CFL 2024

[Drivesaitl]

That's where Morris can step in as Hervey respects Morris. Whenever Rhodes tried to check him it sounds he put as much stock in his opinion as you'd expect a football guy to value the opinion of a ketchup salesman. Also, Hervey's now been burnt a couple times by his approach so he's likely more receptive to feedback even when he doesn't like it.

Good point with Morris. He'll have to be strong in the room. Good reply that Hervey may have learned. I guess we have to see with that. Concerns me his first hire was an all balls guy. Suggests to me not everything was learned. To wit Hervey hired a Hervey Jr. I wonder about that.

 

[bone]

Good point with Morris. He'll have to be strong in the room. Good reply that Hervey may have learned. I guess we have to see with that. Concerns me his first hire was an all balls guy. Suggests to me not everything was learned. To wit Hervey hired a Hervey Jr. I wonder about that.

Really all of his hires except Campbell in BC were "all balls guys" you describe it (Jones, Maas, Claybrooks).

2 of the 3 found success with him, the other he did move on from quickly and ended up hiring Campbell but never got to see that relationship through.

I don't think he hired anyone in Hamilton.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Really all of his hires except Campbell in BC were "all balls guys" you describe it (Jones, Maas, Claybrooks).

2 of the 3 found success with him, the other he did move on ended up hiring Campbell but never got to see that relationship through.

Fire likes fire.

 

[Stoneman89]

Might also be a factor that that was the same time that Dickenson started taking on GM responsibilities. 12-6, 8-6, then 12-6 again the first three years Killam took Assistant HC. Then Dickinson took on the GM role and now they've gone 6-12, 5-12-1 in the two years that follow.

The recent downfall could be just as much be a new GM not doing very well in his expanded role and scapegoating all his staff this summer to absolve himself.

Dickinson himself is one of the most animated coaches out there. Would it not make sense that those working under him would do similar?

That said, I do think your point about his sideline comportment is valid. Fortunately though Hervey's a little more seasoned now and has gone through a bit of that already with Maas and Claybourne, so he may be a bit better of a mentor to help guide Killam through that. If they think Killam's got the best mind for the game of those available, they can work on the other stuff.

Those 2 most recent crappy years have direct correlation to the change in quarterbacks then, coincidentally or not.

 

[PositiveCashFlow]

 

[Cloned]

Pretty sure Bombers fans were wanting Pierce fired because of how bad the offense was.

 

[Heavy Dee]

Pretty sure Bombers fans were wanting Pierce fired because of how bad the offense was.

The dummy refused to run the ball in three straight grey cups lol.

 

[bone]

Those 2 most recent crappy years have direct correlation to the change in quarterbacks then, coincidentally or not.

Could very well be. Though which GM decided to do that?

 

[timekeep]

Honestly I wouldn't credit Kilam as much for the Calgary results. I would actually credit a solid org run by Hugnagel, Dickenson, etc, and that established decades of stability there. Kilam was a bit piece of that, although he won't think that. Some people watched the presser and figured out that "we're going to play an Edmonton way, and that the town has grit, works hard, etc, that these were just standard issue platitudes. Easy things to say without saying anything. We just had an Oilers coach that was like that. Kalim is a populist.

I do agree that Dickenson bit off more in his roles but we don't know the whole backstory on that either. I do wonder that some of the Dickenson criticism is unfair and that the Stamps like most CFL operations are having to pare down costs. He probably couldn't defer work as much as he would have liked and the thing that has been mentioned on other sites is that some players are upset that they weren't getting what they wanted in contracts, in pay. This too being a primary issue with having both coach and manager roles.

That said players will credit Kilam because he plays the good cop "I'm your friend" role. Theres problems with that approach in coaching or management. Conversely Dickenson had to make hard decisions in Calgary in fiscally tight times (and remember how a covid epidemic and lost season impacts this) and not everybody likes him for it. Of course we've heard Kadeems take, I wouldn't put any stock in it.

I'm not saying you will be wrong about Kilam as I don't know, really none of us do yet. But I do know that Dickenson gets loads of credit for tanking the Stamps. He has been pissing his assistants and players off for a couple of seasons now.

 

[timekeep]

Interesting hire, I'm would have been happy it the Esks hired him over Campbell but glad we are hiring Kilam over Pearce.

 

[Drivesaitl]

I'm not saying you will be wrong about Kilam as I don't know, really none of us do yet. But I do know that Dickenson gets loads of credit for tanking the Stamps. He has been pissing his assistants and players off for a couple of seasons now.

I've already explained some possible reasons why, and 3downnation has had several articles on this as well. The Stamps are in fiscal trouble and Dickenson wearing both coaching and managerial roles is the one having to say no to player demands and making hard decisions on limited budget. Multiple of the players calling out Dickenson didn't get paid what they wanted and a couple other players even outing that its specious reason for aholes like Kadeem to go spouting off. The other thing, and I've raised this as Kilam positions himself very much as a good guy on the sidelines. Always supporting players, always being on their side.... Doesn't take a lot between Kadeems comments and Kalims good cop tendencies to wonder whether inappropriate convos took place. Given stamps Axed Kilam and that there was notable friction between Kilam and Dickenson this season its quite possible Kilam had some boundary problems that got outed.

Kilam far too much for management tries to postion himself in the player camp. Its very much what he's been about. That won't go down as well in a headcoaching capacity where you have to choose players, cut players, break a few hearts etc. Kilam has spent so long in a non critical role on a football org he's probably in for a huge shock at what its like controlling every decision. Its gonna be tough for him. Especially for a guy that openly cries about relationships with players. Kilam probably a great guy to have a beer with. He isn't, in my impression ideal for impartial and hard decisions. Of which there will be plenty. Kilam better hope the Ford decision goes well. If it doesn't its a derail before even camp starts. Not for nothing either. I tend to think one reason the org got Kilam is it might sound good to Ford.

Finally, as I stated KIlam has spent so long in tertiary roles on a football club that its kind of unusual for it to take this long for him to get promoted. Makes me wonder if a lot of teams have felt he's unbaked goods. Indeed even in 2020 the Esks turned Kilam down. This was the 2nd go at this.

In anycase Kilam is not some kind of star HC candidate. The org will do everything to get you or others to try to believe he is.

 

[bone]

Was just thinking a bit on the Killam hire and the Ford situation.

The verbal against Ford has long been that the odds of a QB developed in the Canadian college system has very poor odds of success in professional football, and they typically only have a career if changing their position. This is so rare, that Ford may already be the most successful QB developed in Canada since Russ Jackson.

Now looking at Killam's background. Has there ever been a Canadian head coach that was brought up in the Canadian colllege program without ever actually playing a game of pro ball. I suspect there may have been, but if there has been, I'd suspect the list isn't much larger than the list of Canadian QBs developed in the Canadian program.

Perhaps the longshot nature of both of these men's goals could be something to bond over.

 

[abootzky]

I'm less in the know, and following less but I don't know how Kilam is a slamdunk great hire as head coach here when he hasn't been that elsewhere and where he has instead been an assistant coach on a losing and failing Stampeders club.

So I'm not understanding others reactions. Is the support of this just due to avoiding Rick Campbell as head coach or do people think Kilam has what it takes?

Seems odd to me as well Kilam is signed 3yrs as headcoach when he's barely been anything other than special teams coach or strength conditioning coach in Calgary. Yes I know he's been assistant coach for a few seasons. Calgary let him go for undisclosed reasons. So that we're hiring a person who has never been a headcoach and one who was even let go as an assistant.

There's really no such thing as a "slam dunk hire as head coach" until results prove it after the fact. Every new HC comes in with one or more of: experience, baggage, a certain reputation, inexperience or hype. Ed Hervey was impressed by longtime Stamps Special Teams Coordinator Mark Kilam's demeanor, resume and, especially, a large number of glowing recommendations from guys who played for Kilam in CGY. Many of those, (myself included) who first heard the new HC speak at the presser on Monday were impressed as well. For me, the honeymoon phase with Thompson, Morris, Hervey and now, Kilam is reaching its final stages. They all seem well-aware that the hard work required to turn the EE around on & off the field has just begun. I'm hopeful, but not blindly optimistic that they will be successful.