Scouting for Success - Ticats Today - March 21st, 2025 (ft. Tom Flaxman)

In this episode of Ticats Today, host Steve Milton interviews Tom Flaxman, the new director of national scouting for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. They discuss the upcoming CFL Combine, the importance of player evaluations, and the strategies behind the CFL draft. Flaxman shares insights on what scouts look for in players, the significance of special teams, and how university programs contribute to player development. The conversation highlights the depth of the 2025 draft class and the Ticats' approach to building a competitive roster.

Takeaways

• Tom Flaxman has been actively scouting players across various combines and pro days.
• The CFL Combine is crucial for evaluating player performance and character.
• Scouts look for athletes who take the combine seriously, reflecting their work ethic.
• Interviews at the combine help assess a player's fit within the team culture.
• Players can significantly increase or decrease their draft stock during the combine.
• The Ticats have a clear strategy for the upcoming draft, focusing on talent and team needs.
• The 2025 draft class is considered deep, with strengths in multiple positions.
• Special teams play a vital role in the game, and evaluating players for these roles is essential.
• University programs with strong resources tend to produce more CFL prospects.
• Building a team requires finding great players who are also great teammates.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to Tom Flaxman and CFL Scouting

02:48 - The Importance of the CFL Combine

06:00 - Evaluating Players: Draft Stock and Interviews

09:03 - Draft Strategy and Team Needs

11:51 - Strengths of the 2025 Draft Class

14:45 - Special Teams and Player Evaluation

17:48 - The Role of University Programs in Player Development

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The Ticats Audio Network provides Hamilton Tiger-Cats fans with the most comprehensive, entertaining and informative news and information about their favourite football team. Featuring Steve Milton, RJ Broadhead, Luke Tasker, Mike Daly, Bubba O’Neil, Courtney Stephen, Simoni Lawrence, Mike Morreale, Rob Hitchcock, Brian Simmons, Louie Butko, Ticats players, coaches and front office personnel, other Canadian Football League experts and many more. Regular shows include Ticats Today, Ticats This Week, Tiger-Cats Game Day, Tiger-Cats Pregame, Tiger-Cats At The Half, Tiger-Cats Postgame, Speaking With The Enemy, Morreale & Hitch, CFL This Week, and so much more. Ticats Audio Network content can be found on the Tiger-Cats YouTube channel, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, at listen.ticats.ca and anywhere else you find podcasts. Please follow, like, leave a review wherever you find our content, and follow the Hamilton Tiger-Cats social media channels to keep up to date with all Ticats Audio Network content.
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