Kyle Myers
Ticats.ca
There was never any doubt that 2013 was going to be a transition year in Hamilton.
When Kent Austin was announced as the new VP, GM and Head Coach, it was obvious that the coaching staff and the roster would be overhauled, as he surrounded himself with the personnel he wanted and moulded the Ticats into the team he envisioned.
But the changes certainly didn’t end at training camp.
Compared to the line-up the Tiger-Cats fielded on opening night at the Rogers Centre, the team’s depth chart this weekend will boast several new starters. Austin and his staff have been tinkering all season long – as well as dealing with injuries – while trying to find the right mix of starting players for the team to succeed on the field.
The good news is that it’s working, and faster than anyone could have imagined.
Barring any setbacks or surprises, Hamilton’s secondary will field the same five guys for the third week in a row – something which hadn’t been done even twice in a row until this stretch. And that consistency in the line-up has manifested itself into stellar play on the field and two straight wins against the East Division leaders at a key juncture in the season.
“It’s important to know the tendencies of someone playing next to you,” said halfback Evan McCollough – one of the holdovers from the Ticats week one line-up. “You may think somebody’s going to be in a certain spot, but he’s not because you’re used to playing with somebody else. It’s good to have that connection with the guys you’re playing with.”
McCollough has been accelerated into the role of savvy veteran this season, due both to his familiarity with Coach Orlondo Steinauer (who he played under in Toronto), as well as the fact that he’s the only current starting DB to not make his CFL debut this year.
“Me being one of the veterans I’m trying to help (the rookies) out with where to line-up, and to help them get confidence” he said. “Everybody that’s in the secondary has been doing a great job, like Coach says we’re just trying to get better.”
After starting the year 1–4, Hamilton boasts the second best record in the CFL since, winning seven of their last ten during their ascension up the East Division standings. A big part of that success has been a marked improvement on defence, and linebacker/defensive back hybrid Rico Murray has certainly contributed more than his fair share.
A mid-season addition to the Ticats lineup, Murray first started at the SAM linebacker position, only to be moved back to the secondary, where he played in college and the NFL.
In fact, Murray has played in such a wide range of roles for the Tiger-Cats this year – he’s now starting at short corner – even he isn’t sure just how many positions he’s played.
“I’ve lost track,” Murray joked after practice on Thursday.
But while his constant movement throughout the defence might be perceived by an outsider as a disadvantage, Murray insists that he’s a better player today because of it.
“I think as a player it’s healthy for my growth,” he said. “It helps me understand the defence from another perspective. Whatever position I’m playing, it helps me get perspective of what my teammates might be expecting out of me and whatever role I might fit into, and it helps me better understand the flow of our defence at the same time.”
With 46 tackles, two sacks, and two interceptions through 12 games, Murray will certainly be among those discussed for the Tiger-Cats defensive player of the year. But regardless of players’ individual successes, it’s clear that Hamilton’s secondary is becoming more comfortable on the field as they come together into a single, cohesive unit.
“We try to keep the standard for communication high at all times,” said Murray. “It’s all about guys being on the same page and having the same attitude.”
Heading into the final three games of the season, the Ticats certainly appear to be gelling at the right time. The Tiger-Cats defence held the Argonauts to just three touchdowns in the past two games, with their final victory punctuated by the first interception of Ricky Ray in 2013.
Asked whether he saw any similarities between this year’s Tiger-Cats and last year’s Argonauts – who finished 9–9 and won the Grey Cup – McCollough answered with cautious optimism.
“Well I don’t really want to jinx myself,” he said with a smirk, “but it’s definitely gone through my head that we’re similar.”
“But again, I don’t want to jinx us, so I won’t really speak on that too much.”
