Courtesy Hamilton Spectator:
Say this about the 2008 Hamilton Tiger-Cats, they’re new.

Just how improved they are, time will tell.

The first test comes Thursday night when the newly-minted Tabbies host the Montreal Alouettes in the first Canadian Football League season opener to take place in Steeltown in 31 seasons.

The latest edition will feature some 20 players on the 46-player roster who weren’t here for the start of the 2007 season.

Those new faces include wide receivers Tony Miles, Pat Woodcock, Willie Ponder, Scott Mitchell and Eddie Cohen, and defensive backs Rontarius Robinson, Jermaine Mays, Markeith Knowlton, Chris Thompson and Nick Kordic.

Also joining the team is Waterdown High School’s John Williams, son of the former Ticat defensive back of the same name, and Auburn running back Tre Smith, who had a huge run and a great punt return during a 28-21 pre-season victory over Toronto.

The Ticats cut just over a dozen players Saturday to set the roster. But four of those were placed on the injury reserve and another seven were added to the practice roster.

Among the most notable cuts were former National Football League receiver Rashaun Woods, who joined the team late last season, former Queen’s fullback Mike Giffen, who the team selected 17th in the Canadian college draft, import linebacker Cameron Siskowic, Canadian offensive linemen Eric Ince and Jordan Rempel and former Laval receiver Laurent Lavigne-Masse, whom the club selected with their 33rd pick in last April’s draft.

Advised that close to half of the active roster is new, head coach Charlie Taaffe said “It is what it is.

“We have very few guys who have been here with this team three years. We have a lot of first-year and second-year guys. That’s what we got. They’ve worked hard and performed real well and they’re still learning about each other and learning how to become a team.

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