Kyle Myers
Ticats.ca
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The Ticats secondary received an injection of veteran leadership this offseason when the team hired Orlondo Steinauer for their vacant defensive coordinator position.
As a player, Steinauer was a standout defensive back with the Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts, winning two Grey Cups and being named to five CFL All-Star teams in his career. Steinauer also won a Grey Cup as a coach last season with the Toronto Argonauts and the DBs coach, and he’ll now be tasked with maximizing the potential of a group which contains several veterans as well as some fresh young talent.
Joining Steinauer in the move from Toronto is Evan McCollough, who was signed by the Ticats in the offseason. McCollough arrives in Hamilton after three solid seasons with the Argonauts, tallying 52 tackles last season and racking up two interceptions in both 2011 and 2012.
McCullough was an integral part of the Toronto defence last year, starting all three playoff games on the way to winning the Grey Cup, and he’ll be hoping to bring that championship pedigree with him to Hamilton.
Another new face in the Hamilton secondary is James Patrick, a five-year veteran who previously spent his entire career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Patrick had his greatest year in 2010 when he posted a league-leading nine interceptions and was named the Roughriders Most Outstanding Defensive Player, while also being named to the West Division and CFL All-Star teams.
As new players in Hamilton, McCollough and Patrick will certainly want to make a solid first impression on the new coaching staff in training camp, as they won’t be handed roster spots based solely on their résumés.
In addition to these offseason acquisitions, there are several returning Ticats defensive backs intent on retaining their positions on the roster.
Dee Webb is coming off a solid 2012 season in which he led the Tiger-Cats with two interceptions and seven pass breakups, and ranked third on the team with 64 defensive tackles. Webb returned one of his interceptions 98 yards for his first career touchdown, and made a definite impact in his first full season in black and gold. Webb will hope to springboard off his strong play in 2012 and continue to succeed as the Ticats defence tries to step in a new direction under Steinauer in 2013.
Also returning to the Ticats is corner Ryan Hinds, who once again has the ability to be a ratio-buster: a non-import playing a position traditionally played by an import player. Hinds posted a career-high 36 tackles in 2011, and recorded 8 special teams tackles in 2012 – also a career high. Hinds is healthy and ready to contribute to the new defence under Steinauer.
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Matt Bucknor and Ricardo Colclough are two players both entering their second seasons with the Ticats. As a rookie last season Bucknor made an immediate impact, playing in all eighteen games and ranking fifth on the team in defensive tackles with 43. After being acquired in a midseason trade with the Edmonton Eskimos, Colclough also made his mark as a halfback, recording 19 tackles and two interceptions in just seven games with the black and gold. Both players will look to build off of solid first-year campaigns and continue to be an integral part of their defence.
Canadian Marc Beswick will return for his fifth season with the Tiger-Cats after leading the team in special teams tackles for the last three years.
Additionally, there are several rookies who will be fighting in camp to earn a spot and start their CFL careers. Harold Mutabola went undrafted in 2013, but was added by the Ticats in free agency after a strong senior season at Western which saw him set new personal bests in all statistical categories, earning him a first-team OUA All-Star nod.
Arthur Hobbs was also signed as a free agent after participating in training camp with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers in 2012. Hobbs played two seasons at Nebraska-Kearney, and recorded 53 tackles and three interceptions in his senior year.
2012 second round draft pick Courtney Stephen will also be entering his first CFL camp after two years at Wilfrid Laurier and three seasons at Northern Illinois. Stephen registered 80 defensive tackles, two sacks, and six interceptions on his way to being named the WLU rookie of the year while at Laurier in 2008, as well as a first team OUA All-Star and second team All-Canadian in 2009.
The Ticats also signed Neil King, the 43rd overall pick in the 2013 draft. King was an AUS All-Star in 2011 and 2012 at Saint Mary’s, and finished his collegiate career with 75 defensive tackles and two interceptions.
Joining King from this year’s draft class is Mike Daly, the Ticats 6th round pick. Daly recorded 68.5 defensive tackles and 10 interceptions in his four seasons at McMaster, and was named an OUA All-Star in 2011 an 2012.
Several other defensive backs were added just days before the opening of training camp.
Delvin Breaux spent time playing with the New Orleans Voodoo of the Arena Football League this season, recording 10 defensive tackles before signing with the Ticats. Breaux was offered a scholarship to LSU out of high school in 2007, but a neck injury forced him to postpone his football career for five years.
D’Anton Lynn recorded 162 tackles, four interceptions and a fumble recovery in three seasons at Penn State. He posted career highs of 75 tackles and three interceptions in his Junior season in 2010. Lynn was also a member of the New York Jets in 2012, where he was reunited with his father, who is currently the Jets’ running backs coach.
Terrance Parks played four seasons at Florida State and totaled 99 tackles and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown. Parks also had significant experience at special teams at Florida State, and signed a free-agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012 before being released after training camp.
Raymond Brown recorded 19 defensive tackles in his four year career at Kansas. Brown was a member of the Calgary Stampeders in 2010 and 2011, and signed with the Argonauts for training camp in 2012.
With the injection of veteran talent into Hamilton’s secondary, competition at the position during training camp will be fierce. With a brand new coaching staff, veteran players and rookies alike will have to prove their worth in order to secure a coveted starting role with a new-look defence in 2013.
LINEBACKERS
Led by veterans Markeith Knowlton and Jamall Johnson, the Ticats linebackers will be headed in a new direction in 2013 under new defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer. The group, full of young talent, will be eager to impress their new coaches in training camp.
Johnson had a career year in 2010, when he posted over 100 tackles to lead the black and gold, and he’s remained productive, posting 75 tackles and three sacks in 2012 in a season in which he missed the final four games due to injury. Johnson is the most experienced defender on the Ticats, having played eight seasons in the CFL.
Knowlton is another Ticats veteran returning in 2013. Knowlton had his greatest season in 2009, when he recorded over 90 tackles and was named an East Division and CFL All-Star. Knowlton has the professional pedigree as a seven year veteran, and his CFL experience will be invaluable for a young group looking for a big season under Steinauer.
Two players with previous CFL experience will make their Hamilton debuts in 2013, and could figure into large roles with the new-look defence.
Marcellus Bowman has been the picture of consistency in his three years with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, recording over 50 tackles and an average of three sacks a season, with two career interceptions. Bowman also has experience on special teams, making him a versatile piece for the Ticats moving forward.
Simoni Lawrence was acquired in a trade with
the Edmonton Eskimos in the offseason, and will appear in the black and gold for the first time in 2013. As a rookie in 2012, Lawrence was used as a situational linebacker with the Eskimos, and he’ll certainly be looking to secure a more permanent role in Hamilton. Lawrence impressed in the playoffs, record six tackles in Edmonton’s loss to the Argonauts, and a change of scenery could help Lawrence fulfill his potential.
In addition to these two veterans, there are several other linebackers with experience at the CFL level.
Dominique Harris was signed by the Ticats in late 2012 and appeared in the final three games of the season, recording four tackles and an interception.
Louie Richardson also played his rookie year with the Tiger-Cats in 2012, appearing mostly in a role on special teams. Richardson played four seasons at Manitoba, an recorded a total of 55.5 tackles.
This core will be supplemented by a slew of rookies looking to make their CFL debuts.
Nate Bussey spent the final week of the 2012 season on the practice squad after being drafted by the NFL’s New Orleans Saints in 2011, and could make an appearance on the active roster in 2013. Similarly, Phillippe Dubuisson-Lebon spent two weeks on the practice squad in 2012 after a successful collegiate career at Sherbrooke, where he recorded 30.5 tackles and 2.5 sacks with the Vert et Or.
Additionally, 2013 will be the first time that rookies Erik Harris, Jonathan Beaulieu-Richard, Nick Rosamonda, will participate in a CFL training camp.
Harris played four seasons at Pennsylvania University of California, where he finished his career with eight sacks, nine interceptions, and over 230 tackles.
Beaulieu-Richard played five years at the University of Montreal where he set the school’s single-season record for tackles with 68.5, and was twice named an RSEQ All-Star.
Rosamonda finished his career at North Greenville University with 211 tackles and a school-record 10 interceptions, four of which he returned for touchdowns.
The Tiger-Cats linebackers are a predominantly young group led by a few veterans, and they’ll look to improve on the 2012 season under new defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer. There is no shortage of talent entering training camp, meaning competition will be stiff for the limited number of roster spots.
