In Hamilton, for the past few years, putting together the winning puzzle for the Tiger Cats has been as difficult as putting together one of those two thousand piece three dimensional ones, without the help of a picture.
But this off season it finally looks like the Cat's have their picture in hand and are eager to build their model of success. This week Hamilton extended head coach Greg Marshall's contract through the 2007 season and yesterday Hamilton confirmed the appointment of Joe Paopao to Marshall's staff , introducing the former Renegades head coach as the Ticats' new offensive co-ordinator and defensive co-ordinator Kavis Reed had received one-year extensions through the 2007 season.
"He's a coach that's very knowledgeable offensively," Marshall said. "He's going to be a great fit here in Hamilton ... he's going to have the respect of our guys right from the get-go, just on his reputation and what he's done.
"He's a good teacher and, aside from being a great football coach, he's an outstanding person."
The Ticats also added Kani Kauahi as their new offensive line coach. Kauahi, who has been with Paopao in B.C., San Francisco and Ottawa, was the Renegades' offensive co-ordinator and offensive line coach.
"They know each other [and] what they want to do," Marshall said.
Paopao can find effective ways to use Hamilton's offensive assets, which include newly-acquired quarterback Jason Maas and running back Jesse Lumsden, the club's 2005 first-round draft pick.
"In the past, [Paopao has] been very adaptable, based on the quarterback and the running back and the other personnel that you have," Marshall said. "He will build an offence that is perfect for our personnel."
Lumsden, a hometown hero who starred for Marshall at Hamilton's McMaster University, is a player the team's marketers would love to see blossom into a CFL star. Marshall indicated the team will emphasize the ground game in the often pass-happy league.
"We're going to run the football," he said. "I know both Joe and Kani believe, to be successful, you just can't pass all the time. You have to build it on the running game."
Marshall was also pleased that ownership was willing to build with their head coach. He won the CFL's coach of the year award in his rookie season, when he took a team that went 1-17 in 2003 and made the playoffs with an 9-8-1 record. The Ticats slipped back last year, finishing 5-13.
"It's good security for me," Marshall said of the extension. "It shows that the football team and [owner Bob] Young and [general manager] Rob Katz are confident I can do the job here. They said all along that they believe in me and what we're doing, and I'm committed to getting this thing done and seeing it through."
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The Cat's have their coaches, QB and ground attack in place now time to move on to the other missing pieces like a veteran O-lineman, a WR, a LB, and a safety. Nice to see the team getting a head start on 2006.
Later,
Kenaz
