Kyle Myers
Ticats.ca
When the Hamilton Tiger-Cats open the 2013 regular season on Friday in Toronto, they’ll be facing the reigning Grey Cup champions, anchored on offence by quarterback Ricky Ray, running back Chad Kackert, and the CFL’s 2012 Most Outstanding Player Chad Owens.
Asked whether he thought facing such a strong team in week one of the regular season could be seen as an advantage for his squad, Head Coach Kent Austin was rather concise with his reply.
“No,” Austin said, chuckling at the idea that facing a Grey-Cup winning quarterback with a pedigree as impressive as Ray’s could be seen as anything but a challenge for his team.
“Ricky is a great player,” he continued. “He’s very accurate, and he knows their offence. He breaks a lot of tackles as a quarterback and he extends the play more than people realize.”
Much has been made so far this season of new Defensive Coordinator Orlondo Steinauer, who spent the past three seasons coaching the Argos, and the potential insider knowledge he could bring with him to Hamilton. However, Coach O has been quick to minimize the notion that he has the secret to stopping Ray and the Toronto offence.
“Everybody in the league knows what Ricky Ray is capable of,” he said. “I know things about how these players are in practice, but (the Argos) put who they are on film each and every week. It’s always a challenge facing Ricky.”
Evan McCollough, a defensive back who was also a member of the Argonauts’ Grey-Cup winning team last year, echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“Going against him in practice every day you get to know how he plays and how he reads, but Ricky Ray is a great quarterback,” he said. “It’s hard to get a good read on him, and it’s a whole new year so who knows? I know he’s been working in the offseason just like we have over here, and he’ll be ready.”
Add in the CFL’s reigning Most Outstanding Player in Chad Owens, and Steinauer and his men will have plenty to deal with Friday.
“Chad Owens is self-explanatory,” said Steinauer. “You don’t have to tell your men how dangerous he is. We have to know where he is on the field at all times.”
Dealing with such a volatile offence, the Ticats know just how important the play of the defence will be if they hope to get a victory on Friday.
“If we don’t get pressure on Ricky Ray and we give him time to work, it’s going to be a very long day” said Austin.
“Defence is going to be important,” said McCollough. “It’s basically going to be a defensive game. Knowing that they have a lot of weapons on offence, as a defence we have to communicate and do what we do best to win.”
Though the challenge is mighty, the attitude in the Tiger-Cats locker room is one of a quiet swagger. Yes, they’re going against one of the best teams in the CFL, but it’s difficult to find a player or coach who doesn’t fully expect to leave the Rogers Centre on Friday with an undefeated record.
“This is a team that believes in themselves, believes in the guys around them, and their ability to make plays,” Austin said after the Ticats final practice before the game.
McCollough – who is receiving his Grey Cup ring prior to the game – expressed the team’s confidence not only in themselves, but in the coaching staff, and how they’ve prepared the team for success in 2013.
“I think we’re well prepared, so we’ll just let the fans see on Friday night.”
