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According to TSN, the Calgary Stampeders have made a decision on their new defensive co-ordinator and believe Rick Campbell is the best person for the job.

Rick Campbell, the son of the great Edmonton Eskimo Hugh Campbell, spent last season as the assistant head coach and special teams co-ordinator for the Edmonton Eskimos.

Rick Campbell has a wealth of experience as an assistant coach in the CFL. He spent nine years with the Eskimos in various defensive-minded capacities from 1999-2008, before joining the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2009 and the Calgary Stampeders in 2010 where he was in charge of running backs.

Campbell replaces Dave Walkosky who accepted the defensive co-ordinator position on December 23, but announced earlier in the week that he accepted a position as special teams co-ordinator at Georgia Tech. Chris Jones was the Stampeders defensive co-ordinator last season, but accepted a similar role in the off-season with Toronto.

Campbell’s track record in Edmonton in my opinion was poor. He oversaw an Eskimo defense for a long period of time in the first decade of the 21st century, that was among the poorest tacklers in the league. But one should think with experience in the CFL, his knowledge of the game in terms of strategy should be better over time. I guess time will tell.

Campbell will have a lot of significant work to do. The Stampeders gave up 476 points this past season. Campbell’s father Hugh was the mastermind of the Edmonton Eskimos when they won a record five consecutive Grey Cups from 1978-1982. I’ve often wondered if Rick Campbell has been in the CFL as long as he has already is partly because of his father. He’s been given another chance now in Calgary.