The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are just four games into the reign of Scott Milanovich and heads have already started to roll.
On Tuesday, the winless franchise elected to swing the axe on special teams coordinator Paul Boudreau, bringing in Dennis McKnight to replace him. Speaking to the media for the first time since the move, Milanovich remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind the change.
“Not much (to be said about the firing). I understand that the question has to be asked, I respect that. Anytime things like this happen, it’s never one thing,” the head coach said.
“I think there’s a time for patience and I think there’s a time when you see the writing on the wall and it’s time to make a change. I think that’s where we’ve been on a couple of different occasions. I think it’ll help us in the long run.”
Boudreau was in his first year with the Ticats, joining the team this offseason after his contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers wasn’t renewed after seven seasons. Through four games, he had Hamilton ranked third league-wide in net punting, fourth in punt return average, eighth in opponent punt return average, sixth in kickoff return average, and seventh in opponent kickoff return average. They also sat fifth in the league with six special teams penalties, improving after Milanovich threatened to make changes to the unit after a lack of discipline in the preseason.
While those numbers certainly didn’t merit a ticker-tape parade, few expected them to be cause for termination so early in the season. That may have changed late in Hamilton’s Week 4 loss to the Redblacks when the kickoff team inexplicably attempted to squib the ball with less than 30 seconds remaining in the game and the Ticats’ holding a one-point lead. The ensuing return got Ottawa to their own 52-yard line and set up a walk-off field goal.
Milanovich was not asked about the decision-making behind the kick post-game and did not specifically address it to begin the week. However, he did indicate it was inaccurate to pin the loss on any particular play.
“I think it’s easy for people to look and say, okay, it was the kick or it was this or it was the two-point conversion, but I see 30 other plays that could have ended differently that the average fan probably doesn’t see,” the coach said.
Even if the squib wasn’t the cause of the loss, it isn’t much of a leap to suggest that the high-profile blunder influenced the coaching change in some way. Nevertheless, Milanovich insisted that no staffing decision he has made, whether it be in regards to a coach or player, can ever be traced to one moment.
“None of those decisions are made lightly. None of them are made off of one play or one game even. It’s been eight weeks that we’ve seen most of these guys, so there’s a body of work that carries over and when you add it all together then sometimes decisions have to be made,” he said.
“I’ve been on both sides of it, I was let go a couple of years ago when I was with the Colts. This is a man who has a family and has to go home to tell them. It’s unfortunate, obviously, for all involved and we wish him the best. A good man and ultimately, I’m responsible. That’s the way I look at it.”
Now the task of correcting the Ticats’ special teams woes falls to McKnight, who was previously employed by the organization from 2017 to 2019 — first as the special teams coordinator and later as the offensive line coach. Milanovich was quick to praise the new hire’s no-nonsense attitude and emphasis on toughness following his first practice, stressing the need for him to go back to basics with the whole group.
“From a special team standpoint, I think we’re starting from scratch right now. I think you’re gonna see energy, I think you’re gonna see physicality,” he said. “Hopefully, you’ll see better returns and we’ll have to prove that on game day.”
The Ticats (0-4) will host the B.C. Lions (3-1) on Sunday, July 7 at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
