They’re not in mid-season form by any means, but you certainly couldn’t have guessed from watching the Tiger-Cats’ offence Monday morning that this was the first full team practice of training camp.
The synchronicity looked more like mid-July than mid-May, and it was clear that the veterans, and the rookies too, had been doing their playbook homework.
After leading the CFL in so many important categories last season and Bo Levi Mitchell posting one of the greatest statistical seasons in franchise history, and right up there with the best seasons of his brilliant 13-year CFL career, the expectations are even higher for this Ticat offence.
And head coach and offensive coordinator Scott Milanovich has been very deliberate in letting his charges know about it. Not quietly either.
Mitchell picked up where he left off to end last season (875 yards and two touchdowns in the final two games), and looked sharp on almost every play.
Mitchell spent the off-season continuing the well-documented training and dietary regimen prescribed by strength and conditioning coach Marcellus Bowman, which dramatically resculpted his body and energy levels last year, although this winter it was via remote communication, because he and his young family had moved from the Hamilton area to South Carolina.
“You probably could hear me,” Milanovich said after practice. “I was pissed at him because he threw two interceptions and, you know, that’s what he’s got to fix. And he knows this. But he’s throwing the ball well. Most importantly, his footwork looks cleaner this year in terms of just trusting the drops. And that’s what is going to give him the accuracy that we’re looking for.
“So I’m going to be on him, and all the quarterbacks, hard. This isn’t a time to relax. This is the time to be more efficient. Protect the football. Build upon some of the good things that he, in particular, did last year and take it to the next level.”
After last season’s full season together, the quarterback and his offensive coordinator are much more in synch. Mitchell, an exemplary leader and down-to-earth teammate, knows how to accept critiques, even loud ones, and actually welcomes them as part of his continuing education. And even with his Hall of Fame bona fides, he still wants to learn.
That dovetails with what Milanovich had been saying the day before, when he addressed how having a second training camp with his team has been beneficial to his coaching.
“They talk about treating everybody the same, but there are different personalities,” he said. “So from that standpoint, things are different. You maybe know which guy needs a pat on the butt and maybe know which guy needs a kick in the butt.
“But more so, I have a better feel for what we’re going to be good at, in particular on offense, what our quarterback thrives upon. And, we’re going to be able to go a lot faster in terms of (play) install and all those things for sure.”
Which was evident on Monday. Last year at this time, the Ticats were still trying to figure out if they had enough viable starters, and who they would be. This year, the potent offence, despite three starting newcomers, is well into the playbook, and on Monday, both the first and second units were playing with rhythm and coordination. And surprising speed. But there were a couple of interceptions, and some fumbles, missteps which Milanovich hammered like an angry carpenter.
“I was pleased with today,” he said. “I wasn’t pleased with the offence; hold on to the football.
“But there was a ton of good. I thought our defence did an amazing job. They got some turnovers, popped out some fumbles, and had a couple of interceptions. And then there are a lot of good things that are going on on offense.
“But, offensively, we’ve got to grasp real quickly that it doesn’t matter how many good things you do, if you turn the ball over, it washes everything out.”
One of the significant changes from last spring was instituted midway through the season when Greg Bell took over as running back from power runner James Butler, now in B.C., whom Bell thanked yesterday for being his CFL mentor and sounding board.
Milanovich emphasized that Bell is the clear starter—he’ll likely be backed up by Canadians Johnny Augustine and short-yardage maestro Ante Litre, praising his ability to run at varying angles and find a powerful second gear when he penetrates the second tier of the defence. Bell also executes good pass routes, especially on the delay into the flats, which helps Mitchell on the option plays.
While Bell isn’t built like a typical pass blocker, an important part of a CFL running back’s portfolio, Milanovich says he’s “not bad at it. That’s one of the areas you need to improve on.
“Ball security is another. He tends to carry it low at times. But I’m glad he’s here. Let’s put it that way.”
Despite playing less than half a season (eight games) Bell rushed for 625 yards, a dominant 6.6 yards per carry average, and scored six touchdowns. He had another TD among his 29 pass receptions, good for 230 yards. That all pro-rates over a full season to just under 2000 yards from the line of scrimmage. Big numbers.
“I’m trying to get in the end zone every time I touch the ball,” Bell says. “Once I get past the linebackers, I’m trying to run full speed into the end zone for sure.
“I feel we have a great offence. We just feed off each other. If the defence is preparing for the pass we’re going to run, we’re going to pass the ball; if they’re playing for us to pass, we can run the ball.
“Catching the ball is going to expand the offence for me and for everybody.”
WHAT CAUGHT OUR EYE
The Centre of Attention
One of the Ticats’ strengths, in quality and quantity, is the offensive line. The group did lose a critical member in CFL all-star David Beard, who returned to his hometown of Edmonton as a free agent, but they feel they’ve got that more than covered with the free agency signing of Western Conference all-star guard Liam Dobson. That moves talented Canadian blocker Coulter Woodmansey, who was at right guard, to centre.
They will also use sophomore Nate Dumoulin Duguay, last year’s No. 7 overall draft choice in the rotation, “playing through” most positions, including centre.
The 6—foot—5—tall for a centre—310-pound Woodmansey was the Ticats’ first-round draft choice, fifth overall in 2020, but the pandemic waylaid the season. By late 2021, Woodmansey had become a starter at guard and remained there.
Head coach Scott Milanovic says Woodmansey will excel at centre because he has the football IQ, and all he needs is more repetitions in practice. He’s already delivering excellent snaps to Bo Levi Mitchell.
“There’s quite a bit of a difference in the two positions, but at the end of the day, it is still football,” Woodmansey says. “There are a lot of similarities, but you’re now also responsible for making the calls on the offensive line and setting protections and run-blocking schemes. You also have to snap the ball.”
Woodmansey gave a shout-out to former Mac Marauder Jakub Szott, who was on the practice roster in 2023 and spent last year with Edmonton before signing as a free agent in Hamilton in February.
He and Woodmansey—who played a little centre at the University of Guelph and in his rookie CFL season- worked together all off-season on the techniques of the position.
“I’m working hard at it,” Woodmansey said. “The coaches have been amazing.
They’ve been talking to me, trying to get my head right for the scheme side of it. That’s great. Just a lot of good people around me to help me prepare. I’m excited for the opportunity. And yes, repetition is going to be important.
“The team did a great job of like letting me know as soon as they could in the off-season that I would be making this transition. So it’s allowed me to take as many reps as I can before camp, and then I want to use every moment in camp to improve.”
Bo Levi Mitchell had some praise for how quickly Woodmansey has taken to his new assignment:
“Woody is really stepping up. All his snaps were on point. It was great under centre.”
Six-dozen feeder schools contribute to this spring’s roster
Here’s an indicator of how far and wide football operations must scout to stock the Ticats’ roster.
The nearly 100 players in training camp this week come from 72 different university/college teams and one Canadian Junior Football League team (defensive back Gaddiel Kazadi).
13 U Sports schools have Ticat players in camp. UBC has bragging rights there with six Thunderbirds in camp, followed by Guelph at four (five, if you include CFL QB Intern Program participant Tristan Aboud), and Western, Alberta, Carleton, and McMaster with two each.
There are 45 schools represented from the NCAA’s Division I, the top American college level, which qualifies teams for the National Championships. Three players from Division 1 are Canadian: receivers Brendan O’Leary-Orange (Nevada), Drew Wolitarsky (Minnesota), and defensive tackle Nate Marty (Arkansas State).
There are nine players from the Football Championship Series, which is the second-highest level among U.S. colleges, and nine more from Division 2, the third level of NCAA play.
Among American schools, Division 1 Mississippi State and Division 2 Grand Valley State each have three players in uniform, followed by Middle Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Ohio, Arkansas State, and Oregon.
How it started
Through at least a week of training camp, players are repeatedly substituted in and out of the first unit to second and third groups as the coaching staff likes to see a variety of personnel combinations. Although it doesn’t have lasting significance, it’s always interesting to note who got the first “A” reps of the year on offence and defence.
On Monday, the offence opened the team session with Bo Levi Mitchell at quarterback; Greg Bell at running back, Tim White, Kenny Lawler, Drew Wolitarsky, Tyler Ternowsk,i and Brendan O’Leary-Orange at receiver (with Kiondré Smith sidelined for a few days); Coulter Woodmansey at centre, Liam Dobson and Brandon Revenberg at guard and Brendan Bordner and Jordan Murray at tackle. When there was a tight end, it would be either Jevoni Robinson or Ante Litre.
The defence opened with Casey Sayles and Kyle Samson at tackles, TyJuan Garbutt and Julian Howsare on the ends, Kyle Wilson at middle linebacker and DQ Thomas at short-side linebacker with Brandon Dozier at wide-side linebacker (SAM—a defensive back position) and a secondary of Jamal Peters, Destin Talbert, Stavros Katsantonis, Dashaun Amos and Jonathan Moxey.
It’s Always a Numbers Game
All CFL Teams had to cut down to 85 players—plus “non-counters”, who are mostly recent draft choices—by midnight Saturday. The Ticats released 12 players who were in last week’s mini-camp: 11 Americans and Canadian defensive tackle Reece Martin, the 2023 fourth-round draft choice out of Mount Allison who played in three regular season games last year but spent the bulk of the season on the practice roster. The Ticats traded for Hamilton native Kyle Samson, a defensive tackle with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, on draft day two weeks ago and subsequently selected two more Canadian interior defensive linemen in the ensuing draft.
The 11 American players released Saturday were quarterbacks Taulia Tagovailoa and Tyler Huff, offensive lineman Bryson Broadway and Grant Starck, tall receiver Trae Shrophsire, linebackers Justin Whiteside and Chris Russell Jr., defensive backs Josh Deberry, Darren Evans, and Eric Haney and defensive tackle Tramel Walthour.
Perhaps the biggest surprise there was Tagovailoa, the younger brother of Miami Dolphins’ star Tua Tagovailoa.
Tua Tagovailoa broke many of Ticat head coach Scott Milanovich’s long-standing school records at the University of Maryland and joined the Cats last June, spending nine games on the practice roster before making his pro debut in late August. In his second game, he scored his first touchdown, a three-yard rush against the Argos.
Harrison Frost, who had been the No. 3 quarterback until Tagovailoa graduated from the practice roster, had a great mini-camp and comes into main camp as the potential No. 3 quarterback behind starter Bo Levi Mitchell and experienced No. 2 Taylor Powell. Gavin Hardison from the University of Texas El Paso advanced out of mini-camp as the fourth quarterback.
There are 97 players in camp, which includes 96 on the roster and one–Guelph quarterback Tristan Aboud–who is here as part of the CFL’s QB Internship program.
CFL teams have to cut down to 85 players by Tuesday night.
CATS CLAUSES: Scott Milanovich said he was unsure when No. 2 overall draft choice Devin Veresukwould arrive from a trial with the Green Bay Packers … among the big plays in practice today: Odieu Hiliareof Bowling Green, who was at rookie camp, caught a low hard throw from Bo Levi Mitchell, holdover MLB Kyle Wilson and S Stavros Katsantonis had interceptions in team drills; RB Johnny Augustine had an excellent, hard-running practice; WR Brendan O’Leary-Orange was excellent… It’s uplifting to see WR Luther Hakunavanhu taking regular reps after suffering a terrifying concussion against Edmonton last August …
As players move up the pro football ladder, it becomes a Venn Diagram of interconnected pasts: for instance, new Ticat receiver Drew Wolitarsky was born in southern California to Canadian (Montreal) parents and played on age-class-football travel squads with current teammates, Tim White and Kenny Lawler, both CFL all-star receivers; and all-star guard Brandon Revenberg is a graduate of Division 2 Grand Valley State, located in upstate Michigan and his offensive linemate Quinton Barrow made the team and got starts as a rookie last year. Barrow was a teammate for three years with rookie DE Christian McCarroll who was signed in January … Brandon Bordner, the Ticats’ second-year left offensive tackle proposed to his girlfriend Camryn Spina last week just before driving north from New Jersey. She said yes and the wedding will probably be in 2027 … defensive back Destin Talbert wore No. 26 as a rookie but is sporting No. 25 this year. “25 (October) is my birthday and it’s my mom’s birthday too,” he said. He had already made the decision by the time the Ticats announced they’d be permanently retiring the No. 26 worn by legend Garney Henley, and the club didn’t even issue a No. 26 to anyone in training camp … as part of the CFL’s Diversity in Football program, every team has an intern working with the club right through training camp. The Ticats’ intern is Kayla Wong, a graduate of Western’s kinesiology program who is working with strength and conditioning coordinator Marcellus Bowman. … free agent signee Reggie Stubblefield, who will be the SAM linebacker, is still recovering from surgery necessitated by an ACL injury incurred in the Als’ home 2024 season opener but should be back working out soon.
