*Kent Austin said after practice that the Ticats’ offence would be fairly basic against the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday but would be designed so coaches could see what they need to see from certain players in certain situations. “We’re not going to show much in the pre-season,” he said.

* Asked about his defensive backfield, Austin said in the post-practice scrum,” We have a pretty good rotation. We’ve got to think through depth: if have an injury how do we configure the secondary so we can still stay competitive on back end?”

*The exhibition games against the Als and Argos will still probably determine the winner of the many positional battles in play during training camp. “It’s one thing to go out here in practice,” Austin said. “But you can’t simulate game speed and the pressure of the game. Guys have to perform game-time.”

*Cleary the pre-season games will determine the collective fate of the Cats' three "little guys" from last year: returners Tavoy Moore; Lindsey Lamar and Brandon Banks. No definitive indication of who might have the lead in that fleet derby as all took reps on returns and are getting good looks on offence to see who plays their second position better, as Mr. Edwards reported yesterday.

*Probably write on this later today, but sneaky-good off-season acquisitions in offensive lineman Steve Myddleton and receiver Cary Koch. Interior offensive line has been shaken up and another CFL vet is important and Koch has been emerging as a force by the day: made couple of great catches in traffic in first half of practice.

*The Ticats have been practicing without the entire Canadian middle of the offensive line which was its core last year: Centre Marwan Hage was drafted then retired; guard Peter Dyakowski can suit up for Jeopardy but not football until at least Labour Day, and guard Greg Wojt isn't practising today.

*You could see that the coaches, particularly on offence, are amping into game-day mode. Austin raised his voice very early in practice and on one misplay, Tommy Condell flung his clipboard and tried to kick it. Here's something the outsider needs to understand: the coaches don't want mental errors and sloppy play even in an exhibition game. There's the whole set-the-tone theme but, also, there are some difficult decisions to make in roster selection and you want to make those decisions under the best game conditions possible with the players in the best mind set possible.

*It's a passing league and Kent Austin is a passing coach but with two quarterbacks who can and will run, plus CJ Gable, great depth at running back, changes to the middle of the O line, and, knock on wood, no big injuries so far just wondering if the Cats will run a little more. My guess is that the option stuff that Austin couldn't get to as much as he would have preferred to last year because of injuries, gets a good airing in the early going.

*Rain forecast next couple of days, so there is some chance that practice could be moved to Stoney Creek's Players Paradise. But decision won't be made each day until the morning-of.

* Bob Young was at practice and had just been over to Tim Hortons Field. He’s enthusiastic about what the stadium will do for city’s self-image and for Cats’ fans enjoyment. Won’t hurt the team’s bottom line, either.

*Torrey Davis was still out of action: also on sidelines were Courtney Stephen, Quincy McDuffie, Craig Ellingson, Rashad Evans, Greg Wojt and Rico Murray.