Ticats tight-lipped on whether Collaros will play preseason opener

We won’t know until tomorrow if Zach Collaros will play in the Tiger-Cats preseason opener on Saturday. Head coach Kent Austin is tight-lipped about which quarterbacks will play against the Alouettes. We do know that whoever is back of centre, there will be an offensive line in front of him. Natalie Marconi has more in this report.

As the Ticats’ first preseason game draws nearer, the longing desire to hit someone other than their own teammates is immeasurable.

“I can’t wait to get out there on Saturday and prove to the coaches that I know what i’m doing. I’ve been with coach Rudolph for two years now. Now it’s all about showing him that I can go out on the field and deliver it.” said Mike Filer, who is entering his third year with the Ticats.

While the cats have a few options at centre, filer hopes to fill the hole that Marwan Hage left behind.

And, with Peter Dyakowski on the nine game list, and Greg Wojt also nursing an injury, offensive line coach Allen Rudolph will bring in another new face.

Steve Myddleton spent most of last season in British Columbia and the previous two in Calgary where he got to know fellow linemate Tim O’Neill.

“We have no true rookies. Everybody is really familiar with the system — myself excluded, but i’m picking it up pretty quick. We all have a common vocabulary. I’ve played with a lot of these guys before anyways…camp’s going really well,” said Myddleton.

And at each end, returning tackles Joel Figeroa and Brian Simmons complete the line that head coach Kent Austin seems quite pleased with.

“We’ve got decent size. The guys have to continue to improve, but I like our athleticism. They work hard, they’re smart…Allan’s doing a great job with those guys,” said Austin.