THERE IS GAIN FOR PAYNE AMID MYRIAD RESPONSIBILITIES
Candiac native absorbs knowledge during coaching immersion with Eskimos
There’s no position lower on the staff of a professional football team than quality-control coach — but Robert Payne considers it a badge of honour.
The native of Candiac has been the — coach for the Edmonton Eskimos since May. A 16- or 18-hour workday isn’t uncommon, the 30-year-old arriving at his Commonwealth Stadium office by 5 a.m. He’s often the first one there and the last to leave, occasionally sleeping at the office. When not there, he can be found catching a catnap at the home of family or friends.
Payne does this, he claimed, for no pay other than having his expenses covered. But when the Eskimos are on the road, he receives a per diem. His reward? Other than an Eskimos’ win, it’s the job description, followed by Canadian Football League team, he can put on his resumé.
It’s grunt work with few accolades. But it’s a position others before him have held — from Danny Maciocia, a former head coach and general manager of the Eskimos, to Mike Benevides, Edmonton’s defensive coordinator; from New England Patriots DC Matt Patricia to Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer.
“I’m paid by knowledge, by experience and by having the CFL on my resumé,” Payne said during a press box interview this week at Commonwealth Stadium. “It’s a position a lot of coaches have gone through to get to where they want to be.
“I knew what I was getting into. The hours are insane, but (it’s worth it because of what) you put on your resumé.”
Payne has myriad responsibilities. In a nutshell, his job is to ensure everything remains at the highest quality possible and proceeds professionally. During practices, he’s on the field, helping with drills or plays. During games, he’s in the spotter’s booth, talking to offensive coordinator Carson Walch, or reviewing contentious plays that might be challenged by head coach Jason Maas.
Payne attends meetings, breaks down film and does prep work for the coaches. He’ll run the scout team for special teams coordinator Cory McDiarmid. Payne handles analytics and does performance tracking on a daily basis, charting everything from targets, catches, drops, penalties and turnovers.
What makes this all so unique is Payne’s background’s on the defensive side. From 2008-12, he played defensive back at the University of Ottawa. He joined Champlain College in St-Lambert two years later, spending three seasons with the Cavaliers, including the last as defensive coordinator.
“The biggest learning curve was the offensive language and understanding what they’re trying to accomplish and how the plays come together,” Payne explained. “Walsh’s offence is very specific. Everything has a reason and purpose. You have to get it pinpoint correct. There was a lot of studying involved, sometimes pure memorization.”
Payne wanted to remain in the game when his Gee-Gees career ended. His defensive coordinator at Ottawa, coincidentally, was McDiarmid his last two seasons. And it was McDiarmid who informed Payne of the potential opening at Edmonton — after Payne had accepted a job as an assistant coach at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. The two remained in constant touch, Payne tapping into McDiarmid’s vast resource of knowledge to improve the defensive play of his CEGEP team.
“He was trying to grow his coaching career. I could see he was dedicated and wanted to keep working up the ranks,” McDiarmid said. “This is a guy who’s dedicated and a hard worker. Attention to detail in that job’s very important.
“To hire an offensive qualitycontrol coach who’s a defensiveminded coach is beneficial. He sees things maybe through a different set of eyes than guys who have only really coached offence. That’s always a benefit.”
After McDiarmid’s initial contact in February, Maas phoned Payne and told him he came highly recommended.
“He told me I need to work with you for five days to see if I like you,” Payne remembered. “If I can’t work with you for five days I’m not going to work with you for five months. He was very blunt. He’s direct with what he needs and wants — rightfully so.”
It didn’t take long for Maas, a former CFL quarterback, to come away impressed. He realized Payne was a hard worker and a quick study.
“You have to grind it out and have that mentality,” Maas explained. “When he doesn’t know something, he has the ability to learn it. He’s not overwhelmed by the situation. We’re hard on him and ask him to do a lot. The five days he was here he was very astute and asked a lot of the right questions. You could tell he was into it, trying to learn.”
Payne left that Friday with a job offer in hand, quickly accepted and started May 21, coinciding with the start of rookie training camp. Maas expects him to improve each week as he becomes more comfortable with the West Coast offence the team utilizes. Payne said he loves the mind games behind football and wants to become a CFL defensive coordinator. “Your opportunity is there if you learn this offence,” Maas said, adding there are six teams running the West Coast offence in the CFL. “How to work it, talk it, coach it and, ultimately, draw it. You should have an opportunity somewhere. Knowing the West Coast system’s a big deal.”
I knew what I was getting into. The hours are insane, but (it’s worth it because of what) you put on your resumé.