Jun
Steeltown: Now or never for Cats on bubble
Courtesy Hamilton Spectator:
With final cuts looming 48 hours after tonight’s pre-season game, head coach Marcel Bellefeuille said just a single player has locked up a spot on the roster.
“The only thing we know for certain as a coaching staff and as an organization is that Nick Setta will be our kicker,” said the head coach yesterday.
While there are likely a few other starting spots nailed down — it’s hard to imagine Alex Gauthier and Dan Goodspeed won’t start at offensive tackle, for example — Bellefeuille’s point is well taken: tonight’s game will be the last in black and gold for a number of players.
The Cats have 68 players on the roster at the moment and will need to get down to an active roster of 46, plus a seven-player practice squad. Injured players don’t count against the roster but do count against the salary cap. Altogether, they’ll likely keep around 55 players.
“Our number one goal (against the Argos) is still to evaluate because we have so many jobs that are on the line and so many good competitions going on,” Bellefeuille said.
With that in mind, here are battles at each position group.
QUARTERBACK
The marquee position features a marquee matchup with Quinton Porter and veteran Kevin Glenn fighting it out for the No. 1 job to start the season. Bellefeuille wouldn’t even say who’s starting tonight.
“Some of it is TBA but we expect to play (Porter) and (Glenn) equally as much as we can,” he said.
Porter was considered the favourite to win the job going into training camp, though Bellefeuille has softened that stance over the past three weeks. If Glenn puts up big numbers while Porter really struggles, the veteran could get the nod when the games really count.
WIDE RECEIVER
Prechae Rodriguez, Chris Davis and non-imports Dave Stala and Chris Bauman would seem to be the only locks at this position, though Eddie Cohen is likely safe, as well.
Airese Currie and David Ball have impressed at camp, but they are battling with Jacob Willis, Marquay McDaniel and Drisan James for two, maybe three, roster spots. The ability to return kicks might factor here, as well.
Non-import draft pick Cassidy Doneff might stick depending on the ratio numbers.
“One of the things we want these guys to do is play fast so we can get a true evaluation as to the speed they can play at,” Bellefeuille said.
RUNNING BACK
Kenton Keith’s injury complicates things somewhat but Tre Smith and newcomer DeAndra’ Cobb could be fighting for a roster spot, while Terry Caulley likely becomes the No. 1 option if Keith can’t go. Fullback and Mac grad Andre Sadeghian could be on the bubble with the emergence of first-round pick Darcy Brown, and fellow non-import Guillaume Allard-Cameus will only stick if he impresses on special teams.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Three spots are set, with Gauthier and Goodspeed at the tackles and Marwan Hage at centre. The guard spots will taken by two of Peter Dyakowski, George Hudson and Cedric Gagne-Marcoux.
Of the two highly touted draft picks, Simeon Rottier and Zac Carlson, Rottier seems to the most game ready, though Carlson has been hurt — he’ll see his first action against the Argos.
Whether the Cats keep an American tackle to back up Goodspeed will depend on whether they think the kids can step up in case of injury.
If the team decides to keep an American tackle, one of Dan Oliphant and Albert Toeaina will make the club, though maybe only on the practice roster.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Twelve defensive linemen will dress against the Argos and, by Thursday, almost half of them could be going home. Non-import Matt Kirk and fellow tackle Darrell Adams are the safest bets and cutting free agent pickup Brandon Guillory would qualify as shocking.
After that, however, the competition is fierce. Mike McFadden, Alan Harper, Garrett McIntyre and Justin Hickman are fighting for maybe a couple of spots and one of non-imports Jermaine Reid and J.P. Bekasiak could be playing elsewhere before long.
LINEBACKER
Otis Floyd and Markeith Knowlton will be here and non-imports Auggie Barenechea, Ray Mariuz and Canadian special teams ace Yannick Carter will likely make the grade.
Matt Castelo, Dennis Haley, Cameron Siskowic and Isaac Brown have all played well but can’t all stay.
Where Floyd ends up — in the middle or on the weak side — will be a factor.
“We have a great battle at linebacker going on,” Bellefeuille said.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Chris Thompson and Geoff Tisdale seem to be the halfbacks and the corners will be two of Jykine Bradley, Lawrence Gordon and Bo Smith.
At safety, Dylan Barker is trying to win the job from veteran Sandy Beveridge, one of the more interesting battles in camp.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker and punter Nick Setta has been guaranteed his job, but long-snapper Matt Robichaud is being pushed by fellow non-import Jordan Matechuk.
