The season is over, and the Calgary Stampeders are Grey Cup Champions, but the success in 2018 will not have any power in 2019.

 Huge changes are coming to the Stampeders, and huge changes have already happened. Defensive coordinator DeVone Claybrooks has taken a job as the new head coach of the B.C Lions and Brent Monson has stepped up as the Stampeders new DC. Starting Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell is now a free agent and is looking to fulfill his dreams of playing in the NFL.

Defensive line coach Corey Mace says he is still feeling the victory of finally clinching that Grey Cup win after two years of losing and that winning it as a coach is even better than winning as a player in his past career on the field.

"It feels sensational. I found that winning it as a coach was a little bit sweeter, just because I see the broad perspective of everything that goes into being a successful team. As a player you kind of only see it from one side. Now that I've experienced both, I've been able to see from multiple sides and now I'm cheering for everybody on the team, not specifi8cally just the guys I work with on the defensive line but everybody else. It's an incredible feat, and the fact that we hit that after the two years we missed on it, it was just that much sweeter."

Mace says although having Monson as a new DC is a big change, the hard-hitting, aggressive defence wills stay the same

"I think a lot of what you saw from the Stampeder defense for the last few years with Clay, you're going to see a lot of similarities for sure. That's the system we've all be a part of. But there will be a few other wrinkles though, Monson is a guy who does a lot of studying. He loves to win and he loves to do it fashion so I expect a lot of the things and the bare principals that you see with our defence flying around and being aggressive (that) we're still going to keep that mentality, that's just what we are. But you'll see a few other wrinkles that will hopefully keep opposing teams guessing."

With head coach Dave Dickenson and GM John Hufnagel, Mace says the 2019 season is in good hands despite the potential of losing key players to free agency.

"Its just really hard to tell right now, you know the CBA hasn't been brought together so there are so many free agents who are just sitting there waiting. In sports from year to year, there's always going to be changed. We got some key names, but other teams have got some key names as well that is up for free-agency so its just a matter of the 'hurry up and wait' kind of deal. We'll see what happens, but knowing that masterminds behind the organizations up top, Huff and Dave, we'll be ready to play come 2019."

 

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