Kyle Myers
Ticats.ca
OFFENSIVE LINE
A team’s offensive production very much relies on the success of the offensive line. In 2012, The Ticats group of O-linemen helped the team to score the most points and passing touchdowns in the CFL, as well as the third-most overall touchdowns. For the past few years the Ticats have tended to play three Canadian lineman at the guard and centre positions, and two imports at the tackle positions. However, with a new coaching staff, there is no saying whether this trend will continue.
The core of the 2012 line is ready to convince Head Coach Kent Austin their spot in the depth chart is secure, as non-imports Tim O’Neill, Marwan Hage, and Peter Dyakowski are all returning to the Ticats this season. Hage and Dyakowski just signed new contracts with the team in the offseason, and Dyakowski was named an Eastern Division All-Star in 2012. Both veterans missed parts of the 2012 season due to injury but are now fully healthy and ready to retain their starting roles in 2013. O’Neill had a great year at multiple spots across the line.
Greg Wojt, a non-import right guard acquired in a February trade with the Edmonton Eskimos, is likely to challenge for a starting role, as he’s been a constant presence on the Eskimos offensive line since 2010. Wojt was selected in the second round of the 2008 CFL draft after playing four seasons at Central Michigan, starting his final two years for the Chippewas. He was named the Eskimos Most Outstanding Lineman and a Western Division All-Star in 2011, and is likely to see a significant amount of playing time this season with the Ticats.
Mike Filer, Jason Medeiros, and Cody Husband and Landon Rice are also in the mix.
Filer dressed for four games in 2012 but served as a backup centre to O’Neill, and had limited experience on the field. Medeiros was a member of the Ticats practice squad for eight weeks in 2012 before returning to McMaster for his final season of CFL eligibility, after which he was once again signed by the Ticats. Medeiros was a key part of McMaster’s 2011 Vanier Cup victory and their second consecutive appearance in 2012, and was named a CIS All-Canadian in his senior year. Husband dressed in all 18 games last year in his rookie season with the Ticats, but like Filer, his on-field experience was limited. These three have the advantage of a spending time with the Ticats, and their familiarity could give them an edge in camp.
Rice was signed as a free agent this year after four seasons at the University of Manitoba which included a Vanier Cup victory in 2007. The Brandon, Manitoba native also served as team captain for his final two years with the Bison.
There ought to be some competition at the tackle positions as well, though the Ticats starters from 2012 had very successful years. Imports Brian Simmons and Marc Dile both started all 18 games in 2012.
Looking to steal the starting positions at tackle are a slew of rookies, including Joel Figueroa, David Gonzales and Mike Ingersoll.
Figueroa played in 43 games in five seasons at Miami and was named the Community Service Man of the Year Award in 2011. He was also invited to the Miami Dolphins minicamp in 2012, but was released shortly before training camp.
Gonzales played two seasons at Washington State University after a transfer from Fresno City College, and was an honorable mention for the All-Pac-12 team as a senior.
Ingersoll spent time on several NFL rosters including the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New England Patriots after four years at North Carolina, two as a starter.
The offensive line is arguably the most important position as without them no quarterback or running back could do their job with any degree of success. Luckily for the Ticats, their group of linemen is one of the top units in the league, and should give players like Henry Burris and Chevon Walker plenty of room to work in 2013.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Though a few contributors from the 2012 defensive line have departed in the offseason, many familiar faces will be at Ron Joyce Stadium for this year’s training camp. However, there are also several new players looking to prove their worth in 2013, and help the Ticats defence in 2013.
Torrey Davis, Sam Scott, and Brian Bulcke all spent time on the Calgary Stampeders’ defensive line in the past two seasons.
Bulcke signed as a free agent on February 15 after two seasons in Calgary where he recorded a total of 29 tackles and three sacks. The Windsor, Ontario native was selected sixth overall by the Edmonton Eskimos in the 2012 CFL draft after playing four years at Stanford, where he compiled 60 tackles and five career sacks.
Davis was acquired in September 2012 in a trade with the Stampeders and made eight defensive tackles, including a sack, in a Ticats uniform. The 6’3, 298 pound lineman played two seasons at Florida where he recorded 15 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in 19 games with the Gators before transferring to Jacksonville State and recording 16 tackles in 11 games with the Gamecocks.
Scott hasn’t played in the CFL since 2011, making four tackles in two games with the Stampeders before being released. He spent the 2012 season in the Arena Football League with the Philadelphia Soul, where he made 4.5 tackles.
All three will be vying for a starting role in Hamilton, but they’ll face stiff competition from the other linemen in camp.
Another player ready to begin his first season in Hamilton is Shomari Williams, a three-year veteran who has spent his career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Signed as a free agent on February, Williams had a career high 59 tackles in 2012 to go along with a forced fumble and an interception. Williams started all 18 games last year so he’ll definitely be hungry to grab a starting role once again in Hamilton.
One veteran returning to the Ticats this season is Greg Peach, who had an extremely productive 2012. After spending the first three weeks of the season on the injured list, Peach went on to record 36 tackles and a team-high six sacks with the Ticats. Peach also recovered two fumbles and scored his first career touchdown on a one-yard return against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
In addition to these experienced veterans, there are several second-year linemen looking to improve in 2013.
Brandon Boudreaux had a solid rookie season in Hamilton, making 30 tackles and two sacks in 16 games.
Terrence Moore started four games in 2012, amassing nine defensive tackles and a fumble recovery in his rookie season. Moore played four years at Nebraska, where he recorded 46 tackles and four sacks.
Marc-Antoine Fortin played a small part in 2012, recording two defensive tackles and six special teams tackles in 15 games. Fortin played five seasons at Laval where he registered 20 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and was named defensive player of the game in Laval’s 2008 Vanier Cup victory.
Donovan Robinson was a member of the New York Jets in 2012 before signing with the Calgary Stampeders and starting in three games with the team, recording five tackles.
Additionally, several rookies will look to crack a first-team roster for the first time in their careers.
Craig Marshall tallied 73 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries in three seasons at South Florida, and spent time on the New York Giants practice squad in 2011.
Hasan Hazime was acquired via trade on February 27th from the Edmonton Eskimos, after spending three seasons at Akron and his senior season at Wake Forest. The 5th round draft pick tallied 129.5 tackles and eight sacks in his NCAA career.
Eze Ebiora was born in Manchester, England and excelled as a rugby player before moving to the United States in 2008. He began playing football upon his emigration to the US and starred at the College of Dupage in 2009 and 2010 before tra
nsferring to Southern Illinois. Ebiora played in 22 games at SIU and recorded 66 total tackles and 11 sacks.
2012 draft pick and non-import lineman Mike Atkinson played four seasons at Boise State, though his senior season was cut short by an ACL tear. Despite the injury, Atkinson ranked second on the team in tackles (37) in 2012, and was named to the All-Mountain West team. The Windsor, Ontario native finished his career with 86 tackles (12 for a loss), 2.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and an interception in 34 career NCAA games.
Matt Singletary, son of NFL Hall of Famer Mike Singletary, played three years at Baylor before transferring to California Polytechnic State for two seasons. Singletary recorded 27 defensive tackles and two pass breakups in his two years at Cal Poly.
Much of the core of the Tiger-Cats defensive line is still intact from 2012, but there will be several new faces to support them this season, including a few ex-Stampeders. With a solid mix of proven veterans and young potential, the Ticats D-line has the potential to be a dynamic force in 2013.
Fun Facts:
• Greg Wojt was born in Poland before emigrating to Canada
• Peter Dyakowski was recently named “Canada’s Smartest Person” after winning the CBC game show of the same name
• Brian Simmons’ cousin Cedric spent time in the NBA and currently plays professional basketball in Italy
• Landon Rice grew up playing nine-man football in Brandon, Manitoba
• Greg Peach ranks second only to Jared Allen in the NCAA’s Big Sky Conference for career sacks with 35.5
• Brian Bulcke graduated from Stanford with a 3.12 GPA as an undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering
