CFL’S CHALLENGE RULE COMES UNDER REVIEW
Stampeders coach Dickenson prepared to let chips fall where they may on the field
Anytime a CFL head coach is forced to challenge a referee’s decision on a seemingly obvious call, there’s a segment of Canadian football fans who make the same argument.
Essentially, it boils down to the idea that a coach shouldn’t lose their one-and-only challenge if they’re right, so why not allow them to keep challenging plays until they’re wrong.
Well, it doesn’t sound like that’s something the coaches themselves were lobbying for this week in Mont Tremblant, Que., where the CFL was holding its annual winter meetings.
“I don’t like challenges,” said Calgary Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson. “I think there’s human error that’s involved and I sometimes don’t agreed with what’s getting called from (the review office in) Toronto, anyways.
“I’m good with black and white things being challenged, like did a player get his foot in? I get a little nervous when we start challenging what I consider grey areas.”
Dickenson wasn’t alone. Edmonton Eskimos head coach Jason Maas agreed that the CFL’s challenge rule was fine as it is and argued that there probably isn’t a perfect solution anyways, as the more challenges you allow coaches to have, the more the game slows down.
The argument from people who want to see more challenges usually suggests that coaches only be granted a maximum of two, and only if their first was successful.
Maas, however, questioned where the line should really be drawn, while Dickenson reiterated that there was always going to be a level of human error that goes into officiating a football game and that was something coaches and players both needed to accept.
“I don’t have a problem with fans arguing a little bit and saying ‘oh, that should have been a call,’ ’’ Dickenson said. “We all have to realize that no matter what, some calls are going to go your way and some calls are not. I’m going to work on my poise on the sidelines, because sometimes it’s going to go against you.”
STILL LOOKING
When former defensive coordinator DeVone Claybrooks took the B.C. Lions’ vacant head coaching job in December, it didn’t take the Stampeders long to name his replacement.
The team promoted linebackers coach Brent Monson only a few days after Claybrooks’ departure was made official.
Finding someone to replace Monson, however, has been more of a challenge, especially because of the CFL’s recent decision to institute a salary cap on football operations staff.
“I’ve got to find one more coach, and I feel it’s tougher with the salary cap,” Dickenson said. “You’ve got to fit that guy in at a very low salary, so it’s tough to find guys with experience and that’s why it’s taken as long as it has.”
While the search is still on for a new linebackers coach, Dickenson sounds excited to see what Monson can do in his new role.
“Brent was kind of the analytical guy of the staff,” Dickenson said. “He takes a lot of the computer studies and tendencies and that sort of stuff on his plate and then provided DeVone with a bunch of information to hopefully call a game that’s successful. We’re getting a nice dynamic with him, (defensive linemen coach Corey Mace) and (defensive backs coach Joshua Bell).
“There are some good candidates out there who have been fired, but I thought Brent earned it and it was the right move.”
EXPECT HIM BACK
The Stampeders have long had a reputation for letting veteran players leave right before they begin to decline.
It’s been a strength of president/GM John Hufnagel for a decade now, but the Stamps don’t sound like they’re ready to let the oldest player on last year’s roster walk away.
Speaking in Mont Tremblant on Tuesday, Dickenson was pretty clear that he expects veteran defensive back Brandon Smith to be back at McMahon Stadium next season.
“I would expect Smitty to come back,” Dickenson said. “Everyone needs to take a deep breath and figure out where they’re at, but I thought his level of play was solid. He was banged up, but that’s a challenge as you get older, whether you can maintain that physical edge.”
At 34, Smith is the oldest player the Stamps currently have listed on their roster. The secondoldest, kicker Rene Paredes, was re-signed in December.
Smith didn’t show any signs of slowing down last year, playing in 17 games and picking up 56 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, three interceptions and one sack.
Those are elite-level stats for a CFL defensive back, proving that he brought a lot more to the team than just veteran leadership.
It’s also worth noting that in the days immediately following the Stamps’ win at last year’s Grey Cup, Smith indicated to Postmedia that he wanted to return next season, as well.