez, the grizzled CFL veteran, believes the level of talent currently at the offensive line position is very impressive.

“This year more so than any of my previous years, the Ticats have done a good job of bringing in new talent to compete for positions in training camp. All of the rookies are competing well and that means good things for everybody down the road.”

BLACK AND GOLD DAY THIS SATURDAY!

TRAINING CAMP NOTES

• QB Quinton Porter continued his strong play with another excellent day of throwing the ball.  Porter’s best throw of the day saw him hit WR Chris Williams in stride about 35 yards down the field.
• Veteran receiver Dave Stala also had a great day today.  Last year’s East Division Most Outstanding Canadian caught everthing thrown to him throughout both practice sessions. 
• Defensive end Justin Hickman took part in his first training camp practice today after he was taken of the suspended list this morning.