Before I start, I’m happy to be back writing for Last Word On Sports after an extended leave to deal with personal issues. During my hiatus all went wrong in my football world (though I’m not necessarily correlating the two). The Hamilton Tiger-Cats went 2-5 down the stretch, falling well short of pre-season expectations, and were eliminated from playoff contention in their last regular season game by the hated Toronto Argonaut team that was playing their third and fourth string players. McMaster University, my alma mater, lost the Vanier Cup to Laval, and the Argonauts won the Grey Cup thanks in-large part to Kevin Glenn and the Calgary Stampeders not showing up for the game. It couldn’t get worse.
The 2012 Hamilton Tiger Cats season can simply be summed up in one word. Disappointing. They signed the off-season’s biggest free agent Andy Fantuz, and traded for veteran quarterback Henry Burris. They also bagged prize receiver Sam Giguere. I thought they would have made the Eastern Final for sure. If you would have told me prior to the 2012 season starting, the Cats would not have made the playoffs I would have laughed in your face. Now people are laughing in mine.
The Cats had the best offence and worst defense in the 2012 CFL season. Ultimately the the old motto “Defence Wins Championships” rings true. Hamilton’s defence cost them at least five games this past season. The offence on most nights would put up in the neighbourhood of 30 points per game, usually plenty enough to win a CFL game. The problem is the defence would give up more.
Coaching changes had to be made because the current staff didn’t get the job done. The defensive co-ordinator had to be addressed. Casey Creehan helped take care of that last week by bolting back to Winnipeg in a lateral move. I didn’t expect the Tiger Cats to fire Cortez because he had three years remaining on his $300,000/year contract, and I know the Cats can’t afford to pay a coach to sit at home. I thought he would have been given half of the 2013 season and his fate would be decided on how the team was performing at that time.
Cortez struggled as coach in 2012. He often seemed confused on the sidelines, didn’t know what was going on, and made poor decisions (like not challenging the S.J. Green catch against Montreal in late August – inexcusable). For these reasons, I feel Hamilton made the right decision yesterday. Now here are candidates I feel the Cats should hire to fill these vacant positions:
GM: Eric Tillman– He struggled in Edmonton, and got himself in trouble with “other” issues. He has built winning teams in BC, Edmonton and unfortunately Toronto, so he definitely has success and experience on his side.
Head Coach: Paul LaPolice– I’m sure he knows how to count by now. Even though he allowed that stupid Swaggerville thing to go on in Winnipeg last year, he can put together a winning football team with the pieces the Ticats have. News has circulated the team is interested in Kent Austin, but we will need to validate the rumour before seriously considering it.
Offensive Co-ordinator – George Cortez– Now you may think I’m nuts, but Cortez has been a multiple Grey Cup winner, building teams on the offensive side of the ball, most recently with the Calgary Stampeders in 1998. Again the Cats had the best offence in the CFL in 2012 – it was the defence let them down.
Defensive Co-ordinator – Rich Stubler and Don Sutherin are two other defensive co-ordinators that struggled as head coaches and then swallowed their pride only to return again as successful defensive co-ordinators. My pick, however, is Greg Marshall. He had the best defence I’ve seen in this town since the Don Sutherin days. I know he could make this defence better with the pieces it already has, and upgrades to the secondary unit.
What do you think?
