THE CANADIAN PRESS
Jacob Dearlove | Ticats.ca Staff
HAMILTON — The Tiger-Cats defence has jumped out to a very impressive start in 2015, and the players are giving all the credit to their defensive leader on the sidelines.
The unit has been a force over the first two weeks of the CFL season, creating more turnovers than any other team in the league, while limiting the oppositions’ offence to minimal production.
Each position group has had a hand in the early productivity, each fulfilling their individual duties. The front seven have consistently produced pressure on opposing quarterbacks, while the defensive backfield has turned that pressure into turnovers with some savvy plays on the ball.
And while it’s the players who are receiving recognition for their efforts, they’d much rather give credit to the football mind behind the it all, Defensive Coordinator Orlondo Steinauer.
“You’ve got to give credit to Coach O [Orlondo Steinauer],” said defensive tackle Ted Laurent, “he’s the one behind all this production we’re having.”
The Ticats’ high level of effort and production early in the season is a realization of the vision that Steinauer had for the unit when he signed with the team. From the very start, he demanded a defensive culture that was focused on making plays and forcing turnovers.
“It was something that needed to happen on the defensive side of the ball,” said Steinauer, “and we tried to find the right guys…it’s just about putting them in a position to make plays.”
Led by a stout defence, the Ticats have only solidified their standing as a Grey Cup contender early in 2015.
Steinauer is a laid back and friendly guy, but his approach to the game of football is meticulous and no-nonsense. He preaches a heightened attention to detail and assignment awareness, while stressing the importance of keeping the defensive focus internal.
“The biggest thing I emphasize to our men is to focus on ourselves,” explained Steinauer, “it’s about focusing on ourselves and letting the score take care of itself.”
That mentality has hit home with the Ticats’ defensive players, who refuse to acknowledge individual opponents; instead, focusing on what they must do as individuals and as a unit.
“We don’t worry who we’re going against,” emphasized defensive tackle Hasan Hazime, “we focus on what we can control in the defensive room.”
The internal focus does not completely erase the opponents from the picture, there’s still a matter of preparing for each individual opponent, but Steinauer would prefer to do the game planning and leave the on-field execution to the players.
“Every week teams game plan to your weaknesses and try to exploit certain things,” explained Steinauer, “we know that they’re going to come after us, and I’m really looking forward to see how our men respond.”
The culture throughout the entire Ticats team is consistent with this approach. Head coach Kent Austin emphasizes the role of coaches to put their players in the best position to succeed, while the players are in charge of executing the game plan.
“It comes down to effort and execution,” said Austin, “and our guys are pretty diligent in their preparation and being ready to play.”
It is this effort and execution that Steinauer points to when asked about the early season success, putting the emphasis on his players over himself.
“It’s just about the players making plays,” said the defensive coordinator. “To their credit, they’ve made some plays, but we’re two games in and we’ve got a long way to go.”
The trust and confidence that the defensive coordinator has in his players is impossible to ignore, and it’s a trust that is wholeheartedly reciprocated by the players, who are all more than happy to play for a coach like Steinauer.
“I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to play defence for Coach O,” said defensive leader Ted Laurent, expanding when asked about this week’s match-up against Montreal.
“I know Coach O [and] how he’s strategic with the defence, we’ll be ready to go.”
