CFL.ca
Justin Dunk
Ticats.ca
Floyd Says Farewell
Former Ticat linebacker Otis Floyd announced his retirement from the CFL on Sunday. Floyd spent the last two season of his career in Black and Gold, and he liked it so much in the Hammer that he wanted to end his career as a Tiger-Cat
“I decided when I retire I want to retire a Ticat,” he said at his retirement presss conference at Ivor Wynne. “I’m surprised I’m not crying right now, so I’m taking it pretty well.”
Head coach Marcel Bellefeuille and a handful of his former teammates were on hand to wish Floyd a final goodbye as a pro football player.
“I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to coach Otis for two years. This club has gone, in a quick period of time, from a club that was down, to a respectable team,” Bellefeuille said. “Otis was a team captain for those two years and one of the integral parts of our success. Without Otis it would have been very tough to have that climb that we did without his play on the field and leadership in the locker room.”
Floyd signed his first CFL contract with current Ticats General Manager Bob O’Billovich all he way back in the year 2000.
“He believed in me all the way from the beginning to the end,” Floyd said. “I always knew this day would come. Mentally I wasn’t ready to go back out there, some teams did call, show interest, but mentally I wasn’t ready to go back out there and hit people.”
Floyd now runs a couple of businesses in Atlanta; a car wash and a trucking company.
His fondest memory of his career was winning the Grey Cup with the B.C. Lions in 2006, and he had the jewelry from that win on display during his retirement speech.
“I wore it because I want all these guys to see what a Grey Cup ring is all about,” Floyd said.
He admits his post football life has been different and is something he is still getting used to. Although, he has one duty left, Floyd will lead the Ticats out of the tunnel on Labour Day, a fitting send off for the fan favourite who wore the Ticats colours proud.
Mann Back In The Fold
After cutting his foot in a freak locker room accident prior to Hamilton’s week three contest against Saskatchewan, receiver Maurice Mann will make his long awaited return to the lineup on Labour Day.
“He’s going to bring a little more veteran presence to our offence. He is a very dynamic player, he can run after the catch and he can win one-on-one match-ups,” Bellefeuille said. “He gives us another guy that can make plays down the field for us. It’s going to take him a couple of weeks to get back to his true form, but I think it’s a good opportunity for him to get started this weekend.”
Mann led the Ticats in receiving after two games this season, before suffering the cut which required 11 stitches to close up and more than the expected amount of healing time.
But with the wound now healed Mann is back to 100 per cent and his quarterback is looking forward to seeing number 86 back in the huddle.
“It’s going to be exciting. That guy is like one of those Avon Cobourne guys, his work ethic, his voice, his leadership, it starts to branch out and other guys start to absorb those characteristics,” Kevin Glenn said.
The early season chemistry was clearly evident between Glenn and the 6-2 pass catcher, so expect Mann to pick up where he left off, catching 15 balls in his only two starts in 2011, on the holiday Monday.
Bearing Down On Brandon
Alouettes running back Brandon Whitaker has been a revelation after biding his time as a backup in the Montreal back field. He leads the league in yards from scrimmage (889) and rushing yards (614), but his first kick at the Cats on July 29 was less than stellar. Whitaker managed just 30 yards along the ground and failed to record a reception.
“I think we just played good gap defence and ran to the ball well,” linebacker Renauld Williams said of Hamilton’s ability to limit the Montreal tailback in the first meeting this season.
In seven other games this season Whitaker has wracked up 584 rush yards and 859 yards from scrimmage, certainly showing how dangerous he can be.
“He has good vision, he’s fast and he’s strong for his size,” Williams said. “He hits holes and sometimes he doesn’t go exactly where the play is designed to go.”
Williams knows what he and his mates must do in order to continue having success in shutting down Whitaker.
“You have to get in your gaps and make sure he doesn’t cut the ball back,” he said. “Me and JJ [Jamall Johnson] have to do a good job, they like to check down to him. That’s on me and JJ to get to him and tackle him.”
Stopping the ground game and forcing Montreal to air it out will allow the defence to pin their ears back and get after Alouettes pivot Anthony Calvillo.
“You have to get some hits on him early. If he’s back there comfortable sitting in the pocket his throws are very accurate,” Williams said. “If you hit him early he starts rushing and his throws are not as accurate.”
Further Investigation
Ticats head coach Marcel Bellefeuille on the annual Labour Day game:
“I like being at home on Labour Day, I like the environment. It’s something that we look forward to as coaches and players every year. I know it’s important to the fans, so if it’s important to the fans it’s important to me.”
Ticats running back Avon Cobourne on his first Labour Day experience:
“I had a little signing the other day at the mall and all the fans were fired up. It started building and I go out to the rib fest and everybody is fired up. I’m sure it will give you that feel that it’s bigger than a regular game. It’s something I’m looking forward to experiencing.”
