Larry Dean is entering his second season with the Tiger-Cats. After turning in a rookie campaign where he saw action in all 18 games, Dean is looking to draw on his full season of experience and flourish in the middle linebacker position.
He may be entering camp as a seasoned veteran, but to Dean, it’s just business as usual. “It’s pretty much the same thing as last year – just busting the hump. It’s good to get back out here with the guys and put in work.”
Dean may feel at home in the Tiger-Cat system, but the CFL is unquestionably evolving. Players are practicing yoga at training camp. Training regiments are unique to individual player physiology. Science permeates the approach of coaches to the game. There have been considerable changes since Head Coach Kent Austin’s time as CFL quarterback.
During a media scrum, Coach Austin reminisced about the extent of recovery techniques during his playing days. “Sit around, throw an ice bag on you,” he joked.
Not only has recovery science improved but so too has training technology. A new acquisition is sharing the field with Dean and the rest of the Tiger-Cats camp this season. It runs a 4.6 forty, it never gets tired, and it isn’t prone to injury. It may sound a lot like the hardy linebacker Dean, but the MVP (Mobile Virtual Player) dummy, is a new toy the Cats are implementing in numerous drills throughout camp.
The dummy is just one way that the Tiger-Cats are striving to get the most out of their players, and it appears to be paying dividends.
“So far so good,” said Dean, discussing the state of the linebacker group at camp. “I’ve only seen good things, and everybody is giving their best effort.”
One thing about the CFL that isn’t new for 2017 is a strong community presence. Even the annual decision to host an open-to-the-public training camp at local McMaster University speaks to this community orientation. Dean is no stranger to similar community initiatives.
The Larry Dean Foundation hosts numerous community projects in Dean’s native Georgia. Recently, these initiatives have included a Stop the Violence basketball tournament, and a turkey giveaway intended to help families in need at Thanksgiving. Dean’s strong community ties make him a natural fit in Hamilton, and the Tiger-Cats are happy to have his seasoned presence.
“We kinda take the rookies up underneath our wings,” said Dean following training camp Wednesday. “We each get appointed a different rookie. I’m not too far removed from it [being a rookie], but I try to give them a heads up so they don’t have to learn things the hard way.”
With the array of new techniques at camp this year, having a presence like Dean eases the transition for players new to the team, and in many cases, the country.
Advances in technology and player health are of huge benefit to Canadian football and its fans. The game isn’t what it once was, but players like Larry Dean could find ways to be successful even with just a bag of ice at their disposal.