5 things Rider fans learned from Corey Chamblin

Corey Chamblin was in a talkative mood on Tuesday. The Riders' head coach spoke with reporters for nearly 25 minutes explaining his recent decisions regarding his coaching staff and his plans for the 2015 season.  Here are five things Rider fans learned from his press conference.

1. The Chamblin Stamp — Heading into his fourth season as the Roughriders' Head Coach, Chamblin is putting his own stamp on the team. Both offensive coordinator George Cortez and defensive coordinator Richie Hall were told they would not be returning to their positions next season. Chamblin cited a difference in philosophies with both coaches as reasons for the change. He wants a specific type of player on the field and a specific type of coach on the sidelines.

2. An Aggressive State of Mind —​ Chamblin mentioned several times he wants his team, and specifically his defence, to play an aggressive style of football. Richie Hall's defence was known for being conservative and cautious at times. Chamblin loves his defence to be aggressive on the field. "Sometimes it's just time to go forward with one philosophy on defence" is how Chamblin put it to reporters. The Riders led the CFL in sacks in 2014. It will be interesting to see how players like John Chick and Ricky Foley embrace a more aggressive style next season.

3. Not Afraid To Take Charge — One of the more interesting facts to emerge from the press conference was when Chamblin admitted he often made the defensive play calls last season. Normally, that role belongs to the defensive coordinator, but Chamblin explained he would sometimes take control of the defence for a quarter or two during games. In fact, Chamblin revealed he made all the defensive calls during the West Semi-Final in Edmonton. It's not unheard of for a head coach to take on a co-ordinator role, but it does add more to their plate. Chamblin also said he would feel comfortable doing both jobs next season if he can't find the right person to replace Richie Hall.

4. New Coaches Will Be Named Soon — Rider fans should know next week who will be the team's new offensive co-ordinator. Chamblin is in talks with five candidates, including former Rider coach and current television analyst, Paul LaPolice. Other names rumoured for the job are former BC Lions offensive co-ordinator Jacques Chapdelaine and former Rider quarterbacks coach Khari Jones. Once the position is filled, Chamblin will focus on the defence. Whether he brings in somebody new or simply names himself as defensive coordinator remains to be seen.

5. A Confident Coach — With 3 seasons and a Grey Cup under his belt, Corey Chamblin said he has never been more confident in his coaching abilities. "I have three years of experience. Knowing how to win a championship. Knowing how to fight through all those battles. I really see this as my first year with experience now. I do believe we can put together a championship football team in 2015. I'm very energetic and excited about it, and I do believe we'll have that."