Music: {allcanada} 2011 CFL previews: Hamilton Tiger-Cats

There is a sense of buoyancy among the Hamilton Tiger-Cats heading into the 2011 season.

The off-season turmoil between the city and the team over a future stadium was resolved when it was decided Ivor Wynne Stadium will be renovated after the 2012 season to be ready for re-opening in 2014, a year before the Pan Am Games, which will be conducted in and around Toronto.

So, the news will be more about the on-field product than the business off of it, specifically moving forward from a good regular-season finish in 2010, which saw the team finish in second place, only to be hit with the reality of an Angelo Mosca hit to the head when the Cats lost at home to the rival Argos in the division semi-final.

"We weren't going to make the mistake of thinking it was bad luck," team president Scott Mitchell said. "We weren't good enough."

The Cats will feature quarterback Kevin Glenn, given a healthy contract extension in the off-season, back at quarterback from the start of training camp. Glenn's stability and leadership played a role in the Cats' offensive production. The 10-year veteran totaled 5,102 passing yards, the second-most in his career. He had a career-high 33 touchdown passes and only 17 interceptions.

Slotback Dave Stala, in his second season with the team, eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau for the second time in his eight-year career and first time in five seasons. He potentially could be the top Canadian player in the East this season. Because of their faith in Stala, the team was willing to let fellow receiver Chris Bauman, their first overall pick in 2007, go elsewhere as a free agent. He was starting to come together as an every-down player last year, but was demanding more money than the Cats were willing to pay.

The team signed former Montreal Alouettes' feature running back Avon Cobourne to provide stability at what was clearly an unstable spot on the team. DeAndra' Cobb did not figure into the team's plans and was released, later signing with Montreal. Cobourne is stockier than Cobb and provides better blocking.

The Cats lost some Canadian players via free agency, including Bauman, defensive tackle Jermaine Reid and offensive tackle Alexandre Gauthier. They picked up Wayne Smith, a onetime draft pick of the team, from Saskatchewan. When healthy -- and he's had injury issues in recent seasons -- he can play guard or tackle.

They made noteworthy free agents such as Cobourne a priority. They also signed Saskatchewan middle linebacker Renaud Williams, who will replace Otis Floyd, deemed dispensable. Defensive back Daniel Francis was also plucked from Saskatchewan.

Former Roughrider rush end Stevie Baggs, who joined the team as a free agent in September, posted five sacks in seven games. He had 12 the year before with the Riders. He became the team's emotional leader last season, and if doubles his sack total from last season the Cats could be scary good. Justin Hickman enters his third season and has recorded seven sacks in each of his first two seasons and may be the most underrated young rush end in the league.

One of the biggest acquisitions was dual-purpose kicker Justin Medlock, who did well in punting and place-kicking with Toronto in 2009.He has bounced around since in the National Football League and the CFL. He was acquired from Edmonton in an off-season trade.

The Cats have had kicking issues in recent seasons, but feel Medlock will provide stability. They released kicker Sandro DeAngelis, an expensive free agent last year from Calgary who struggled all season.

"I think I'm more excited about this season than any of the seasons since I've been here," fourth-year general manager Bob O'Billovich said. "I've got a sense about this team that's being developed. We've had some good off-season signings with free agents that have improved our roster in a lot of different areas. It's been a process. We continue to improve each season. Our ultimate goal is to win the Grey Cup. I feel this year that we're getting closer to doing that and as a result we'll keep working hard and hope that we win as many games as we have to put ourselves in the best possible position to win the Eastern Division and then go on to the Grey Cup. I feel confident every year, but I feel really good about this year. There's just some things, some special vibes going on."

O'Billovich hired Joe Womack, formerly with Saskatchewan in a player-personnel role, as his assistant GM.

O'Billovich said he's additionally "pumped up" about this season because of some hirings and changes head coach Marcel Bellefeuille made to his staff. He promoted secondary coach Brad Miller to assistant head coach/special teams co-ordinator / linebackers coach. He also promoted quarterbacks coach Khari Jones to offensive co-ordinator and signed Corey Chamblin, formerly the defensive backs coach with Calgary, as defensive co-ordinator / defensive backs coach. He replaces Greg Marshall, who left to become head coach of the Roughriders.

"Our coaching staff changes were very positive for us," Bellefeuille said. "Continuity is always important to the structure and balance of a team. We made some significant changes partly through attrition and through need and desire."

Chamblin is expected to instill an aggressive style, different from Marshall's which was basically predicated on being physical rather than radical in formations.

Bellefeuille liked the continuity and change in player personnel.

"Our future success at this club will be based on the core and their ability to improve and continue to deliver on the field," he said. "We also made some new additions through free agency to get the change that we needed and to bring some leadership and ability to the field. I'm very optimistic about the season."

The Ticats, who always have some interesting marketing concepts, will feature a game on October 7 against Edmonton in which the fans will get to vote on a variety of things, including the team's opening offensive play. It has been dubbed Your Team, Your Rules.

TIGER-CATS KEY FACTS

RECORD LAST YEAR: 9-9 (second in East Division)

PLAYOFF RESULT: Lost in division semi-final to Toronto

GENERAL MANAGER: Bob O'Billovich

HEAD COACH: Marcel Bellefeuille

PROJECTED STARTING QUARTERBACK: Kevin Glenn

KEY PLAYERS OFFENCE: Glenn, C Marwan Hage, SB Arland Bruce, SB Marquay McDaniel, RB Avon Cobourne, WR Maurice Mann, SB Dave Stala, T Belton Johnson

KEY PLAYERS DEFENCE: DE Stevie Baggs, LB Renaud Williams, DB Daniel Francis, LB Markeith Knowlton, LB Jamall Johnson, DT Demonte Bolden, DE Justin Hickman, S Dylan Barker

KEY PLAYERS SPECIAL TEAMS: P/K Justin Medlock, P Eric Wilbur, PR/KR Marcus Thigpen

NEW TO THE TEAM: Cobourne, Williams, Francis, Medlock, DB Darrin Toney, RB Daryl Stephenson, OL Wayne Smith

GONE FROM THE TEAM: QB Adam Tafralis, SB Chris Bauman, OT Alexandre Gauthier, DE Garrett McIntyre, DT Jermaine DB Geoff Tisdale, LB Otis Floyd, RB DeAndra' Cobb, K Sandro DeAngelis, LB Ray Mariuz

WHAT THE COACH SAYS: "It's a very exciting time to be a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and as a football coach all you can ask for is to be in a structured environment."