HAMILTON

Without question, the legendary Lemmy didn’t have Chase Minnifield in mind when the lead singer of Motorhead once opined in song how the chase is better than the catch.

There’s no connection with the hard-living Lemmy and the clean-shaven Minnifield, but any reason to evoke images of the recently deceased booze-hound isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Chase Minnifield is chasing a job in Hamilton’s defensive backfield, a prospect with plenty of upside, a class act with several ties to the gridiron.

His dad, Frank Minnifield, played for the NFL’s Browns in an era when Cleveland football was relevant, on the cusp of competing for a Super Bowl.

One of Chase’s teammates at Virginia was Dontrelle Inman, who won a Grey Cup ring with the Argos in 2012 before bolting to the NFL’s San Diego Chargers two years ago.

And there’s Carl Brazley, one of the classiest individuals the CFL has ever seen, a one-time Argo whom Chase proudly describes as his mentor.

All these names, and now it’s Minnifield who is trying to carve his own niche in football.

If his unique first name isn’t enough, his middle name is an eye grabber — Onassis.

Meet Chase Onassis Minnifield, who may one day be lining up in the Ticats secondary.

His first taste of the CFL was provided at Hamilton’s just-concluded mini-camp, a three-day event that featured predominantly first-year players and those the Tabbies have on their negotiation list, an exposure to the Ticats system and culture that should serve these players well.

It wasn’t football-weather friendly, but even the elements helped these prospects learn the CFL.

Minnifield spent three years with the Washington Redskins but was out of football last year.

“I got a start against the Colts," recalled Minnifield on Thursday, the final day of mini-camp held at Tim Horton’s Field. “I got a concussion. Once I was cleared, they released me. I never got picked up. I’ve been fine for a year, just been working out and stuff.

“I had a lot of knee injuries in my past and I was red-flagged there. They (Ticats) reached out to me and I was glad to get back into football.”

Minnifield had never been introduced to anything resembling three-down football until this week. The CFL is a pass-happy league that encourages offence, but he sees how players lining up on the defensive side of the ball can also make plays.

“There are more players on the field and coming from the NFL that’s a luxury to have more DBs on the field," said Minnifield.

Minnifield speaks often with Inman, but his main source of knowledge comes from Brazley.

“I’ve definitely reached out to him in helping me out in this process," said Minnifield who, like Brazley, is a native of Kentucky.

Minnifield had no expectations, no inkling of what would await at the Hamilton mini-camp, but he got in great shape and feels he’s learned a lot in three days.

“I’m looking forward to moving in this process, using these days as stepping stones to take my game even higher," he said.

AUSTIN LOOKING TO GET A LEG UP

One of the issues that needs to be addressed in the Hammer is the void left by Justin Medlock, the strong-legged kicker who was virtually automatic on field goals.

If there was a knock, and there weren’t many, it was Medlock’s punting and his kickoffs. But that’s now the concern of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, whom h signed with in the off-season.

The Ticats’ battle to secure a kicker is far from over amid chatter they are poised to add another leg. As the team’s three-day mini-camp wrapped up Thursday, Brett Maher, a Canadian, and two imports, Ray Early and Delbert Alvarado, were on the roster.

“We’re still evaluating," head coach Kent Austin said of his kicking position. “We have a much better idea, (but) we’re still in the process.”

Whatever happens, the Ticats won’t be compromised because Austin, his coaching staff and the team’s front office have come too far in what will be his fourth year with the team.

Players know the system, the culture Austin has established, the expectations, which is why only a handful of veterans were asked to appear at mini-camp.

LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR QB

It’s a long way from Council Bluffs, Iowa to the Hammer, a journey Jake Waters was willing to make.

Waters is a high-character guy who played his collegiate football at Kansas State, a dual threat quarterback who caught the eye of the Ticats.

He auditioned for the NFL’s Jags, was around for the pre-season in Seattle, but spent the entire 2015 season coaching at a junior college Waters attended in his native Iowa.

Coaching is a profession Waters wants to one day devote his full-time attention, but he loves football and jumped at the chance to strut his stuff for the Ticats.

He’s seen CFL games on TV, but knew nothing about the game, the rules, just about everything.

“As soon as I stepped on the field, it was crazy," said Waters. “It’s just so big, so wide. For a quarterback, you’ve got to sling it and you’ve got to wing it. It’s a dream for us.”

Jeremiah Masoli, Jeff Mathews and Jacory Harris, who have experience with the Ticats, were also at camp.

Zach Collaros is the incumbent, leaving Waters well behind.

But he’s a gamer, knowing full well all he could do is learn.

“These three days have been a great experience," he said.