Fraser Caldwell
Ticats.ca
The preseason has been played and the roster has been pared down. From a teeming field of 80 wide-eyed rookies and wily veterans, the Ticats have drilled and battled for the better part of a month and identified the players who will take the Black and Gold into the live fire of the 2012 CFL season.
With the exhibition schedule firmly in the rear-view mirror and the regular season opener less than a week away, the excitement among the players is palpable. For rookie survivors of the evaluation process like receiver Onrea Jones, the onset of the ‘real deal’ is a reassuring sign that their talents have been recognized and an opportunity to make a competitive mark.
“It gives me real confidence,” says Jones of his position in a packed receiving corps. “It lets me know that the hard work that I’ve put in has paid off and that the coaches have seen it. That’s a blessing and that’s all that I can ask for.
“I’m very excited. Playing in the preseason, I made a few plays but the goal is to make more than that. I just want to be a part of this great receiving crew. Hank (Henry Burris) is going to get everybody the ball and the guys are just going to start here in practice so that by the time the game comes around, it’s all second nature.”
Jones knows that while he has passed muster at this early stage, his work to improve and fit into the Ticats’ vibrant offensive setup is ongoing. He argues that the key to that improvement lies in maintaining the hunger to learn and the vigilance to keep him fit in the midst of a rigourous football schedule.
“I’m getting pretty used to it, but I don’t want to get comfortable,” says Jones of the Black and Gold’s offence. “I want to continue to stay in the playbook and keep everything fresh in my mind so that I don’t have any mental mistakes. I’ve got to take care of my body, because it’s a long season. I just want to help us win in whatever way possible, whether it’s out here practising or in a game. But it’s all going to pay off one day.”
While the Ticats’ rookies have their sights set firmly on making first impressions and building chemistry with their new teammates, the Black and Gold’s veterans are looking to capitalize on relationships already made in past seasons.
“There are a lot of guys here who were here last year,” says the Ticats’ seasoned linebacker Renauld Williams. “Guys like Dee Webb, Marcel (Young) who had an excellent camp, and Bo (Smith) for example. Playing with those guys, I think we’re all on a better page this year just because of our communication, knowing what everyone is doing. We’re very comfortable and I think we’ve got a good group.”
That group put a mean streak on display in their final preseason showing that must appear appetizing to the Ticats’ fan base, punishing the Blue Bombers’ attackers early and often on Wednesday. Williams indicates that such hard-nosed football will be the norm going forward, as physicality stands as the chief priority of Defensive Coordinator Casey Creehan.
“Since Coach Creehan got here, he told us that no matter whether we knew what we were doing or not, he wanted us to be physical,” explains the veteran linebacker. “Physical first, and running to the ball. That’s what he really cares about, and we’re going to make that identity. Any team who comes to play us is in for a 12-round fight. We might make some mistakes, but we’re going to hit, and it’s not going to be easy to score points against us.”
Friday’s season opener at Ivor Wynne provides a first opportunity for Williams and his teammates to put that mentality on display with real chips on the table. But the seasoned veteran cautions that no one game should be given the celebrity treatment in an 18-game season, regardless of the fanfare involved in a home debut.
“Every game is a statement game,” says Williams. “You’ve got to be good at home. You’ve got to be good on the road too, and we’re going to focus this year on being a better road team. But you’ve definitely got to be good at home and win games there. We only get 18 of these things in, and every game does count because you’re playing to get that bye or home field in the playoffs. So every game is important.”
For his part, Jones believes that the opener provides an opportunity to build crucial early momentum for the Ticats, as well as demonstrate the potential of this year’s group to the Black and Gold’s faithful.
“You definitely do want to set the tone, but it’s mostly for us,” says Jones of Friday’s upcoming game. “I feel like it can be a confidence builder just to start that snowball effect so that we can work from there. I want to take it one game at a time really, and it’s going to start this Friday. Once we get that under our belt, we’re going to be alright.
“We know that we have a pretty good team and we want to go out there and show the fans all of the hard work that we’ve put in. For the ones who haven’t seen us yet, we want to be able to go out there on Friday and show them the talent that we have.”
