Latest news with #Slowik
Ottawa Citizen
6 days ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Why have Calgary Stampeders been so solid on defence to start 2025 CFL season?
Article content It seems silly to mention mystical mantras such as 'Hocus Pocus' or 'Abracadabra' to reason away the sudden coming together of the Calgary Stampeders' defence. Article content 'Magic?' Article content That's hardly a word thrown around in football circles, where talent, hard work, repetition and long hours are tools of the trade. Article content 'No …' voted Stampeders defensive coordinator Bob Slowik, slowing shaking his head to underscore the laughable idea of sorcery being behind the success of his staunch charges so far in the 2025 Canadian Football League season. Article content Article content 'I don't think there's anybody that's ever going to tell you they go on the field thinking and just go walk out there and things gonna happen magically.' Article content Article content It's an answer to be expected from a longtime student of the game. Article content But then how does anyone explain the quick gelling of Slowik's defence, an all-new unit with 12 fresh starters in place compared to last fall? Article content And … yes … the 'D' has certainly found chemistry in the blink of an eye of newt, fast becoming the best of the CFL with the Stampeders (5-1) next hosting the Montreal Alouettes (4-2) on Thursday at McMahon Stadium (7 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge). Article content Success, as it has come for the Stamps, just doesn't happen this quickly for the defence. Article content 'No … and who knows why?' admitted Slowik. 'It's a little bit surprising because of the fact that there's so many new players to the defence. The thing most surprising is the fact that the chemistry within the unit itself is making for one of the best chemistries I've ever been around. That's what led to them gelling and being able to play together so quickly.' Article content Article content And play together oh-so magically. Article content Article content Indeed, the Red and White defence has allowed just 111 points on the season. That's a scant average of 18.5 over the six games of the schedule, of which four came against arguably the top offensive teams in the CFL. Article content Stingy stuff. Article content Nobody comes close to rivalling that season-long stat, with the next-toughest defence belonging to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — you'll recall the Stampeders stomped them twice in three weeks — which has allowed 135 points against. Article content To boot, compare the per-game points allowed by last year's Stampeders defence, which surrendered nearly 30 a contest. Article content What a turnaround. Article content 'Credit to our players, first and foremost,' said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. 'I mean … they're playing hard, they're tackling well, they're making plays.
Calgary Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Why have Calgary Stampeders been so solid on defence to start 2025 CFL season?
Article content It seems silly to mention mystical mantras such as 'Hocus Pocus' or 'Abracadabra' to reason away the sudden coming together of the Calgary Stampeders' defence. Article content That's hardly a word thrown around in football circles, where talent, hard work, repetition and long hours are tools of the trade. Article content 'No …' voted Stampeders defensive coordinator Bob Slowik, slowing shaking his head to underscore the laughable idea of sorcery being behind the success of his staunch charges so far in the 2025 Canadian Football League season. Article content Article content 'I don't think there's anybody that's ever going to tell you they go on the field thinking and just go walk out there and things gonna happen magically.' Article content Article content It's an answer to be expected from a longtime student of the game. Article content But then how does anyone explain the quick gelling of Slowik's defence, an all-new unit with 12 fresh starters in place compared to last fall? Article content And … yes … the 'D' has certainly found chemistry in the blink of an eye of newt, fast becoming the best of the CFL with the Stampeders (5-1) next hosting the Montreal Alouettes (4-2) on Thursday at McMahon Stadium (7 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge). Article content Success, as it has come for the Stamps, just doesn't happen this quickly for the defence. Article content 'No … and who knows why?' admitted Slowik. 'It's a little bit surprising because of the fact that there's so many new players to the defence. The thing most surprising is the fact that the chemistry within the unit itself is making for one of the best chemistries I've ever been around. That's what led to them gelling and being able to play together so quickly.' Article content Article content And play together oh-so magically. Article content Article content Indeed, the Red and White defence has allowed just 111 points on the season. That's a scant average of 18.5 over the six games of the schedule, of which four came against arguably the top offensive teams in the CFL. Article content Stingy stuff. Article content Nobody comes close to rivalling that season-long stat, with the next-toughest defence belonging to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — you'll recall the Stampeders stomped them twice in three weeks — which has allowed 135 points against. Article content To boot, compare the per-game points allowed by last year's Stampeders defence, which surrendered nearly 30 a contest. Article content What a turnaround. Article content 'Credit to our players, first and foremost,' said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. 'I mean … they're playing hard, they're tackling well, they're making plays.
Ottawa Citizen
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Stamps' new defensive boss Bob Slowik brings NFL pedigree from Jimmy Johnson and Bill Walsh coaching trees
Bob Slowik, the new Calgary Stampeders defensive coordinator, has been influenced by some of the best in the football biz. Try Jimmy Johnson and Bill Walsh. Article content Both legends — and their coaching trees — have provided Slowik with plenty of pigskin knowledge during what's been a lengthy career as a defensive wizard for the Super Bowl XXVII champion in the professional ranks. Article content Article content 'Fantastic backgrounds for me,' said Slowik, whose eye-popping coaching resumé — including as a defensive assistant for the Super Bowl-winning Dallas Cowboys — reads back to the late 1970s. Article content Article content 'I'm just hoping what I can bring will help us get better than we were last year and help this organization and this team win football games.' The Stampeders sure hope so, too, in trying to right the ship after the 2024 CFL campaign that saw them finish with a 5-12-1 record. Article content Slowik benefitted from the Stampeders' coaching shake-up following the debacle that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time in two decades. The 71-year-old was bumped up in the organization after spending the last four seasons as — first — defensive assistant for a year and — then — linebackers coach since 2022. Article content Before that, he was the defensive coordinator for the Montreal Alouettes for a pair of campaigns, marking his arrival in the three-down ranks. Article content Article content SLOWIK OVER THE YEARS Article content Slowik's resumé is impressive, indeed. Article content After two years as the starting cornerback for the NCAA's Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens, the Pittsburgh native became a graduate assistant at his alma mater to start his coaching career. Article content From there, he found his footing at higher-profile NCAA Div. 1 schools as a defensive coach, before moving onto the NFL for a prominent 22-year career. The pro highlights included gigs as defensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears, the Cleveland Browns, the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos: Article content 1979-82 – Florida (NCAA) – Defensive backs coaching assistant 1984-89 – Rutgers (NCAA) – Secondary coach 1990-91 – East Carolina University (NCAA) – Outside linebackers coach 1992 – Dallas Cowboys (NFL) – Defensive assistant 1993-98 – Chicago Bears (NFL) – Defensive coordinator 1999 – Cleveland Browns (NFL) – Defensive coordinator 2000-01 – Green Bay Packers (NFL) – Defensive backs coach 2002-03 – Green Bay Packers (NFL) – Assistant head coach/Defensive backs coach 2004 – Green Bay Packers (NFL) – Defensive coordinator 2005-06 – Denver Broncos (NFL) – Defensive backs coach 2007-08 – Denver Broncos (NFL) – Defensive coordinator 2010-11 – Washington Redskins (NFL) – Defensive backs coach 2012-13 – Washington Redskins (NFL) – Linebackers coach 2019-20 – Montreal Alouettes (CFL) – Defensive coordinator 2021 – Calgary Stampeders (CFL) – Defensive assistant 2022-24 – Calgary Stampeders (CFL) – Linebackers coach 2025 – Calgary Stampeders (CFL) – Defensive coordinator
Calgary Herald
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Stamps' new defensive boss Bob Slowik brings NFL pedigree from Jimmy Johnson and Bill Walsh coaching trees
Bob Slowik, the new Calgary Stampeders defensive coordinator, has been influenced by some of the best in the football biz. Try Jimmy Johnson and Bill Walsh. Article content Both legends — and their coaching trees — have provided Slowik with plenty of pigskin knowledge during what's been a lengthy career as a defensive wizard for the Super Bowl XXVII champion in the professional ranks. Article content Article content 'Fantastic backgrounds for me,' said Slowik, whose eye-popping coaching resumé — including as a defensive assistant for the Super Bowl-winning Dallas Cowboys — reads back to the late 1970s. Article content Article content 'I'm just hoping what I can bring will help us get better than we were last year and help this organization and this team win football games.' The Stampeders sure hope so, too, in trying to right the ship after the 2024 CFL campaign that saw them finish with a 5-12-1 record. Article content Slowik benefitted from the Stampeders' coaching shake-up following the debacle that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time in two decades. The 71-year-old was bumped up in the organization after spending the last four seasons as — first — defensive assistant for a year and — then — linebackers coach since 2022. Article content Before that, he was the defensive coordinator for the Montreal Alouettes for a pair of campaigns, marking his arrival in the three-down ranks. Article content Article content Slowik's resumé is impressive, indeed. Article content After two years as the starting cornerback for the NCAA's Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens, the Pittsburgh native became a graduate assistant at his alma mater to start his coaching career. Article content From there, he found his footing at higher-profile NCAA Div. 1 schools as a defensive coach, before moving onto the NFL for a prominent 22-year career. The pro highlights included gigs as defensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears, the Cleveland Browns, the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos: Article content 1979-82 – Florida (NCAA) – Defensive backs coaching assistant 1984-89 – Rutgers (NCAA) – Secondary coach 1990-91 – East Carolina University (NCAA) – Outside linebackers coach 1992 – Dallas Cowboys (NFL) – Defensive assistant 1993-98 – Chicago Bears (NFL) – Defensive coordinator 1999 – Cleveland Browns (NFL) – Defensive coordinator 2000-01 – Green Bay Packers (NFL) – Defensive backs coach 2002-03 – Green Bay Packers (NFL) – Assistant head coach/Defensive backs coach 2004 – Green Bay Packers (NFL) – Defensive coordinator 2005-06 – Denver Broncos (NFL) – Defensive backs coach 2007-08 – Denver Broncos (NFL) – Defensive coordinator 2010-11 – Washington Redskins (NFL) – Defensive backs coach 2012-13 – Washington Redskins (NFL) – Linebackers coach 2019-20 – Montreal Alouettes (CFL) – Defensive coordinator 2021 – Calgary Stampeders (CFL) – Defensive assistant 2022-24 – Calgary Stampeders (CFL) – Linebackers coach 2025 – Calgary Stampeders (CFL) – Defensive coordinator
Calgary Herald
03-06-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Guide to the 2025 Calgary Stampeders: 'It definitely has changed here'
Article content In as the undisputed leader, given his charisma, is Vernon Adams Jr. The 10th-year CFL QB is bold and brash and can run the football as well as throw it. Even his nickname — 'Big-Play V.A.' — lends to the change wanted at that position. Article content 'We want our fans also to feel like it's maybe a different look and a different feel and a different vibe,' Dickenson said. 'And we thought Vernon would help us there. Article content 'Flash is good. It's about winning, though.' Article content Article content The team also went out and got a few new shiny weapons for Adams, including receivers Dominique Rhymes and Tevin Jones — both CFL stars in their career — and young Damien Alford — picked first overall in the 2025 CFL Draft. Article content 'I'm very excited,' Adams said. 'I like us. I like what we did in free agency. We got some size and some speed. And we've got some depth. I'm excited about this year, about everybody we picked up. Article content Article content Article content It became quite the project on the other side of the ball for the Stamps. Article content So much so that the defence is foreign to fans, with just a handful of returning players on the 2025 roster. Article content The changes are everywhere, with linemen Mike Rose and James Vaughters, linebackers Cam Judge and Micah Awe and defensive backs Demerio Houston, Branden Dozier, Tre Roberson and Kobe Williams all no longer with the Red and White — and those are just the high-profile names. Article content However, top pass-rusher Folarin Orimolade returns to the Stamps, with whom he was with from 2018-22, bringing plenty of promise of increased pressure up front. 'Flo' is the prized return from the trade sending effective linebacker Judge to the Toronto Argonauts. Article content Article content To boot, it's now longtime NFL coach Bob Slowik running the show as defensive coordinator, replacing Brent Monson, who took the brunt of the coaching blame — along with longtime special-teams boss Mark Kilam — for the Stampeders failures the last few seasons. Both Monson and the popular Kilam were fired by the franchise immediately after last season closed without a playoff game for the club for the first time in 20 years. Article content Article content The Stamps are hoping 71-year-old Slowik brings what the defence needs to make a turnaround. Article content 'I can't say that it always works, but I do think sometimes a fresh voice or fresh voices — in this case with the staff that we have — maybe will make a difference,' Slowik said. 'You also need some new blood as far as the roster goes. That can't remain the same, either. So we'll see how things go. Article content 'I know we're going to start from the ground up. That's what I can tell you. We're starting with fundamentals and staying with fundamentals and not trying to get too far ahead of the game.' Article content Article content The team was finalized Sunday ahead of the league's cutdown deadline. Article content Perhaps the biggest surprise was the axe of receiver Cam Echols, who proved dynamic in limited action for the Stampeders in his rookie season of 2024. Article content Fellow speedy pass-catcher Ishmael Hyman was also cut ahead of the deadline.
