The first weekend of Hamilton Tiger-Cats training camp practice is in the books. Unfortunately, the pages of those books were drenched in rain with 10-15 mm of rain during practice. Add in temperatures barely above the freezing mark and wind gusts anywhere from 30-50km/h and you could swear we were at the 2014 East Final on November 23; a day with nearly identical conditions which saw the Ticats get their last win of 2014, falling one game (and possibly play) short of a Grey Cup championship the following week at BC Place in Vancouver.

It seems fitting the 2015 season should begin with a reminder of how 2014 ended. This year’s edition of the Black and Gold will undoubtedly face constant comparison to the previous squad as one of the league’s most passionate fan bases wills the team towards completing the final step.

When asked about the ability to take last season’s end and add it to this season’s beginning, Head Coach and General Manager Kent Austin replied, "What we can carry forward is all the experiences we've had in the last two years, the good and the bad, and grow as a football team."

This battle of mental focus and attention to detail will either be the hill that Austin's Ticats triumphantly reach the top of or that which they die on. There really is no in between for a team without a Grey Cup victory since the new millennium. Sixteen years have passed since Hamilton defeated Calgary at - where else - BC Place in Vancouver, the scene of last season’s anticlimactic completion.

They have a real chance to be a dominant force in the CFL's East Division, if not the entire league in 2015. Based on talent, familiarity, and established coaching this group is ready to excel. Here is how day one of training camp at McMaster University shook down.

Rushed Judgements and Overreactions

Disclaimers aside, the first day did not show who the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are, one would hope. In terrible conditions more than fifteen balls were dropped by receivers, running backs, and punt returners on an offence planning to create sizeable production in 2015.

Of note, defensive back Brandon Stewart, who is recovering from an injury, was not in pads. Taking his place in the secondary with the first team was East Carolina product Emanuel Davis. Davis impressed throughout practice, including a play in team 12-on-12s where he nearly drove on a Zach Collaros offering with nothing but finely manicured turf between himself and the end zone. If Stewart does not recuperate by mid-June, look for Davis to have as good a chance as any to start the season at boundary corner.

Lawrence Welcoming the Challenge

Simoni Lawrence understands the business of football. He took to the field Sunday morning with his trademark rampant energy and vocal leadership looking to guide what has become a relatively young linebacking corps when compared to recent years towards another Grey Cup appearance.

When asked after practice about the young linebackers in camp, Lawrence gave the young backers all sorts of praise before stating, "I want everybody to try to take my job and I'm going to help them to try to take my job but I'm going to be myself as well." As camp continues and competition heats up, it will be interesting to see how "helpful" Simoni is to his understudies.

Standing Out

The team’s 17th overall draft selection this year made his debut in Ticats’ Black and Gold Sunday morning. Surrounded by his fellow linebackers, University of Montreal star Byron Archambault (#49) stood out for more than just his early arrival on the field in poor weather. The ex-Carabins linebacker was the only of his position group to go completely sleeveless in what felt like late November weather.

When asked about Archambault's approach to the weather, Lawrence laughed before exclaiming "have you seen his arms man? He doesn't need any sleeves." Byron said he wasn't trying to prove himself to the other linebackers, "everyone was cold out there, sleeves or no sleeves, I've been like that for many years now. It goes back to high school."

While Archambault may not have wanted to standout with his attire, his usage did. Special teams coordinator Jeff Reinbold repeatedly called on the 2015 draft pick to join specific special teams drills. One could only assume the hopes this staff has for the powerful linebacker to play a dominant role on several special teams.

The Ticats return to work with (hopefully) better conditions Monday morning. Practices are open to the public at McMaster University's Ron Joyce Stadium.

Marshall Ferguson, a former McMaster quarterback, covers the Tiger-Cats for Classic Hits 1150 CKOC in Hamilton - the future home of TSN Radio 1150. His CFL blogs and podcasts can be read and heard weekly on TSN.ca.