Veteran quarterback Bo Levi Michell was honest when asked about new Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ head coach Scott Milanovich.
“He’s an amazing coach. We’ve butted heads at times, but I’ve butted heads with almost every coach I’ve had, it’s what makes a quarterback-and-coach relationship so beautiful,” Mitchell told CHCH Morning Live’s Tim Bolen.
“He has an amazing mind. When he came last year, our team definitely went on a positive trajectory, so I’m very much looking forward to working with him.”
Bolen followed up by asking: You’re not going anywhere?
“I’m trying not to, I want to be here,” Mitchell said.
That’s a much different tone than the one Mitchell had after the East Semi-Final where he expressed his trepidation about returning for a second season with the Ticats.
“If you’re not playing your highest-paid player on the team in a playoff game, I don’t foresee myself probably being here,” Mitchell said in November following the loss in which he saw limited playing time as the team’s backup quarterback.
Some people wondered if that decision led to some friction between player and coach but that does not seem to be the case, at least not publicly. Mitchell believes Steinauer can thrive with his new focus solely on being the president of football operations.
“I envision that no matter what role he encompasses he is going to do an amazing job, so being president of football operations he is going to help take this team where it needs to go,” Mitchell said.
With Milanovich calling offensive plays last season, Hamilton did see an uptick in many offensive categories, including scoring nearly five more points per game and the Tabbies finished the season 5-4 after starting it 3-6. Largely due to injuries, Mitchell rarely played, however, seeing the field twice with Milanovich as the play-caller.
“He had the injury and it was unfair to him as far as whether he was going to be able to get a full grasp of what I wanted done,” Milanovich said during his introductory press conference on Wednesday. “I am fortunate that I was able to spend some time with Bo. I wish I would have had more.”
Milanvoich was evasive on Mitchell’s future, stating the organization would “make the right call going forward.” The 33-year-old has two years remaining on a three-year contract signed with the Tiger-Cats last January, but his offseason roster bonus is approaching and provides a deadline for a decision to be made.
Mitchell had his worst statistical season since becoming a full-time starter in 2014, completing just 58.5 percent of his passes for 1,031 yards with six touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
