It’s all about kicking and Canadian depth
Monday trade and Tuesday Global Draft provide Ticats ‘insulation’
Well, there’s certainly no doubt where the Hamilton Tiger-Cats figure they have to improve.
Mainly, it’s the kicking game and Canadian depth.
The Ticats traded up, way up, in Tuesday’s CFL Global Draft to grab a top-ranked Australian punter, then went to another Australian hoofer in the second round.
On Monday, Hamilton made a revealing deal with Edmonton, sending the Elks their first-round choice, No. 8 overall, and also their spot at No. 28 in Tuesday night’s CFL Canadian draft, as well as their first pick (9th overall) in the global draft.
Coming the other way are offensive lineman Kyle Saxelid, and linebacker Grant McDonald, both Canadians, who will address depth and special teams, plus the No. 2 overall pick in the global draft.
“In order to get something good, you have to give up something good,” said Orlondo Steinauer, head coach and president of football operations, who added that the team wanted to move up the seven places in the global draft because, “We felt like there were a couple of players we’ve kind of targeted, and it was the only way to secure that.”
One of those players was clearly Australian punter Bailey Flint, who they got at No. 2.
Flint, who spent five years at the University of Toledo, was twice a finalist for the Ray Guy Award as the top NCAA punter and is headed to a tryout mini-camp of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers next week.
With their second-round pick at No. 10, the Ticats went to Blake Hayes, who spent time with Flint in Australia’s Prokick program which develops kickers for U.S. colleges and pros. He set the University of Illinois all-time record for the highest career percentage of punts landed inside the 20-yard-line.
And remember, the incumbent punter is Australian Joel Whitford.
That gives the Ticats six kickers coming to training camp next week, as long as Flint doesn’t get a contract from the Steelers or another NFL team.
Flint says he’ll make his decision quickly on his pro future and doesn’t feel emotional weight about the Ticats essentially giving up two Canadian drafts to get a shot at him.
“I wouldn’t say there is necessarily pressure,” he says. “It’s a really cool feeling to see a professional organization like that so interested in you. It helps me with making the decision after the Steelers camp.”
Besides the punters, the other fulcrum to the Elks deal was adding Canadian depth. Saxelid’s addition means the Ticats’ won’t have to switch to an American right tackle should ratio-breaker Chris Van Zeyl be injured or just need rest.
“He does provide that flexibility,” Steinauer agreed. “That’s currently a hard position to find national starters for. It’s very hard to find even a backup there, so we thought that without having to make huge roster adjustments, it better insulates us. He’s versatile, has played play both sides and at guard and tackle. Versatility is a high priority for us.”
McDonald will help linebacking depth and Canadian strength on special teams.