Less than a week into training camp and Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ head coach Orlondo Steinauer likes the path his team is on but knows they are far from a finished product.
“We have a lot of work to do,” Steinauer said. “Right now we are still a work in progress.”
The Ticats have played in the last two Grey Cups and that type of success could breed complacency. Not with his team, according to Steinauer.
“You have got to earn your spot each year. I like what we see from the players that are returning. The personnel department has done a fantastic job of bringing people in. There is some really good competition out here.”
Hamilton has seen some fierce battles over the first few days of training camp between veterans and newcomers alike, and like every team across the country there are players whose names we were unfamiliar with a week ago that will find themselves in prominent positions during the season.
At this time last year no one had heard of Tim White or Steven Dunbar Jr. or Jordan Murray, yet those are just three examples of first-year players who played significant roles for the Ticats during their march to a second consecutive East Division title.
“I think continuity always bodes well in football, but it’s always great to have fresh blood in there. We’ve got a lot of key starters in, but I like to think you’re not anointing any starters at this point in time.”
Despite never being truly satisfied, the former CFL Coach of the Year sees the light at the end of tunnel.
“We have got a lot of work to do but I think we’re working hard. Coaches are getting better, players are getting better. I do like the track we’re on.”
If that track leads to the Ticats ending the CFL’s longest current championship drought fans will be happy with it as well.
