Isaac Owusu
Ticats.ca
Running backs Mossis Madu and Isi Sofele are new to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2014 and are fiercely competing for depth chart positioning through five days of training camp.
With the contest being so tight, motivation is not hard to find.
“We got a room full of talented backs. There’s a lot of competition and we push each other every day. But we’re there for each other at the same time,“ said Madu.
The backs not only look up to incumbent starter C.J. Gable, but look to him for leadership.
“We have great competition and C.J. is a great leader. He’s guiding us through every play and telling us how everything is done,” Sofele said.
This is the first season in the CFL for Madu, who was raised in Norman, Oklahoma, after spending three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets in the NFL following his career at the University of Oklahoma.
He admits that the learning curve for the Canadian football game is fairly steep.
“It’s fast!” he said with a laugh.
“Real fast. Between the play clock and the motions, it’s super fast. I’m still trying to get the motions down to a certain extent. But I’m loving it right now, it’s cool out here. It’s something new and different. So I’m just taking it all in one day at a time.”
He along with Sofele are also competing for spots along with running backs Tavoy Moore and Lindsey Lamar who were contributors with the Ticats in 2013, but mostly in the special teams.
Sofele is a Utah native who attended the University of California. He spent 2013 on the B.C. Lions’ practice roster and came to Hamilton in May through a trade.
He is well aware that last season gives him a vital head start over his teammate.
“I’ve been acclimated to how offences are ran. How you have to be in shape,” he said.
“I feel I have a little bit of an advantage as to knowing how game-wise it’s going to be. So it’s going to be fun playing with these guys,” he added.
He prepared for 2014 by addressing his prior limitations.
“I worked on a lot of blocking, and route running. I put on a couple of pounds so I’m more physical and I’m ready to roll.”
Meanwhile Madu was granted a quick glimpse last month about what to expect in Hamilton, and he adjusted accordingly.
“When I came to [mini-camp] I had a good idea of what the CFL would be like so when I got back to training I was working on pushing my routes, the little motions and things like that,” he said.
The CFL is a new world for Madu and he is working himself into it, but the Oklahoman is fully anticipating more changes in his new environment.
“This weather is nice right now, but I know it’s going to get really cold,” he joked.
