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Photo by Peter Power / The Canadian Press

“I definitely understand the position that Craig is in,” said Chamblin, who is to make his first appearance at Mosaic Stadium as the Toronto Argonauts’ head coach on Monday.

“I know how tough that can be in Saskatchewan. That’s a part of the gig and we all have things that we have to correct. (Quarterback) Cody (Fajardo) has stepped up and done some good things.”

Fajardo threw for 360 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another major in the Riders’ 44-41 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks on June 20.

Chamblin and Fajardo were both members of the Argonauts during the 2017 season when Toronto won the Grey Cup.

Chamblin was the defensive co-ordinator, defensive backs coach and assistant head coach while Fajardo was a backup quarterback and short-yardage specialist.

“I didn’t know him well, but I knew he was a competitor,” said Chamblin, who remains Toronto’s defensive co-ordinator in addition to the head-coaching duties. “He’s a football player and he showed it last week versus Ottawa. He has learned this game and he’s in a similar offence. He’s like the rest of them in that he has his ups and downs, but he’s on his way.”

Chamblin, 42, was Saskatchewan’s head coach from 2012 to 2015, leading the Roughriders to a 45-23 win over the Tiger-Cats in the 2013 Grey Cup game before a sold-out crowd at old Mosaic Stadium.

Photo by Troy Fleece / Regina Leader-Post

Chamblin didn’t sound sentimental when it comes to coaching at new Mosaic Stadium.

“That’s a new house and it’s not the one that I coached in,” Chamblin said. “I coached in the old house where all of the greats did and that’s a new stadium. Regina is always a special place. My son was born there and my family and I had some good years there.