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“We have (offensive-line coach) Bob Wylie and the two co-ordinators. Now we can slow down, take our time and try to get the best people in the building. The co-ordinators certainly have to have experience, but now let’s go get the best people. We’ve short-listed people for the next few spots. We’ll keep working through that.”

It seems likely that LaPolice, who last week confirmed he would do the offensive play calling in 2020, will be the Redblacks offensive co-ordinator in name as well.

Benevides started his CFL coaching career as a defensive assistant with the Calgary Stampeders in 2000. He was promoted to special-teams co-ordinator and linebackers coach in 2001, a season capped by the Stamps’ 27-19 victory over Winnipeg in the Grey Cup. Benevides moved on to the B.C. Lions as special teams co-ordinator and linebackers coach from 2003-07, earning his second Grey Cup ring in 2006. He began a four-season stint as Lions defensive co-ordinator and linebackers coach in 2008 and, after winning his third Grey Cup in 2011, was promoted to head coach. In 2012, Benevides guided the Lions to a first-place finish in the West with a 13-5 record. He joined Edmonton in 2016 as assistant head coach and defensive co-ordinator and also coached linebackers in 2018. Now, he’s looking to help bring the Redblacks back from a horrible 3-15 season.

“We want to be a group that’s going to be physical and fast and aggressive and well taught,” Benevides said. “But the vision has started way before today. It didn’t go the way they wanted (in 2019). Marcel and the group have been working hard at it and Paul’s been on the job for a while now. It was an off year. Now we have an opportunity to do things to improve it. There’s a ton of work ahead of us, but that’s OK. If you do anything in life, whether it’s football or something else, there’s always a lot to get done. You get excited about it, roll up your sleeves and get at it.”