Todd Saelhof

Even a win for the Stampeder can't change 2024 debacle and what comes from it in the off-season.

The first road victory of 2024 for the Calgary club a slump-stopper to send Red and White into the off-season on a high note.

Major changes are expected for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League off-season.

Advertisement 1 Share this Story : 'We need to do better': Dickenson looking ahead to Stamps off-season 'We need to do better': Dickenson looking ahead to Stamps off-season Better attention to detail needed, say veterans, in wake of 2024 CFL debacle Author of the article: Article content Dropped details did in the Calgary Stampeders during the 2024 CFL season. Advertisement 2 Article content 'We need to do better': Dickenson looking ahead to Stamps off-season Back to video That was the consensus sentiment among those Stampeders tapped to do exit interviews with the media Sunday. So because of it, there will be much attention to detail paid to the roster — on all fronts of it, including both players and the coaching staff — in the upcoming off-season. Change is, indeed, coming. “Yeah … I definitely think as an organization, you do what's the best to win — and we haven't done that,” said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “So we're ready and prepared to improve. And there are some areas I definitely have targeted. “We're going to have to do some fixing. I'm confident we can do that.” That might start with Dickenson himself, depending on conversations had with president Jay McNeil and special advisor John Hufnagel. Advertisement 3 Article content Whether the CFL veteran returns is the first item on the agenda. And if so, does he come back in the dual role of GM and head coach that he's held for the last two years? The wily ol' QB says he's ready to get to work on the future for the Red and White. “I have a plan,” said Dickenson, 51. “I do expect it to work and just have to see how it goes as we move forward. Like I feel confident I've got an idea of where this team fell short. And for myself, I do think there's some things as an organization we need to do better. “I'll probably have more answers here in a few days.” Good thing, because there were not enough answers during the 5-12-1 debacle of 2024. Advertisement 4 Article content Just more and more questions, as the losses — including eight in their last 10 games — mounted. The faces of each unit — offensive captain Reggie Begelton, defensive standout Cam Judge and kicking legend René Paredes — feel like they know what went wrong. “This year was a testament to details and professionalism — just everybody looking at themselves and asking themselves how much they love this game,” Begelton said. “And that comes in terms of you doing the extra work and you not wanting to let your teammates down. So you do the right thing every time — just being the best version of yourself. If you strive to be the best version of yourself, then I promise a lot of good things will happen. “We've got a lot of young guys who haven't had that guidance,” continued Begelton. “Ignorance is bliss, and it comes with experience, and hopefully, you know, a lot of them have got a year under their belt now. So it's one of those things where you say, ‘Are you going to take that next level — do you really want to win? Or are you here for a cheque?‘ So it's a character-building type of year, and we'll see who actually did work in an off-season in the spring.” Advertisement 5 Article content That is who actually pays attention to — and respects — the details of their football duties. “It was the details,” agreed all-star linebacker Judge. “I think sometimes we strayed away from the details, especially in big moments in the game, which is when you want to be on top of them. Sometimes it's maybe guys even trying to do too much who are having a good game. “So I feel like it wasn't just a lot of glaring issues,” continued Judge. “I felt, honestly, regardless of what happened, it was all the little things that added up. Maybe you add them together, that is a glaring issue. So definitely we need to be more fine-tuned on the details, game to game. “We'd be playing a good game, and then the last half of the fourth quarter — maybe even the whole fourth quarter — it's like we don't know how to play football. So it's tough because you know we can do it and we've been doing it the same night.” Advertisement 6 Article content After such a sloppy season, nobody is exempt from the off-season business now at hand. The process began Sunday with exit interviews, medical checks and clearing up paperwork. Then after a team party Monday, each player and coach heads home knowing — should they return — the 2025 Stampeders will be a much different looking group in the spring. It has to be after the year that wasn't. “We'll start with our individual meetings,” Dickenson said. “We'll see how it fits. But … yeah … everybody's got to be better. “I expect there has to be some change in the team and the way we do things,” continued the GM/head coach. “I mean … you've got to get your options first. You know … CFL free agency doesn't even start till the middle of February. So you can make all these plans to do this and do that, but you may not be able to do them. You're at the mercy of what's available. But we'll start out and we'll look at everything from personnel to scouting to communication to coaching to positional meetings to strength and conditioning and training. Advertisement 7 Article content “We need to take a big breath, and then you go look at it and try to find the right balance.” And hopefully return with a better feel for 2025 to move the Stampeders back in the direction of their high standard of the last 20 CFL seasons. “As a player that has been here for a long, long time and loves the city and loves this organization, we've been declining the past five years — I'll be straight honest,” added super-kicker Parades, who confirmed he will return to the team — at age 40 — in 2025. “You know … we haven't won a playoff game since 2018. You know … we haven't had a home game in the playoffs since '18. And last year, we barely made the playoffs. And this year, we didn't. So it's tough for me to say, but we've been declining as an organization. “Things have got to change.” X: @ToddSaelhofPM Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : 'We need to do better': Dickenson looking ahead to Stamps off-season Comments Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Latest National Stories News Near Elliot Lake Featured Local Savings

Team president Jay McNeil backs veteran as GM/head coach for next CFL season Dave Dickenson will remain on as both GM and head coach of the Calgary Stampeders into the 2025 CFL season.

Advertisement 1 Share this Story : Dave Dickenson has 'earned the right' to retain GM, head coach roles for 2025, says Stampeders president Dave Dickenson has 'earned the right' to retain GM, head coach roles for 2025, says Stampeders president Team president Jay McNeil backs veteran as GM/head coach for next CFL season Author of the article: Article content Dave Dickenson will remain on as both GM and head coach of the Calgary Stampeders into the 2025 CFL season. Advertisement 2 Article content Dave Dickenson has 'earned the right' to retain GM, head coach roles for 2025, says Stampeders president Back to video Team president Jay McNeil threw his support behind dual-role Dickenson during a sort-of state-of-the-union address Monday, following the first year in 20 that the Stampeders failed to make the playoffs. “Since Dave's taken over as head coach, he's got a record of 84 wins, 53 losses and one tie, he's taken us to three consecutive Grey Cups (from 2016-18) and he's won a championship in 2018,” McNeil told a gallery of curious media members at McMahon Stadium. “He's earned the right and the opportunity to turn this around in 2025,” continued McNeil. “And he has our full support.” For many fans, the vote of confidence won't sit well given the team's recent shortcomings, especially those of the past few years. Under Dickenson's leadership, the Stamps have won just 11 of 37 games since the start of the 2023 CFL campaign, including just five this past campaign which caused them to miss the post-season for the first time since 2004. Advertisement 3 Article content “Eleven wins in the last few years is not good enough, and we've got to do something better,” said McNeil, 54. “So we've been working incredibly hard for the last several weeks to build a plan to give us success in 2025. And we're excited about that plan — we believe in it. We're excited about that, and change will be coming. “I know fans want to see change today, but it's a process and it takes time. But we will get there.” That plan, says the first-year president, has been hatched by McNeil, Dickenson and special advisor John Hufnagel, who was the architect of three Grey Cups during his tenure as head coach and GM of the Stamps. It includes becoming aggressive in free agency — a point of contention in recent off-seasons among many people, both inside and outside the organization. Advertisement 4 Article content “We believe in the plan,” said McNeil, himself a two-time title winner as an offensive lineman with the Stamps in both 1998 and 2001. “We've built the strategy of what we want to achieve for 2025, and we've outlined six items on how we want to get better … “And it will be up to Dave to execute on that.” Dickenson has been criticized for having too much on his plate as both GM and coach of the team. During the 2014 Grey Cup-winning season, Hufnagel held both posts — as has been the case with Dickenson the last two years. “People would assume that there's a big workload for Dave during this season,” McNeil said. “But the reality is much of the general manager job is done during the off-season, and then we rely on the player personnel department during the season to be more active. That way Dave can focus on being a head coach.” Advertisement 5 Article content However, Dickenson's head-coaching duties have also come under scrutiny, which is fair given the team's lack of success. But surely a shake-up of the coaching staff beneath him is forthcoming, especially after McNeil's announcement Monday. Included could be the insertion of Dickenson's older brother Craig, who was head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders for five years before joining the Stamps last off-season as a senior consultant. As well, Cole Hufnagel, the Stamps' ninth-year director of U.S. scouting, has come under fire as the staff member in charge of identifying talent. “We've evaluated all aspects of our football operations,” McNeil said. “And we've already set expectations about what we want to do from a recruitment standpoint and how we're going to get there. And so we are going to work incredibly hard to deliver that. Advertisement 6 Article content “It is a process, and like any good business, we are going to evaluate all aspects of it. It does take time, and we're not going to do knee-jerk reactions. We know fans want change — and they want them today. But that's not the best way to do this process.” McNeil confirmed a few other items Monday: A total of 32 Stamps are set to become free agents after the season. New Field Turf for McMahon is set to be installed in the coming weeks and ready for the 2025 CFL season. For the first time in nine years, the attendance for Stamps games flattened rather than fell, which is a positive on which to build on, says the president. “Of course, we're going to evaluate every aspect of our business,” added McNeil. “It's been incredibly hard. We expect a win every time we take the field, and obviously we haven't done that over the last two years, and we've got to get back to fixing that. I hate losing more than I like winning, because I expect to win — and so losing's been tough. I know the organization feels that way — from our ownership group right through our players and to our business operations.” X: @ToddSaelhofPM Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : Dave Dickenson has 'earned the right' to retain GM, head coach roles for 2025, says Stampeders president Comments Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Latest National Stories News Near Elliot Lake Featured Local Savings

Decorated veteran kicker consistent again for Calgary's CFL club in 2024 Article content It didn't take long for the question of retirement to be teed up for veteran René Paredes.

Advertisement 1 Share this Story : Gaudaur award nominee René Paredes wants to return to Stamps for 'one more year' Gaudaur award nominee René Paredes wants to return to Stamps for 'one more year' Decorated veteran kicker consistent again for Calgary's CFL club in 2024 Author of the article: Article content It didn't take long for the question of retirement to be teed up for veteran René Paredes. Advertisement 2 Article content Gaudaur award nominee René Paredes wants to return to Stamps for 'one more year' Back to video In fact, it was the first query kicked his way by the media on his way out the door for the winter. “Straight at it, huh?” said the 39-year-old star kicker of the Calgary Stampeders, with a smile. “Yeah … I'll be playing one more year.” Bully for the Stampeders … Because even in the face of turning 40 next year, Paredes — who was nominated Tuesday by the team to win the CFL's Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Award — continues to be the most consistent offensive weapon for the struggling squad. And he may even be getting better with age. “Ninety-three percent,” said a proud Parades, of his high success rate — actually 93.2 per cent on 41 of 44 field-goal attempts — during the 2024 campaign. Only BC Lions star Sean Whyte had a higher percentage, hitting 50 of 53 attempts for a 94.3 per cent. Advertisement 3 Article content “I've been here for so long, and I work hard at what I do,” Paredes said. “I come in here at 39 years old still training hard, working hard just to do my job and help the team win with points. “And if I'm here next year, I'll give them that.” Stamps GM/head coach Dave Dickenson has made it known he wants the kicker to return in 2025. So it's a done deal, it would seem. “Yeah, I feel pretty good,” said Paredes, who actually entered 2024 fresh off shoulder surgery that didn't seem to hamper his efforts. “I had a pretty good year. Advertisement 4 Article content “I'm still pretty pissed off at those posts that I had this year. I think I hit four this year, which is insane. Two on extra points (and two on field goals). I wish I could take those back, because I thought I could have gone 100 per cent.” Off the field, he was near perfect — if not perfect — in contributing to the well-being of the city. So much so that the Stamps have announced Paredes as the team's nominee for the 2024 Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Award. The honour is given annually to the Canadian player who best demonstrates the attributes of the country's veterans, such as strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and contribution to Canadian communities. The league award, which has been presented annually since 2010, was created in memory of Jake Gaudaur — the CFL's longest-standing commissioner and a distinguished World War II veteran. Advertisement 5 Article content Born in Venezuela and raised in Montreal, Paredes now calls Calgary home year-round with his wife and two children. He is active in the community, including serving as the leader of a group of players that makes visits to patients at the Alberta Children's Hospital the day before every home game throughout the season. Paredes is the longest-serving member of the team and recently concluded his 10th season as a team captain. The kicker has never missed a contest in his 13-year career, and in 2024 he moved into second place on the franchise's list of career games. His totals this year include a league-leading 23 field goals from at least 40 yards and a CFL-best 92 per cent success rate from 40-plus yards, and he has added 33 extra points and one single this season for a total of 157 points. Advertisement 6 Article content Paredes' season highlights include going six-for-six on field goals in the season-opening win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, a 52-yard game-winning overtime field goal against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 4 and a career-long 57-yard field goal against the Edmonton Elks in the Labour Day Classic. It all added up Stampeders' nominee for the Most Outstanding Special Teams Player award for the eighth time in his career and now this chance to win the Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Award. The winner of both those honours will be announced at the CFL awards on Nov. 14 in Vancouver as part of Grey Cup Week. All in all, aside from the team's shortcomings in a 5-12-1 non-playoff season, it certainly was another outstanding year for Paredes. “My body feels pretty good right now, so pretty happy about that, as well,” added Parades. “So I'm going into the off-season healthy and see what happens in the off-season. “I'm pretty much doing the same thing I've done every year. I think I feel more comfortable every game. Obviously, when you have good people around you, like (special-teams coordinator Mark) Kilam, (long-snapper) Aaron (Crawford) and (punter) Cody (Grace), things get easier. “But I had a great year.” Another one, to be sure. X: @ToddSaelhofPM Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : Gaudaur award nominee René Paredes wants to return to Stamps for 'one more year' Comments Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Latest National Stories News Near Elliot Lake Featured Local Savings

Mark Kilam, Brent Monson, Juwan Simpson casualties after CFL teams struggles in 2024

Advertisement 1 Share this Story : 'Changes were needed': Trio of coaches sacked by Stampeders 'Changes were needed': Trio of coaches sacked by Stampeders Mark Kilam, Brent Monson, Juwan Simpson casualties after CFL teams struggles in 2024 Author of the article: Article content The Calgary Stampeders have quickly snapped into off-season mode, making changes among the coaching staff. Advertisement 2 Article content 'Changes were needed': Trio of coaches sacked by Stampeders Back to video Gone are special-teams coordinator and assistant head coach Mark Kilam, defensive coordinator Brent Monson and defensive line coach Juwan Simpson after the CFL team struggled to a 5-12-1 non-playoff campaign. The changes came Wednesday with the Stampeders announcing the trio would not be retained for the 2025 season. “As an organization, we felt some changes were needed as part of the process of rebuilding a winning team,” said Stamps GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “We thank these coaches for their contributions to the organization and wish them the best.” Further announcements regarding the football operations staff will be made at a later date. Kilam and Monson served as Stampeders coaches for 20 and 15 years respectively. Simpson, a former star linebacker with the Red and White, was on staff for two years. “Mark was a loyal soldier and an integral part of our Grey Cup-winning seasons,” Dickenson said. “No one worked harder than Brent, and he gave us everything he had. “Simp's connection with the Stampeders goes back to 2008, and we appreciate everything he did for our organization as a player and as a coach. “We thank them all and wish them well in the future.” Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : 'Changes were needed': Trio of coaches sacked by Stampeders Comments Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Latest National Stories News Near Elliot Lake Featured Local Savings