Stamps fire Creehan - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Bobblehead · 10-01-2007, 01:26 PM

Just heard as a breaking news report on Fan960

troutman · 10-01-2007, 01:46 PM

He had to work with a lot of new players, but the defence has been bad in too many games. He was sure grouchy.

Flickered Flame · 10-01-2007, 01:50 PM

WOW. I didn't see this coming. Too many young players imo. Its easier to replace a coach compared to x amount of players.

octothorp · 10-01-2007, 01:52 PM

Probably for the best. Defense was horrible, but part of the blame for the crappy defense has to go to the personnel decisions that Barker and Higgins made that basically gutted one of the best d-line/linebacker cores in the league. I'm very curious to see whether they fill this gap with existing personnel or bring in someone from the outside through the remainder of the season. The danger in filling these holes internally is that if you simply promote someone like the other Creehan brother, it may not be enough change while someone like Higgins may simply not have enough expertise to take over. Bringing in someone from outside creates the possible problem of too much change; the defense won't be able to learn a new system at this point in the season while trying to win games.

Sylvanfan · 10-01-2007, 01:53 PM

So did they axe him and his son, or just Denny?

Bobblehead · 10-01-2007, 01:53 PM

Did they bring in so many young guys to make salary cap space? All those elite receivers can't be cheap.

Bobblehead · 10-01-2007, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

So did they axe him and his son, or just Denny?

http://canadianpress.google.com/arti...is5MRyP1bQzZ5Q

flambers · 10-01-2007, 02:47 PM

WOW, wonder who will replace him.

worth · 10-01-2007, 03:13 PM

Tim Burke secondary coach. Can't implement a new system at this point in the season. The stamps will run the same defence, just with a different coach. They will hire a new coach in the offseason who will implement a different defence.

http://communities.canada.com/calgar...r/default.aspx

JayP · 10-01-2007, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octothorp

Probably for the best. Defense was horrible, but part of the blame for the crappy defense has to go to the personnel decisions that Barker and Higgins made that basically gutted one of the best d-line/linebacker cores in the league.

Grace and White have done nothing since the Stamps cut them. Maxie and Napastuk decided to retire and focus on other parts of their lives and Abdullah's been pathetic this season. No major losses by my count.

People ragged on Barker when he cut Kelvin Anderson who retired just a few weeks later after Wally signed him on in B.C. for pity. Guys sometimes lose 'it' and it's better to cut a guy a year early than a year late (although we've seemed to be doing it at the right time lately).

Creehan was simply the least imaginative coordinator I've ever seen. The Stamps would run the exact same gameplan against every team and would refuse to make changes when the simplest plays would beat them consistently. Just a few weeks back in the Labor-Day rematch Edmonton ran screens to Ebell every single play and they'd go for 10-15 yards every time. Not once did Creehan think of doing the obvious - have a linebacker spying or simply playing man coverage on Ebell. The only reason we won that game was because the Esk's OC was just as incompetent and decided to start chucking it downfield ending every drive.

Good riddance to a terrible coach.

calculoso · 10-01-2007, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octothorp

but part of the blame for the crappy defense has to go to the personnel decisions that Barker and Higgins made that basically gutted one of the best d-line/linebacker cores in the league.

I wonder how many behind the scenes battles there were with Crehan.

There has to be reasons why John Grace, Sheldon Napastuk, George White, Coby Rhinehart, etc were let go over the last couple of years... and although $s play a part, I'm sure there's more to it.

There has to be reasons why Brian Clark was put in a position to lose his job and be a spare part during training camp.

There has to be reasons why Wes Lysack is relegated to special teams duties (even though Trey Young appears to be very serviceable).

There had to be reasons why Chatman was kept on for so long, even though he was continuously burned.

I think Crehan - former Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach - had a big part in personnel decisions.... and definitely not for the better.

Bobblehead · 10-01-2007, 07:59 PM

I heard a bit of the Chevy & Nasty show today, and they sort of hinted that Creehan was responsible for the changes that happend in personnel. They said something to the effect of that a great defense was tinkered with and became a rebuilding defense and Creehan had to pay for the result. The way it was said implied Creehan was the motivation for the changes.

Flames in 07 · 10-01-2007, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayP

Grace and White have done nothing since the Stamps cut them. Maxie and Napastuk decided to retire and focus on other parts of their lives and Abdullah's been pathetic this season. No major losses by my count.

People ragged on Barker when he cut Kelvin Anderson who retired just a few weeks later after Wally signed him on in B.C. for pity. Guys sometimes lose 'it' and it's better to cut a guy a year early than a year late (although we've seemed to be doing it at the right time lately).

Creehan was simply the least imaginative coordinator I've ever seen. The Stamps would run the exact same gameplan against every team and would refuse to make changes when the simplest plays would beat them consistently. Just a few weeks back in the Labor-Day rematch Edmonton ran screens to Ebell every single play and they'd go for 10-15 yards every time. Not once did Creehan think of doing the obvious - have a linebacker spying or simply playing man coverage on Ebell. The only reason we won that game was because the Esk's OC was just as incompetent and decided to start chucking it downfield ending every drive.

Good riddance to a terrible coach.

Very good point about adjustments. I recall that game, I believe they beat us in the playoffs by going to that play all day starting in the 3rd Q, we were up by 2 scores and gave it back over that stupid play.

octothorp · 10-01-2007, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I heard a bit of the Chevy & Nasty show today, and they sort of hinted that Creehan was responsible for the changes that happend in personnel. They said something to the effect of that a great defense was tinkered with and became a rebuilding defense and Creehan had to pay for the result. The way it was said implied Creehan was the motivation for the changes.

Yeah, I heard that too. For me, the irony is that he was bringing in these young guys who are apparently better athletes, and then having this extremely conservative gameplan where these supposed athletes are put in positions where their athleticism is completely neutralized. I'm excited about how Clarke (on the Chevy and Nasty show) and Higgins both said that the approach going forward is going to be to allow the defense to have the freedom to make mistakes. Personally, I'm really looking forward to seeing the secondary turned loose to try to make some big plays.

Dion · 10-01-2007, 09:01 PM

You knew it was going to happen.

Near the bottom of the league in defence won't get you very far.

OzSome · 10-01-2007, 11:15 PM

Creehan was too stubborn to make changes on his Defensive 3-4 format. He keeps saying it works just fine even when the Stampos D got burned so many times. I think that 3-4 defense only works if you have a strong DLinemen which we don't at this moment. Last season it works because Maxie, Abdullah and whoever they put as a thrid DLinemen are strong enough to punch the OLinemen for the other team. This season, we have rookies and Terence Patrick and Chevrier are the only ones with a little more games than the rest of the linemen (Williams, Garguylio, George). Those guys are also looks lightweights to me compare to BC Lions DLinemen. We have the worst team in stopping runs and we tend to get burn too many times even though we have talented Dbacks in Browner, Ruffin and Clemons. The reason the QB on the other teams have so much time to pick their nose and even choose who they will throw to.

Creehan is just the start of the firing. If the Stamps does not make the playoffs, I will guarantee that Tom Higgins will be good as gone so as the other assistant coaches.

JohnnyFlame · 10-02-2007, 10:52 AM

Sounds like Burke et. al. are going to just simplify the defense. Linebackers and lineman given a gap to cover -- no shifting responsibilites -- hopefully that allows them to control the run game.

Pass coverage -- going to stick guys who can cover one on one out there and let them sink or swim. I would imagine they will be on the whole a lot more aggressive as sitting back and not taking chances is pointless when the team is being throttled. Might as well go for big stops, interceptions and turnovers.

I'd write them off but the Esk's are in just as much trouble so they have a shot.