Kyle Myers
Ticats.ca
When the Hamilton Tiger-Cats travel to the Rogers Centre to take on the Toronto Argonauts this Friday, Defensive Coordinator Orlondo Steinauer is going to feel right at home.
A Grey Cup winner as both a player and a coach – the latter coming last year on the trophy’s 100th anniversary – Steinauer found success in the double blue. Now however, ‘Coach O’ returns to Toronto once again wearing Hamilton’s black and gold, colours he also sported when was a member of Hamilton’s 1999 Grey Cup winning team. Despite his history of glory in Toronto, Steinauer is ready to forge a new legacy as a coach in Hamilton.
“I had some great times there (in Toronto), we’re etched in history there and I miss the guys that I developed personal relationships with, but if you stay put in life you don’t get anywhere,” Steinauer said after practice Monday.
“I’ve moved on just as they have, and I definitely don’t miss them more than I really want to get a win in that building on Friday.”
Steinauer’s defence has impressed in the preseason, including a dominant shutout of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last week that saw the Ticats force nine turnovers. As good as they’ve been though, he feels there is still plenty of work to do to before he’s satisfied.
“I’m really happy with where we are right now as a defence,” Steinauer said. “But no I’m not satisfied, because I know they can be even better. These guys are willing to put in the work required, and I’m really excited about that.”
As for this weeks’ game, Steinauer said he expects exactly what he’s expected for the past month or so: 100% effort.
“We don’t ask for anything in a game that we don’t ask for in practice,” he said. “We are looking for guys who are willing to buy into Coach Austin’s culture and guys that will work hard. We expect players to leave it all on the field.”
With the Argonauts coming off a Grey Cup victory in 2012 and being picked as this year’s favourites in the East, Hamilton will certainly need a solid effort if they hope to come back to Hamilton with a victory. Luckily for the Tiger-Cats, if the preseason is any indication, they have more than enough talent and playmaking ability to begin the 2013 season on a good note.
