Cats Sign Mallett

In what has to be classified as a stunning move, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have announced the signing of Running Back Martell Mallett.

Mallett spent the last two season in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. Mallett last played played in the CFL in 2009 with the BC Lions, and was named the Most Outstanding Rookie.

This is a very surprising move that creates quite the logjam at the Running Back position. Mallett is now added to a stable that includes Avon Cobourne and Terry Grant. Something is going to have to be done to remove one of those players, and if I had to guess, I'd say that player is Cobourne.

Many who read this site know I have not been in favour of some of the major moves the team has made – the Kevin Glenn and Arland Bruce trades being chief among them – and if this move leads to Avon Cobourne being shown the door, I'll add it to the list. I just don't think this much roster turnover, especially when it comes to veterans at key positions, is a good thing. The arguments for getting rid of Glenn and Bruce I could at least understand. Concerns about Bruce's attitude and Glenn's shortcomings can be explained and rationalized, even if I personally didn't agree with them. The same cannot be said about Cobourne.

Cobourne played as well with Hamilton last year as he did in Montreal the two previous seasons, so I don't understand why the team would want to replace him. The only real knock on Cobourne is his age. Mallett will be 26 when Training Camp opens and Cobourne will be 33. Most Running Backs begin to wear down when they hit their 30s, but Cobourne has had, arguably, his best seasons since he hit the big 3-0. His best season was when he turned 30, and all his productive years in the CFL have come since he was 29. He has shown no sign of age slowing him down, so there is no reason to expect it to happen in 2012.

One other concern is if Mallett is a flash in the pan, a one-year wonder. He played magnificently in his rookie campaign, but then fled to the NFL where he languished on practices rosters for two years. Now he comes back, and I have to wonder if he'll be as effective with the Cats as he was with the Lions. Cobourne has proven his worth over the last four seasons, he has been to the last four East Division Finals, and his streak of three-straight Grey Cup appearances was ended last season. Mallett does have his fantastic rookie season but nothing after that.

My trepidations about this signing is not meant to say that I dislike Mallett. But I wonder why such a move needed to be made. The past three years have all been about building a cohesive unit, and in the past seven months, the team has traded their best Receiver and starting Quarterback, fired their Head Coach and look to be on the verge of releasing or trading their best Running Back. I understand that some changes needed to be made following a disappointing season, but this seems like a lot of change in one off-season.

We will see how it all plays out sooner enough, but with each new move, the pressure on the team builds. I just hope they can handle it.

Copeland Retires... Becomes Coach in Hamilton

Jeremaine Copeland has ended his playing career. The 11-year veteran retired today and immediately took a coaching position with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Copeland is the team's new Receivers Coach. The Ti-Cats also hired Doug Sams as Quarterbacks Coach and retained Doug Malone as Offensive Line Coach.

The biggest news is obviously Copeland, who is the most well-known of the three. Going over Copeland résumé is unnecessary; everyone knows what he accomplished during his playing career. It's what he can bring as a coach that has the most intrigue.

Copeland is familiar with the two biggest names the Ti-Cats brought to town over the off-season: Head Coach George Cortez and Quarterback Henry Burris.

Copeland was with both in Calgary. Copeland, therefore, knows what Cortez likes to do offensively, and can relay that to the group of Receivers he is working with.

But it is Copeland's familiarity with Henry Burris that might end up paying the most dividends. Copeland played with Burris for five seasons (2005-2009) and both achieved amazing success together. As a coach, Copland can impart his wisdom to the Receivers that will be catching Burris's passes this season. That could prove to be invaluable.

Bringing in Copeland also puts a dent in Hamilton's closest rivals. The Argos are in desperate need of Receiver help, and losing their most veteran guy – even if he was long in the tooth and not an elite Receiver anymore – hurts.

The Cats have almost filled out their coaching staff. The big one left is Special Teams Coordinator, but a few positional coaching vacancies still exist. I'm sure the team is scouring the land looking for the right people.

Casey Creehan Named Defensive Coordinator

The worst-kept secret was finally officially confirmed: Casey Creehan is the new Defensive Coordinator of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Creehan spent the last two season with Winnipeg, where he was their Linebacker Coach. He held the same position with Montreal in 2008, and was the Defensive Line Coach in Calgary the four season before that.

Creehan and new Head Coach George Cortez worked together in Calgary in 2007. It is that previous working relationship which likely helped Creehan get the job.

Creehan comes to the team with no CFL coordinating experience, and we saw how welll zero experience worked last season with Corey Chamblin; however, his tenure in Winnipeg came when the Bombers had one of the best Defenses in the CFL, so hopefully he can translate his success with Winnipeg's Linebackers to the entirety of Hamilton's Defense.

With Creehan on board, the team can develop the defensive roster based around his philosophy. It will be interesting to see what players will be brought back and which ones will be released or allowed to leave. Hamilton is stockpiled with talent on Defense, in my opinion, so it is finding the right way to harness that talent – which I don't think Corey Chamblin did – rather than mass player change that will make the difference.

The hiring of Creehan leaves one coordinating job still vacant, that of Special Teams Coordinator. No names have surfaced and since he hasn't been retained already, I doubt Brad Miller will be brought back. Filling that position is the last major move the Cats have to make to the coaching staff. With free agency set to begin in less than a month, the team will likely fill that position sooner rather than later.

Bob Young's Blog

Bob Young is always willing to try new things. He is, as far as I know, the only owner in the CFL that has a Twitter account, and now he has decided enter the blogosphere (I really hate that word) by starting his own blog on tumblr.

I am of the opinion that Bob Young is unarguably the most-beloved owner of any sports team in any league. I can't think of one owner who is more loved by the fans, even those of opposing teams, than Bob Young. He has a folksy charm and everyman demeanour that makes him easy to like, and his embracing of new technology makes him one of the most accessible owners in all of pro sports.

Bob Young seems like the kind of guy you'd like to have a beer with. I, for one, am happy he is the owner of my favourite team, and I look forward to reading his thoughts.

I have added a link to Bob Young's blog in the sidebar and I suggest you all give it a read from time to time. I am sure it will be interesting.

Everything with Bob Young usually is.

Dylan Barker Retires

I apologize for the lack of posts over the last couple of days. I moved earlier this week and that has occupied all of my time and energy. But enough about my personal life, let's move on to some Tiger-Cats news.

The biggest, and saddest, news over the past 72 hours is Dylan Barker's decision to retire due to a back injury.

Barker was drafted first overall by the Tiger-Cats in the 2008 CFL Draft; spent his rookie year on the shelf due to a broken leg; really blossomed in 2009 and 2010, especially on Special Teams, where he tied the record for tackles in 2009; and missed the entire 2011 campaign because of the back injury that now ends his career.

It is a shame that Barker has played his last game, but based on what he told The Hamilton Spectator's Drew Edwards, it is absolutely the correct decision.

Deciding to retire, especially at such a young age, is never an easy decision. But risking a life of paralysis is simply not worth it. Barker is trying to ensure his long-term health will not be compromised, so while he will be missed on the field, his decision is absolutely the correct one.

So I'll just close by saying, thank you to Dylan Barker for all that he did during his time with the Tiger-Cats. I hope you find happiness in your post-football life. Best of luck to you in the future.