Claybrooks to coach Lions, source says
Where have we seen this before?
The B.C. Lions are turning to a familiar source to find success in the post-Wally Buono era.
They’re leaning once again on the Calgary Stampeders to lead them into the future.
Just as was the case 15 years ago, when Buono left the Stamps to join the Lions as head coach, it appears as if Stamps defensive coordinator DeVone Claybrooks is leaving Calgary to become the new sideline boss in Vancouver.
Reports say Claybrooks has at least been offered a three-year deal to replace Buono as commander of the Lions.
Expect a news conference of his acceptance to follow in the next day or two.
Around Calgary, it’s called paying the price for success.
The defence for the Stampeders put together a brilliant season in anchoring a Grey Cup run.
Maybe too brilliant considering the fallout.
Because the undisputed leader of the league’s top defence is leaving Calgary to take the reins of his own team.
It was bound to happen, though — especially after piloting the Stamps defence to such a sparkling campaign.
The Stampeders ranked tops in nearly all defensive categories during the 2018 season, including fewest amount of points allowed (363, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were next with 419) and fewest touchdowns allowed (27, Bombers were next at 35).
The bend-but-don’t-break style of the defence won the Stamps too many games to count on one hand this past season, including spectacular performances in both the West Division final and the Grey Cup title fight.
In the 22-14 West final win over the Blue Bombers, the Stamps didn’t allow a touchdown, and in the 27-16 championship victory, the defence forced six turnovers and allowed just one major.
Those efforts marked the major reasons for the Grey Cup victory.
But there’s more …
In all three seasons that Claybrooks has been the Stamps’ defensive coordinator, the team has allowed the fewest points against in the league.
So it’s time to share the wealth. The Stampeders granted permission two weeks ago to both the Lions and the Toronto Argonauts to talk with Claybrooks about their vacant head coaching positions.
The Argos apparently talked with Claybrooks in the days following the Stamps’ Grey Cup capture, while the Lions reportedly met with Claybrooks last week.
With Claybrooks apparently leaning towardstaking the gig in B.C., Corey Chamblin, ex of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, was named sideline boss of the Argos on Monday.
But what does all this mean for the Stamps moving forward?
Claybrooks has ardent supporters in his players.
Don’t be surprised to see an exodus of Stamps on the defensive side of the ball follow Claybrooks to the West Coast, to give the Lions a boost in coming seasons.
CFL all-stars Alex Singleton and Micah Johnson head the list of potential free-agents when the league window opens Feb. 12.
So, too, do fellow Grey Cup champs and front-seven stars Jameer Thurman, Junior Turner and Ja’Gared Davis, as well as defensive backs Emanuel Davis and Ciante Evans.
All have been key cogs in Claybrooks’ defence in Calgary.
The Stamps weren’t kidding when they continually preached this past season’s team likely wouldn’t be together beyond the Grey Cup.
“We talked about it a lot, not just tonight but the entire year,” Stamps QB Bo Levi Mitchell told reporters moments after the Grey Cup.
“Our pre-game speech had a part of that in there. Just talking to guys, that we knew this lockerroom was not going to look the same next year.
“Not only is there NFL for some guys, there’s two other leagues coming out that pay American money (in the Alliance of American Football in February and a reboot of the XFL in 2020), and that’s tough. It’s just the truth and the reality of it. We’ll see what happens. I know a lot of guys want to be back here and they want to build on this.”
But some won’t return — it’s the nature of football.
And so it begins with Claybrooks’ exit as the start — a big start — of a significant off-season.
The dominoes are starting to fall.
Yeah, that’s the price of success, all right.