Mitchell Blair
Riderville.com
There aren’t many people that follow the CFL on a day-to-day basis that would have told you at the start of the season that the Saskatchewan Roughriders would be the lone unbeaten team left, but low and behold they are after stopping the B.C. Lions on Saturday afternoon.
There are many reasons for the great start, but they can all be traced back to the youngest head coach in the CFL as every button Corey Chamblin has pushed so far in his debut season has worked to a charm. It asks the question as to whether or not Chamblin feels the things that he wanted to do when he eventually became a head coach have been validated in his mind. Chamblin says yes, but he is also quick to make sure that he doesn’t take sole credit for the quick turnaround.
“There was a plan that I had, and also when we came together with Brendan Taman, there were some of the things that he wanted to do. We were able to do them with the roster. We see eye-to-eye on a lot of stuff.” Chamblin said after Saturday’s game. “I think it’s just a big picture and a combination of a lot of people working together. If you look in that locker room and all across this staff, there are a lot of guys who didn’t have a lot of success last year on the teams that they were on. That’s no reflection of the guys, because we were true warriors. I’m excited for guys to get a chance to feel that good taste, that win in their mouths, again.’’
The enthusiasm and energy Chamblin brings to the table every day is something that has caught on with the football team. 2nd year Rider Tyron Brackenridge says Chamblin is a guy that you can’t help but be excited to play for.
“He is bringing us together. It’s that simple.” Brackenridge said. “He is sweating with us every day, he’s bleeding with us every day and he is standing with us every day. He tells us every day that we have to play aggressive, we have to play disciplined, we have to play fast, but the biggest thing is that we have to play as a unit and if we do that, we will be special.”
Chamblin’s arrival has also paid dividends with quarterback Darian Durant as he strives to become better.
“In the off-season, I sat down with Coach and we talked about turnover ratio,” Durant said. “That is the biggest difference between wins and losses in this league. In the past, I have made some bad decisions, and I’ve hurt this football team, but I’ve realized some things now and you are seeing that out in the field. The yards and touchdowns may not be there, but the wins are and that’s what important.”
Like Brackenridge, Durant believes a special bond has been created early on between Chamblin and the players.
“He’s our leader,” Durant proclaims. “He leads us and he gives us a mentality of no fear. It doesn’t matter who we play. We are a confident group. The gameplans that we have been given are great on both sides and we are getting it done.
Rookie offensive lineman Ben Heenan had a great coach in college as he was led by Brian Towriss at the University of Saskatchewan. As big a fan as Heenan is of Towriss, he is incredibly impressed with what he has seen from Chamblin.
“Brian and Corey are obviously two different types of coaches, but coach Chamblin never ceases to amaze me.” Heenan said. “Everything he does, he does for a reason. He is incredibly professional and he knows what to do and say to get us motivated. His preparation and the way he carries himself is special and you have seen the results. I’ve been very impressed with him.”
The early results on Chamblin’s tenure have been a huge success. While Chamblin will tell you that there is still a long ways to go and that there are many challenges that his team will be presented with as the season goes on, one can’t help but think those challenges will be answered thanks to the man in charge who has once again brought a tremendous amount of optimism to the Rider Nation.
