THE CANADIAN PRESS
EDMONTON — After guiding the Edmonton Eskimos to back-to-back playoff misses and their worst regular-season record in almost 40 years, Danny Maciocia has been officially given the green light to stay on as head coach.
But his right-hand man, offensive co-ordinator Jacques Chapdelaine, is history.
Eskimo president Rick LeLacheur made the announcement with Maciocia at a news conference at Commonwealth Stadium Tuesday.
"This gives us the best opportunity to win in 2008," said LeLacheur. "We need the continuity, particularly at head coach and director of football operations."
Maciocia, who won the Grey Cup in his first season as Eskimo head coach in 2005, holds both titles.
Following Chapdelaine out the door are assistant coaches Scott Squires (special teams) and Carl Brennan (offensive line). The remaining coaches have been invited to stay on.
Chapdelaine had been the prize off-season signing a year ago after the Eskimos compiled a 7-11 record and were criticized for an unimaginative, predictable offence under Maciocia.
The former head coach at Laval had been lured away as offensive co-ordinator of the Grey Cup-champion B.C. Lions to revamp the Eskimos’ offence. He was given a two-year contract, the title of associate head coach and the nebulous promise that when Maciocia decided to leave, he would move up as head coach.
The revival turned into a requiem.
The Eskimos struggled all season en route to a 5-12-1 record — the team’s worst since 1969. Chapdelaine brought in a complex offence, with multiple receiver sets and intricate timing patterns that had players scrambling to write plays on wristbands in practice. He developed a reputation as a flinty, demanding coach who rubbed players the wrong way.
LeLacheur wouldn’t get into specifics, but said the Chapdelaine they hired wasn’t the one who came to their locker room.
"It’s a funny thing in sports how some coaches and some players can move teams and it just changes them," he said.
LeLacheur said they were frustrated with the short-yardage game and inability to score in the red zone.
Maciocia agreed: "Certain situations came throughout the course of the year that we weren’t able to convert (on the big plays) to be successful."
LeLacheur disagreed with the suggestion that it reflected poorly on the organization to bring in such a high-profile coach, confer on him wide latitude and immense responsibility only to then sack him after 18 games.
"I don’t see it as a black mark. The proof will come when we hit the field (in 2008)."
Maciocia said the search for a new offensive co-ordinator is on, but agreed with a reporter’s suggestion that Eskimo quarterbacks coach Rick Worman would be well qualified.
Chapdelaine could not immediately be reached for comment, but said last week he wanted to come back.
"I’m not some kind of magic wand," he said at the time. "People are thirsty for success and I appreciate that. But I think we’re moving in the right direction. I’m very optimistic about next year." .
Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray, on hand for the announcement, said: "It’s a tough business, this game of professional sports.
"Sometimes coming into a new environment, you’ve got different people you’re working with and (with) all those sorts of elements that go into it, it just doesn’t work out the way you want."
"After a season like that you always expect change," added linebacker A.J. Gass. "We’re fortunate to know the administration recognized the strides we made on defence and to have offered those defensive coaches contracts."
Offensive lineman Dan Comiskey said he’s glad to have Maciocia back.
"Knowing that he’s here has me wanting to be here a couple more years," said Comiskey.
Not everyone feels that way.
LeLacheur and Maciocia have faced the wrath of angry fans jamming radio call-in shows and writing letters demanding the pair be fired.
They were unhappy with a team that could not find a rhythm in 2007. The offence performed well early on while the defence hit the skids. When the defence jelled in the second half of the season, the offence, which had lost Ray to injury, went into the tank.
Squires’ special teams allowed six touchdowns and five blocked punts. Brennan’s offensive line was tied with Calgary for second worst in the CFL for sacks allowed at 52.
"I was far from being perfect. We’re all accountable," said Maciocia. "(But) this is exactly where I want to be. I love this city and I love this organization. I think we’ve got something really special.
"It’s going to be an exciting time here in the next little while."
Notes: The Eskimos have signed offensive lineman Aaron Fiacconi and linebacker Agustin Barrenechea.
