TORONTO — New Argonauts head coach Marc Trestman and his staff will have to familiarize themselves with each player to varying degrees. At the lowest end would be Brandon Whitaker.

Whitaker played parts of four seasons under Trestman in Montreal, beginning in 2009, seeing limited action on back-to-back Grey Cup-winning squads.

As the featured back in 2011, Whitaker would rush for a CFL-best 1,381 yards, averaging 6.1 yards a carry. He played in 10 games the next year, before Trestman left to coach the Chicago Bears.

Now, they are reunited and have a great understanding of each other.

“It helps out a lot, it’s a guy you can trust and know is going to put you in the best situation come game day,” Whitaker explained after practice on Thursday at York University.

“It’s definitely been a blessing to start my career with him and now he’s back and it’s amazing.”

Because Trestman knows what to expect out of the team’s primary ball carrier, he is able to ease him in a bit, especially important since Whitaker isn’t getting any younger and needs to save the bulk of his reps for the games.

That’s why he has been going all-out in the morning practice sessions, before taking the pads off for the afternoon work.

“I know him better, he’s a running back, he’s taken more hits than anybody else so that’s not the starting point right there,” Trestman explained of the maintenance plan for Whitaker, who will turn 32 in September and is one of 41 CFLers to rush for at least 5,000 yards (he was second in rushing yards last season (1,009), topping 1,000 for the first time since his breakout Alouettes campaign.

“He’s working hard, he’s doing what we’re asking him to do,” Trestman said. “We’re trying to monitor his reps to make sure we get him ready and giving the other (running backs) a chance to show what they can do at the same time. So, it’s good for us, it’s a two-way street, we get him work and we also get a chance to have a look at the other guys.

“He knows what he’s got to do and he’s feeling good and he hasn’t been sore afterward, so that’s a really good sign.”

The Edmond, Okla., native appreciates the strategy.

“Coach has been working us a lot, but at the same time, taking care of us,” said Whitaker, an East all-star in both of his seasons in Double Blue.

The first pre-season game goes next week against Montreal. Trestman said it feels like it is arriving pretty quickly and Whitaker agreed with that sentiment.

“The older you get, it seems the shorter training camp gets,” he said.

“The game is getting a little bit closer, guys are ready to start hitting somebody else, somebody in a different jersey and I think guys are really getting excited about it.”

A SHOCKER

How did Whitaker react when he heard the news that Trestman and ex-Alouettes general manager Jim Popp were coming aboard (which eventually led to Whitaker staying put after the team’s prior management had initially decided to not re-sign him)?

“It was a shock. I’m sure it was a shock for everybody,” he said.

“The city of Toronto got a really good combo and the Argos got a really good combo in Jim Popp and (Trestman).”

BEAR WATCH

According to multiple reports, the Argos have made a contract offer to free agent Bear Woods, who was surprisingly released by the Alouettes earlier this week.

The perennial top defensive player candidate will now have to decide if he wants to reunite with all of the familiar faces in Toronto, or go elsewhere.

It sounds like Whitaker, Woods’ long-time teammate would love to have him.

“Bear Woods is one of the best people you’ll ever meet, one of the best linebackers in this league,” Whitaker told Postmedia.

“He’s a great guy, great player and he’ll land on his feet somewhere.”

Maybe even in Toronto.

Veteran linebacker Winston Venable retired on Wednesday and though Marcus Ball was brought on-board prior to that decision, a team that struggled mightily against the run last year would love to add another major piece in Woods.

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER

Trestman appeared to bristle a bit when asked about working with older players at running back and quarterback (Ricky Ray is 37).

“Compared to what? They are all the same,” said the coach.

“They either can play or they can’t play. As long as they can play, their age isn’t really an issue. Right now, we think after seven or eight practices, we’re feeling pretty good about that, we’ll see where they are at the end of the month.”

Slotback S.J. Green, 31, is also on hand and is in the process of working his way back from last year’s severe knee injury.

QUICK SLANTS

The Argos will donate $2 from every ticket sold in June to the Pinball Clemons Foundation. “As another school year comes to end, we are reminded that not all kids have the same opportunity when it comes to education,” Argos president and CEO Michael Copeland said in a statement.

“Football is a tough game but life can be infinitely tougher,” Clemons said. “The funds collected will support kids’ right here in our local community. Kids who lack responsible adult allies, youth who don’t have a permanent home and young people for whom the normal school stream is often not possible or practical.”

Tickets can also be donated to underprivileged youth in the Toronto community.

The Argos also announced on Thursday that Saturday, June 3, will be Argos Fan Day and encouraged supporters to check out practice from starting at 11 a.m. ahead of next Thursday’s pre-season opener.

There will be a meet-and-greet following practice at 12 p.m and the event will run until 2 p.m.

rwolstat@postmedia.com