Hamilton’s the cat’s meow

By: Gary Lawless Posted: 9:43 PM CDT Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015

HAMILTON — The game Sunday afternoon between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be decided on the field by players and coaches, but the home side goes into it with an edge derived from being a superior organization.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/08/2015 (3953 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Bombers are getting better, but what they want to be is Hamilton, with a mature and developed football department with a roster to match. It doesn’t happen overnight and once you get there, it’s just as hard to maintain. It starts with a plan and then getting the right people.

The Tiger-Cats and Calgary Stampeders are the class of the CFL in football operations. Strong, talented and accomplished leaders in Kent Austin and John Hufnagel set the agenda and oversee the execution.

Peter Power / The Canadian Press
Hamilton Tiger-Cats' wide receiver Bakari Grant (84) celebrates his touch-down during first-half CFL football action in Hamilton Monday. — Peter Power / The Canadian Press Hamilton Tiger-Cats' wide receiver Bakari Grant (84) celebrates his touch-down during first-half CFL football action in Hamilton Monday.

Not too long ago the Tiger-Cats were a troubled franchise with a fading football operations staff and a classic but tired stadium. All that has changed and the team and franchise the Bombers face is poised for a bright future.

GM and player personnel staff

The edge goes to the Tiger-Cats. Austin knows what he wants and leads a talented staff. From Shawn Burke, Drew Allemang and Eric Tillman, Austin oversees a strong group. Kyle Walters’ first move when he took over the Bombers was a detailed analysis of the team’s football budgets. He moved money around and built a scouting staff featuring Hall of Fame quarterback Danny McManus and personnel man Ted Goveia.

Head coach

Austin coached the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a Grey Cup, ran an NCAA program for a few years and has now guided the Tiger-Cats to back-to-back trips to the title game. He’s at the top of the list if you’re starting a franchise tomorrow and can choose any executive. Innovative, detailed and in charge. Winnipeg’s Mike O’Shea is in his second year as a head coach and is still learning. He’s going to be good. Very good. He’s bright and has a vision. I’m not too sure there are many things O’Shea sets his mind on doing and fails. The duo of Walters and O’Shea need time. Time to put their plan in place and while they’re getting to the top of the hill, they’ll gain experience.

Quarterback

Hard to evaluate Zach Collaros and Drew Willy in terms of a comparison, as Hamilton has a much better surrounding cast for its young quarterback. Collaros is mobile and dangerous. Bombers QB Willy throws the best deep ball in the CFL and is tougher than most. Both have their attributes. Collaros has achieved more to date, but there’s something about Willy’s presence that makes one wonder if greatness isn’t around the corner.

Coaching staff

Tommy Condell and Orlondo Steinauer are two of the best co-ordinators in the CFL. Offensive gurus Condell and Austin speak their own language and Steinauer is on every next head-coach list in the league. Winnipeg DC Richie Hall and OC Marcel Bellefeuille have had success, but pro football is the ultimate “what have you done for me lately,” business.

Canadian content

The Tiger-Cats might have the best group of Canadians in the league. Ted Laurent, Andy Fantuz, Ryan Bomben, Craig Butler, Peter Dyakowski and Courtney Stephen put Hamilton right there with Calgary and Toronto for tops in domestic products. Winnipeg? Still a weakness. Walters inherited very little in this department, and while he’s made some improvements, drafting Canadians takes time.

Overall roster

Hamilton is elite, with several of their players being the best in the league at their position. Special-teams stars Jason Medlock and Brandon Banks, as well as a defensive front four the rest of the league covets. Winnipeg’s roster is now a C hoping to develop into a B. Walters and his crew need to hit a few home runs in their U.S. scouting work.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @garylawless