Kyle Myers
Ticats.ca
The offensive line is one of the most important positions in football, yet also one of the easiest to overlook. O-linemen often don’t get the benefit of stats to prove their dominance on the field, but rather, an offensive unit is judged by the success of a team’s offensive line.
Last year, the Ticats offence scored the most points in the CFL, and Henry Burris set a new franchise record for passing yards. In other words, the Tiger-Cats offensive line is one area which didn’t need all that much tinkering in the offseason. Tim O’Neill, Peter Dyakowski, Marc Dile, and Brian Simmons are all returning to the Ticats in 2013, after forming a formidable guard for Burris in 2012.
Also returning for his tenth CFL season is centre Marwan Hage, who has spent his entire career in Hamilton. As the starting centre, Hage plays one of the most difficult positions on the O-line, and so even as a proven veteran, each year in training camp is a new experience.
“After ten years I’m still learning, still developing my fundamental skills,” said Hage. “It’s exciting to come in this year with a new coaching staff and a new offence to learn.”
Like many of the other veterans on the Tiger-Cats, Hage expressed just how positive he feels about the direction that the team is headed under Austin.
“I definitely feel that Coach Austin is steering the ship in the right direction, and the team is responding, it’s great to see.”
In addition to Hage and the other Ticat veterans, there are several new faces looking to make their mark and earn a role with the team in 2013.
One of those players in Greg Wojt, who was acquired by the Ticats in a trade with the Edmonton Eskimos in February. Wojt has spent three seasons with the Eskimos and helped lead the team to the playoffs last season, before being traded after a loss to the Argonauts.
Though being traded is always a difficult pill to swallow, Wojt is treating it as motivation for the upcoming season.
“Coming into a new team I really need to earn a spot on this lineup,” Wojt said. “Because I got traded I feel I need to prove myself to my new teammates, as well as to my old team.”
But there was another benefit for Wojt in the trade. Like defensive lineman Brian Bulcke, who signed with the Ticats in the offseason, Wojt’s childhood home is just hours away from Hamilton, and getting to play in front of his loved ones is an experience he’s looking forward to.
“To be able to play at home is fantastic,” Wojt said about his return to Ontario. “The fact that friends and family can come out to games takes some of the sting out of getting traded.”
As for their goals for the season, both Wojt and Hage echoed what many of the Tiger-Cats have said since the start of training camp.
“We talked about it on day one, the ultimate goal for this team is a championship,” said Wojt. “We’re all on the same page.”
There is a palpable sense of optimism and positivity surrounding the Ticats in 2013. From the highest ranking veteran to the freshest rookie, everyone on this team believes that the pieces are in place for the team to have a great season. In just a few short weeks, they’ll have the opportunity to step on the field and show fans just why they’re so positive.
