THE CANADIAN PRESS

HAMILTON, Ont. - Marcel Bellefeuille wants the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to dream big this year.

Bellefeuille begins his first full season as Hamilton's head coach after assuming the job last year on an interim basis after Charlie Taaffe was fired. The Ottawa native - the league's lone Canadian-born head coach - says it's not enough for Ticats players to merely improve upon last year's league-worst 3-15 record.

"Too often your expectations are just to get better and to improve," Bellefeuille said. "I think those are steps along the way, those are processes.

"Your goals have to be loftier and I think sometimes that can get lost. We're really trying to hone in this year that we have high expectations and I believe we have the talent to be able to do it."

Making the playoffs would certainly be a good start. Hamilton hasn't qualified for the CFL post-season since 2004 and has amassed a dreadful 15-57 overall record in that span.

But there's a sense of optimism this season in Steeltown, thanks to a busy off-season by general manager Bob O'Billovich.

The club bolstered its offence by signing veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn after he was released by Winnipeg. O'Billovich also dipped into free agency to land offensive linemen Alexandre Gauthier, linebackers Otis Floyd and Agustin Barrenechea and defensive end Brandon Guillory.

The Ticats also secured stellar tackle Dan Goodspeed in a three-way deal involving Winnipeg and Saskatchewan and drafted highly touted offensive linemen Simon Rottier and Zac Carlson.

And nowhere is the club's optimism for success higher than at quarterback, with sophomore Quinton Porter atop the depth chart after the Ticats released disappointing veteran Casey Printers in the off-season. Porter, whose teammate at Boston College was current Atlanta Falcons star Matt Ryan, showed flashes of brilliance late last year in place of Printers.

But Porter is only entering his second CFL season and still learning the nuances of Canadian football. Should he struggle, or worse get injured, having a veteran like Glenn available would certainly be an advantage for the Ticats. That's a fact not lost upon Bellefeuille, who served as Glenn's offensive co-ordinator when the two were with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

"The fact I coached Kevin his first few years as his co-ordinator and I came in last year with Quinton and we came here together really gives me a comfort level in knowing their abilities and personalities to lead the team," Bellefeuille said. "However it works itself out, it's going to be 1 and 1A."

Whoever starts for Hamilton will have the added benefit of drawing upon former CFL star Khari Jones' experience. Jones, the league's outstanding player in 2001 with Winnipeg, is in his first season as the Ticats' quarterbacks coach.

Porter has made a quick ascent up Hamilton's depth chart. He began his CFL career last year as the Ticats' No. 4 quarterback. But in his first season of Canadian football, the six-foot-five, 228-pound Porter completed 118-of-177 passes (66.7 per cent) for 1,496 yards with 10 TDs and just four interceptions.

"One of the things we have to be careful of is you look at him and you have this vision of him being like Kevin in terms of experience and being able to see things before they happen," Bellefeuille said. "But you just have to remember it's only his second training camp.

"He did play well at the end of the year last year but now he had to come to camp and learn the whole offence again. He started at No. 4 last year and worked his way up so we have to be careful in terms of how we see that."

Porter won't have running back Jesse Lumsden to hand off to, though. The former McMaster star ran for 1,797 yards on 285 carries and scored nine touchdowns during his four-year stay in Hamilton before signing with the home-town Edmonton Eskimos in the off-season.

But Lumsden's departure still leaves Hamilton with Kenton Keith, Mike Caulley and Tre Smith at running back.

Sophomore Prechae Rodriguez emerged as Hamilton's go-to receiver last year, leading the team in catches (70) and yards (1,099) and touchdowns (seven). The former Auburn Tigers star says consistency will be Hamilton's key to success this season.

"Just consistency all around, offence and defence," he said. "Being physically and mentally tough and make sure everyone follows their assignments.

"I'm expecting to have a target on my back this year but I've been on my game too as well expecting that. Whatever the challenge is, I'm going to step up to it."

Hamilton bolstered its defence by adding veteran linebackers Floyd and Augustin Barrinachea. And sophomore Dylan Barker, the first player taken in the '08 CFL draft, is expected to start at safety after missing all of last season with a broken leg.

But the biggest move was signing a proven defensive co-ordinator in Greg Marshall, whose system has succeeded in his previous two stops in Edmonton and Winnipeg.

Marshall takes over a unit in 2008 gave up a league-high 440 yards per game and was last in sacks (26) but finished tied with Edmonton for second in interceptions (23).

Hamilton's special teams are capably manned by kicker-punter Nick Setta. The former Notre Dame star hit on 28-of-36 field goal tries (77.8 per cent) while posting a league-high 47.4-yard punting average.