Ferguson: Steinauer’s departure leaves more questions than answers

For months Tiger-Cats fans have been wondering whether or not the man they deem responsible for much of the Black and Gold’s defensive success as of late would remain in Hamilton this off-season.

Like a child on December 24th staking out the chimney, Hamilton football fans wanted to believe they would get another chance to see Steinauer slide down the chimney and eat the cookies mom always puts out, choosing hope over inevitable disdain in believing Steinauer would return in 2017.

Late Wednesday night that dream faded as Steinauer took a defensive coordinator position on another team instead of being elevated to taking his first ever head coaching job.

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Orlondo Steinauer leaves the Tiger-Cats to take the defensive coordinator position with the Fresno State Bulldogs (CFL.ca)

What? A lateral move inside the CFL? Nope.

The NCAA’s Fresno State Bulldogs made a surprise entrance into the CFL’s pre-Christmas craziness by adding Steinauer to their big bag of new toys which also includes 2015 BC Lions head coach Jeff Tedford who will be serving as Fresno State’s head coach in 2017.

Steinauer gave Ticats fans many gifts during his time in Hamilton.

The gift of a reliable, aggressive and at times explosively entertaining defence for four full seasons can not be under appreciated in a league where scoring totals consistently rise. His defences were predicated on being one step ahead. Understanding what the opposing offensive coordinators next chess move was and countering it before it could ever hurt Hamilton.

Steinauer gave John Chick the gift of rejuvenating his career by letting the veteran pin his ears back and go after opposing quarterbacks despite his previous tendency to drop defensive ends into coverage sporadically. It resulted in 14 sacks, the second highest total of Chick’s seven year CFL career.

He gave Kent Austin the gift of offensive play calling flexibility and the ability to be aggressive on second down. All the while knowing Steinauer’s defence would be up to the task of defending a short field if the offence was unsuccessful.

While the gifts received during his Hamilton tenure were always appreciated, perhaps the most important gift of all comes as Steinauer leaves town in the form of not having to play against his defence – for now – while he packs it up and travels south for the foreseeable future.

Exploring new opportunities and having a well rounded resume is a good idea in any career path, especially coaching. Steinauer’s new NCAA position will pay well, expose him to new experiences and avoid him being viewed as only a CFL coach moving forward, although I do believe he will return to be a head coach north of the border at some point just like his now former boss, Tiger-Cats head coach Kent Austin.

Austin took a similar path. After five years of success in the CFL travelling south to the NCAA’s Ole Miss Rebels and Cornell Big Red only to return four years later.

But why Fresno State of all places and what is the connection to Jeff Tedford?

Weather, money and the NCAA experience are all easy answers, but if it were that simple he could have ended up anywhere. I’m more interested in the connection to Tedford and whether it was born out of the CFL.

Both men played in Canada but there is a eight-year divide between Tedford finishing his playing career in Winnipeg and Steinauer beginning in Ottawa.

Tedford never coached in the CFL while Steinauer had the pads on and the two never coached on the same staff in Canada.

Perhaps it simply comes down to mutual respect, word of mouth from those in the coaching fraternity and Tedford remembering the frustration of preparing for Steinauer’s defence in 2015 when the Lions and Ticats played to a 1-1 record. Over that two game series Hamilton’s Steinauer defence had five sacks and four interceptions against Tedford’s Lions while also forcing six fumbles.

Just one memory in a sizeable series of Orlando Steinauer moments which Ticats fans will remember fondly as he packs up his sleigh in hopes of delivering gifts to many more fans.

Regardless of how Steinauer got there any CFL fan can appreciate the work Steinauer has put into his craft north of the border both as a player and coach. You would be hard pressed to find a CFL alumni more deserving of an opportunity like this than Steinauer.

With the Steinauer question answered the Tiger-Cats and their fans will now begin to wonder who will fill the large shoes left behind by Hamilton’s gift giving defensive wizard.

Corey Chamblin’s name continues to swirl in the winter wind while Jeff Reinebold – a former head coach and defensive coordinator himself – is on staff. If Reinebold were promoted to defensive bench boss perhaps current Hamilton offensive coordinator Stefan Ptaszek would add value with his extensive special teams knowledge.

Plenty of questions, few answers.

’Tis the (off)season.