Courtesy Hamilton Spectator:

Bob O’Billovich likes Charlie Taaffe.

But does he like him enough to have him coach his Hamilton Tiger-Cats next season? Good question.

O’Billovich, the recently appointed Ticat GM, has met with the current Tabbie head coach several times over the past few days and admits to coming away with a favourable impression of the former back-to-back Canadian Football League coach of the year.

But Obie said yesterday he hasn’t made up his mind on whether he wants Taaffe to return for a second season as the bench boss of the Tabbies. Taaffe went a rather unspectacular 3-15 with the penalty-prone Ticats last season, his first in black and gold.

While Obie has stressed the need for team discipline, the Cats were flagged 212 times for 1,909 yards, among the highest in the league. And the Tiger-Cat defence was a mess, ranking at or near the bottom of the league in several defensive categories.

“I’m just contemplating the best thing to do and whether I should talk to some other candidates. I’m kind of mulling it around in my head,” O’Billovich said yesterday, adding he expects to make a call by the end of the week.

O’Billovich reiterated that he would like to have a head coach and defensive and offensive co-ordinators in place before Christmas with some assistants to be hired next month. While Hamilton will employ new people in the co-ordinator roles next season, no decision has been made on the rest of the coaching staff. Taaffe has advised them to be pro-active in seeking other employment for the coming season.

If Taaffe is cut loose — he still has two years on his contract — O’Billovich might try to persuade B.C. Lions defensive co-ordinator Dave Ritchie to take the Cat job. The Cats need help most on defence and that is Ritchie’s forte.

But there are no shortage of other candidates, including former Calgary bench boss Tom Higgins, former Edmonton and B.C. offensive co-ordinator Jacques Chapdelaine, Toronto offensive co-ordinator Steve Burratto, former Calgary defensive co-ordinator Denny Creehan and Winnipeg defensive co-ordinator Greg Marshall.