Courtesy Hamilton Spectator:

Try not to read too much into the fact that, halfway through the Hamilton Tiger-Cats State of the Franchise teleconference yesterday, the fire bells at the club’s McMaster training camp site sounded a false alarm.

Coincidence, right?

Maybe, but let’s face it, after missing the playoffs for five of the past six seasons including the past three straight, new GM Bob O’Billovich has a lot of fires to put out to make the Cats competitive.

The Ticats finished 5-13 in 2005; 4-14 in 2006 and 3-15 last season. That’s certainly not forward progress.

O’Billovich, who was hired in December, saw a losing culture and a lack of talent and has moved to fix both.

The Cats had some talent in Casey Printers, Jesse Lumsden and Zeke Moreno. Just not enough of it.

O’Billovich has tackled both issues, cutting ties with a slew of battle-hardened veterans such as Tay Cody, Richard Karkari, Jojuan Armour, Pascal Cheron and Jason Armstead.

Into the void, O’Billovich has brought in a lot of young American talent he hopes can help signal the turnaround; players such as former New York Jet returner Jonathan Carter, wide receivers Willie Pounder, Ernest Jackson and Prechae Rodriguez.

The Cats will be younger, faster and more talented. Time will tell how much better they will be.

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