New defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones, hired away from the Montreal Alouettes in the off-season, is instilling a hunger for stripping the ball from opposing runners and receivers, something the CFL club was one of the league’s worst at doing last season.

“It’s not second nature to go scoop the ball on incomplete passes,” Jones said on the fourth day of training camp Wednesday. “Any time the ball is on the ground, regardless of where it is, go and get the ball.

“What we’re trying to do is create an environment where the ball is the most important thing that you have. Go to the ball at all costs and come back and play the next play and that type of thing.”

The Stamps’ 7-10-1 record and third consecutive exit in the West semifinal in 2007 can’t be blamed entirely on their defence.

Calgary was the most penalized team in the league and gave up the most turnovers.

But the defence ranked last overall in points allowed (527) and yards rushing (121 per game). The Stamps were also tied for last in rushing touchdowns allowed (19).

They tied for second-last in interceptions (13) and second-last in forcing turnovers (34).

Calgary’s defence was in such disarray that defensive co-ordinator Denny Creehan was fired Oct. 1 and secondary coach Tim Burke, now defensive co-ordinator with the Als, took Creehan’s place.

New Stamps head coach John Hufnagel said he hired Jones because Montreal’s defence was in the top-three statistically after Jones’s promotion from defensive line coach to co-ordinator in 2003.

Jones entered the CFL in 2002 as the Alouettes’ defensive line coach before being promoted to defensive co-ordinator the following season. Last year, Montreal was ranked a solid third in fewest points allowed (20.9 per game) and second in both touchdowns allowed (35) and lowest percentage of passes completed (54.9).

Hufnagel likes what Jones is getting out of his players early in training camp.

“They’re flying around, getting their hands on the ball and disrupting things so it’s been good,” Hufnagel said. “We want to create some havoc to the other team’s offence and we want to be disruptive and the defensive backs have done a very good job doing that.”

Jones is working a traditional 4-3 scheme on defence - four down linemen and three linebackers - although he hasn’t ruled out incorporating a 3-4 - three down linemen, four linebackers - down the road.

“We run a pretty simple defence. It’s not like we’re trying to confuse them with what we do,” defensive tackle Randy Chevrier explained. “We play really straight-up football, but once the ball is snapped we really fly around and get in their faces.”

There are two trains of thought regarding both defensive alignments.

Some prefer going with just three down linemen because the CFL is predominantly a passing league. The extra linebacker allows the defence to cover more area in passing situations while giving the defensive co-ordinator more options to better disguise his blitz packages.

Others, though, like going with four down linemen because it better ties up the offensive linemen, thus keeping the three linebackers free to flow untouched to the ball on running plays while providing a bigger, stronger rusher in passing situations.

Jones’ system requires speed and athleticism and players lacking those qualities won’t be around when the Stamps open the regular season June 26 at home against the B.C. Lions.

“As big as the field is up here in Canada, you’ve got to be able to run and cover a lot of ground,” said Jones, whose college coaching career included stops at Tennessee, Alabama and Tennessee Tech. “You’ve got to be able to change directions and we make it simple and let the guys go make the plays that they’re able to make.”

Getting to the ball carrier and making the tackle is no longer enough, says Chevrier.

“In the first three days of camp so far, there’s been a real concerted effort to show guys what to do when they get to the ball,” he said. “There’s more of an emphasis placed on drilling the techniques to remove the ball.

“I call it a tool. They’re giving us tools and once we get there we can pull it out of the chest depending on what needs to be made.”

Calgary’s defence carries several familiar faces from last year’s West semifinal roster such as Chevrier, Dwaine Carpenter, Terrence Patrick, Crance Clemons, Brandon Browner, Trey Young, Shannon James and Wes Lysack

But there are also several training camp subplots.

Browner’s arrival has been delayed by “personal reasons’,’ according to the club. The talented cornerback is expected to arrive “in the very near future.”

Saleem Rasheed, who played four seasons in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers, is trying out at middle linebacker.

“Saleem’s got a lot of physical tools that make that makes him a good guy for that position,” Jones said. “He’s done well.

“He’s still got a lot to learn about the league and what to look for in certain formations and things of that nature. He’s done an excellent job coming in and learning in a short period of time.”

After two seasons of development, the Stampeders hope tackle Miguel Robede turns into the player he was projected to be when Calgary drafted him first overall in the 2005 Canadian college draft.

Carpenter, who played safety last season, has been moved to linebacker behind James with Lysack starting at safety.

Linebacker JoJuan Armour, fourth in the CFL in tackles with 84 last season and coveted free-agent signing in the off-season, is ramping up the competition at linebacker behind Young.

After two-a-day practices to start training camp, the Stampeders had only one on-field session Wednesday which was welcomed by some.

“I’m going to go home and lay in the bed,” Patrick declared. “Watch some TV and hopefully I’ll be in bed by eight o’clock.”

But Chevrier, who ran several post-practice sprints, was ready to practise again.

“Maybe I’m getting crazier as I’m getting older,” he said. “I get a nice afternoon off and we sit in meetings, but to tell you the truth I’d rather be on the field hitting people than sitting in a meeting room.”